In "The Revenge of Geography," Robert D. Kaplan discusses the significance of geography in shaping major religions and cultures. He emphasizes the critical role of Central Asia and its Mongol-Turkic peoples, suggesting that the geography of a region profoundly influences its belief systems. Kaplan identifies four marginal regions, each linked to a major religion, reflecting a broader connection between geography and faith.

The first two regions highlighted are the "monsoon lands," with one facing the Pacific, where Buddhism thrives, and another facing the Indian Ocean, the birthplace of Hinduism. Europe, situated by the Atlantic, is associated with Christianity, while the Middle East, the most vulnerable of the four, is identified with Islam. This geographical perspective underscores the interconnectedness of religious development and the physical landscapes from which they emerged.