=Transcaucasia=, now joined to Russia, is a part of the plateau of Iran. A railway extends across the country from _Batum_ to _Baku_, connecting the Black and Caspian Seas. Transcaucasia is the petroleum region of the East. It is also noted for the Shirvan, Kabistan, Daghestan, and Kazak rugs which are sold all over Europe and America. The so-called "Cashmere" rugs are not a product of Kashmir, but are made in the town of _Shemaka_. Kabistan rugs are made in _Kuba_. Kazak fabrics are usually the sleeping-blankets of the Kazak (Cossack) rough-riders. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION How will the development of the coal, iron, and lumber resources most likely affect the industrial future of Russia? Discuss the policy of Siberian immigration;--what are its advantages to German colonists? From the map accompanying this chapter show how the tributary streams of the great rivers have served to extend Russian commerce through Siberia. Note the situation of the cities and towns of Siberia with reference to the rivers. What effect has the high latitude of Russia on its agricultural industries? From the Statesman's Year-Book make a list of the leading exports and imports of Russia by articles, and also the volume of trade with other countries. From the Abstract of Statistics find the statistics of trade between Russia and the United States. FOR COLLATERAL READING AND REFERENCE Commercial life in Russia--preferably from the article, "Russia," in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. For a rug of the Caucasus type, see illustration, p. 351; compare the Kabistan with the Persian piece--which has the floral and which the geometric figures? CHAPTER XXX THE IRAN PLATEAU AND ARABIA The countries of the Iran plateau extend from the Mediterranean Sea to the valley of the Indus River. The Arabian Peninsula is not a part of it, but its climate and general character are similar. The Iran countries are exceedingly rugged, and a great part of their surface is more than a mile above sea-level. The climate is one of great extremes; the summer hot-waves and the winter hurricanes are probably unknown elsewhere in severity. The greater part of Arabia is an unhabitable desert. [Illustration: THE RUG-MAKING COUNTRIES] The rigorous conditions of surface and climate have placed their stamp upon the population of the region. They are full of the intelligent cunning and ferocity that mark people living under such conditions of environment. In many parts the sterile soil and arid climate force the sparse population into nomadic habits of life and predatory pursuits. For the greater part, the land hardly yields enough food-stuffs for the population, and any great development of agriculture is out of the question. The flood-plain of the Tigris and Euphrates, and a few of the river-valleys are highly productive. [Illustration: AN ANTIQUE TREE-OF-LIFE, KERMANSHAH (PERSIAN) RUG]