Southwest Asia (Middle East) has paramount location which has developed it as a pivotal crossroads of culture, trade, and world influence since ancient times. The region has experienced cycles of economic growth and decline over time. The availability and of resources, and diversification of agriculture, facilitated this growth and decline. However, the discovery of the oil in the region elevated the region to one that could compete on a global market. Many nations in Southwest Asia (Middle East) benefit from this specialization with increased oil revenues and the formation of a new international collaboration amongst oil-producing nations known as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Nations (OPEC) with many key shareholders located within the region. Students will explore the role of OPEC as well as other factors which positively influence economic growth in terms of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services via trade and world influence.