Map by Joanne Tran

Iran

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 21:36:34 UTC

Iran's culture has Persian carpets, which have really detailed patterns and shapes made with cotton, wool, silk, and natural dyes. These carpets are significant to Iran because it represents one of the country's most valuable exports and their culture of hospitality and artistry. These carpets hold the designs from nature, Persian literature/poetry, and mythology and are a main part of many people's income.

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 21:41:04 UTC

Dubai is a metropolitan city in the United Arab Emirates, which contains large companies/corporations, a futuristic skyline, and luxury tourism. Dubai has architecture such as the Burj Khalifa and shows the UAE's innovation and growing economy. Dubai shows both old and new cultures as it is built on tradition such as camel racing and the location of the desert, it attracts many entrepreneurs and young visitors.

Turkey

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 21:49:32 UTC

The image depicted is Turkish coffee, a distinct method of brewing coffee that differs from the traditional approach. The process has finely ground beans that are served in small cups. This is important to Turkey because sharing coffee with others is integral to their culture. For example, it is related to friendship, family, and marriage, where the bride will prepare it to show her skills.

Istanbul, İstanbul, Türkiye

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 22:01:27 UTC

The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets, as it has people selling goods such as spices, textiles, and jewelry. The Grand Bazaar represents Istanbul as it shows its trade between Europe and Asia and the goods that they are known for. The Grand Bazaar has been used as a central meeting place for travelers, merchants, and everyday shoppers.

Tel Aviv, Israel

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 22:08:31 UTC

Tel Aviv, Israel, is home to the White City, a collection of Bauhaus-style buildings that have a modern feel. The White City is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and shows Israel's urban development throughout the 20th century. Since the buildings are so modern, they show how the world adapts to local needs. These buildings are in a European style, so they show globalism and how Israel's biggest city is changing.

Nile River Cruises, El Tahrir, St, Dokki, Egypt

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 22:14:49 UTC

Felucca sailing boats are made of wood, and these are the boats people have been using on the Nile River for centuries. Since they have been used for so long, they represent how, even today, Egypt still embraces tradition, and ancient objects are still being used. These boats are also very durable and environmentally friendly as they are made out of natural materials.

Red Sea

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 22:35:42 UTC

Depicted is the Red Sea after the red algae have bloomed, which only happens seasonally. This is one of the reasons that the Red Sea is named the Red Sea and shows how ecologically rich the Red Sea is. The algae were used for trade routes, pilgrimages, and tourism. This biodiversity shows how fishing and conservation were sustained throughout time. The Red Sea is culturally important because it is tied to stories and how rare this is to happen.

Black Sea

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 22:44:51 UTC

On the coast of the Black Sea, there are fishing villages that hold folk festivals to celebrate their heritage with music, dancing, and food. This tradition shows how connected everyone here is and how there is a deep sense of community. Since a lot of the economies along the coast rely on fishing, this shows one of the reasons why they are so tightly bonded. These festivals also show how these communities have protected oral traditions and traditional costumes to keep their culture alive.

Caspian Sea

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 23:00:47 UTC

Shown in the picture is the Flame Towers, which represents the flames in Azerbaijan's history because it is known as the "Land of Fire." They show how the city has developed over time to become more modern while still connecting to Zoroastrian culture and history. Fire is known as a sacred element, which is why at night, they light up the skyline, making them a landmark of the region. This is related to the Caspian Sea because the lights and skyline reflect on the Caspian Sea.

Morocco

jtran29_2 — 2025-09-06 23:07:38 UTC

Shown is Chefchaouen, also known as the "Blue Village" because of its blue-painted walls, buildings, and streets. This is a very famous landmark in Morocco, which brings a lot of tourists in. The tradition of painting everything blue is because of Jewish history, where they did this to drive mosquitoes away, but today it is a visual masterpiece. Because this village brings in so many tourists, it plays a key role in the Moroccan economy, which supports local vendors and hospitality.

Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran

jtran29_2 — 2025-10-30 04:01:44 UTC

Tehran is a capital city that is associated with a number of political movements in Iran. The 1979 Revolution and the 2009 Green Movement are some of those movements that were inspired by a scene in Persepolis. The city symbolizes both hope and struggle in that it is a place where people rally to claim their justice and freedom. The city has broad avenues and is densely packed, making it a contrasting backdrop for a scene where people are engaged in a struggle.

Paris, France

jtran29_2 — 2025-10-30 04:02:18 UTC

Paris is where Marjane Satrapi created Persepolis while in exile for leaving Iran. Paris is a place of reflection and distance and where Satrapi can reflect on and distance herself from her memory and history. In this regard, Paris is a symbol of how Satrapi can dissect and represent her history as a place that is different from where she is. Similarly, Paris is a symbol of where Satrapi can exercise this liberty to represent her history without borders and fear. Paris is a sanctuary and a reflection where Satrapi can discover how history can affect identity when one is away.