Map by Jadon Chung

Red Sea

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 21:25:30 UTC

I chose the Red Sea because of its biblical significance. Growing up religious, the Red Sea serves as one of the most monumental stories within the bible, where it is said that Moses split the Red Sea. I was curious about the geographical significance of the location since I had never seen it on a map before.

Caspian Sea

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 21:48:32 UTC

I chose this image because it shows urbanized Iraq. When I first googled pictures of Iraq, all that came up were pictures of bomb sites, rubble, and battlefields, so once I looked up Iraq cities, I was able to get a clearer view of what Iraq really is like without the war aspect attached to the country. I believe the portrayal of war being on Iraq stems from a very American-centric view.

Mecca Saudi Arabia

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 21:52:03 UTC

I chose this picture of Mecca because it shows the thousands of people around the Kaaba. I have heard about the religious and cultural significance of the Kaaba and I believe that this image portrays just how grand it is and truly highlights the importance within the culture. Although I do not know the practices revolving around the Kaaba I hope to learn more through my exploration of Mecca.

Qatar

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 21:56:12 UTC

I chose this picture of Qatar because I don't know much about the region. However, I am shocked at how urbanized and developed it is. This image looks like downtown LA and it was surprising to me.

Nile

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 22:09:35 UTC

I chose this image of the Nile because it shows the ancient ruins in the back while also showing modern people still relying on the river. The river is the through line that connects all of the past and present dependence on the river. I think it is poetic that although the ruins may have fallen, the river is still there supporting the people.

Gaza

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 22:11:44 UTC

I chose this image to represent Gaza because of the current ongoing political issues occurring there. The rubble and the destruction truly depict the atrocities happening in Gaza.

Egypt

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 22:14:13 UTC

I chose this modern city image of Egypt to break down the unconscious thought of thinking of Egypt as a dry, dead land with only the pyramids. I want to deconstruct my beliefs and truly see the true nature of the location, and the dry deserts are only one aspect of Egypt, while large cityscapes are another.

Morocco

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 22:15:38 UTC

I chose this image to represent Morocco because it is the image that comes to mind when I picture Morocco. The blue homes, the bright blue sky, it all feels idealistic and out of a scene from Mamma Mia.

Lebanon

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 22:18:23 UTC

This image of Lebanon is truly striking and beautiful. It shows a developed urban city while still maintaining its architectural roots, and it shows the development that occurs while still using the natural resources present in this area.

Algiers, Algeria

jchung29_2 — 2025-09-07 22:20:44 UTC

I chose this image because the buildings look like Spanish architecture. This architecture is exactly what I saw when I visited Spain, and it makes me wonder if Algeria was conquered by the Spanish and its lingering roots from that colonization.

Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran

jchung29_2 — 2025-11-03 00:38:52 UTC

I decided to add Tehran to my map because it is where the massive protest march took place on June 15th, 2009. This march was a moment of the public's display of government disapproval and a call for reform. People wanted a just government system and called for a fair election and demanded change. What originally started off as a peaceful march had government forces deployed against citizens, which turned the march into a riot. The violent response of the government only added fuel to the fire and contributed to the political uncertainty of Iran's extremist policies.

Evin, District 1, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran

jchung29_2 — 2025-11-03 00:54:20 UTC

The second location I decided to add to my map is Evin Prison, located in Iran. Evin Prison has become a symbol of the Iranian regime's repression and is the primary site for incarcerating political prisoners, journalists, academics, human rights activists. I added this specific prison because within Zahra's paradise we see the son being tortured and abused within a prison. I am only assuming that it is this one, however, it is important to highlight the cruelty that occurred within prison walls and highlight the significance it plays, especially within the graphic text.