The presence or absence of some natural resources has a great deal to do with how a civilization develops. An arid region consisting mostly of mountains that are high enough to prohibit sufficient rainfall (& therefore is mostly desert) will have difficulty producing enough natural vegetation to sustain most life forms. If you can't grow crops or sustain animals, what is there to do with the land? Regions that are mostly rocky are going to have to come up with some kind of manufacturing that will make the best use of the minerals and metals contained in the land.
Guess what the major livelihood is where the country sits on top of a huge reservoir of oil? Logically, the industries and commerce that sustain a particular industry will be the ones to flourish. People who like or have a natural affinity for a particular commercial enterprise will gravitate toward that industry. People who don't will attempt to gravitate toward something they prefer. University towns grow up around the school, surrounded by people who either aspire to be part of the academia, or can run a business that supports the school (cafes, book stores, etc).
That is just a nutshell view, but you can see the possibilities. It is actually a bit more complex, but that is why we spend so much time studying history and economics......
Guess what the major livelihood is where the country sits on top of a huge reservoir of oil? Logically, the industries and commerce that sustain a particular industry will be the ones to flourish. People who like or have a natural affinity for a particular commercial enterprise will gravitate toward that industry. People who don't will attempt to gravitate toward something they prefer. University towns grow up around the school, surrounded by people who either aspire to be part of the academia, or can run a business that supports the school (cafes, book stores, etc).
That is just a nutshell view, but you can see the possibilities. It is actually a bit more complex, but that is why we spend so much time studying history and economics......