During the cold war, the soviet union and the democracies in the west competerd for influrence in the middle east beacuse of its

1. strategic location and valuable resources.
2. vast fertile farmlands and rivers
3. large well-educated population
4. industrial potential

2 is silly, in 3 only IRAQ had a large well educated population. That leaves 1 and 4. Industrial potential requires a vast education population, a manufacturing infrastructue, transportation routes, etc. So that leaves 1 as the answer

You're correct! The correct answer is 1. The Soviet Union and the democracies in the West competed for influence in the Middle East primarily because of its strategic location and valuable resources. Let's break down the reasoning behind this answer.

1. Strategic location: The Middle East is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it a significant geostrategic region. Its location provides access to important trade routes and allows for the projection of military power across multiple continents.

2. Valuable resources: The Middle East is rich in natural resources, particularly oil. It has some of the world's largest reserves of oil and natural gas. Oil is a crucial commodity that fuels economies and has immense geopolitical importance, giving leverage to countries that possess or have influence over these resources.

When considering the other options:

2. While the Middle East does have fertile farmlands and rivers, this aspect alone is not the primary reason for the competition between the Soviet Union and the West.

3. While some countries in the Middle East, like Iraq, had a well-educated population, it wasn't a defining factor in the competition for influence. The large well-educated population was not a common characteristic across all countries in the region.

4. The industrial potential of the Middle East was certainly a consideration, but it is closely tied to the strategic location and valuable resources. Industrial development requires access to resources, transportation routes, and educated workforce, which are all interconnected.

Therefore, when considering the various factors, the strategic location and valuable resources of the Middle East make it the primary reason for the competition during the Cold War.