How have people in Southwest Asia modified their environment to combat otherwise inhospitable living conditions?

By the use of technology as well as food, clothes and structure of houses.

Explanation:

People in Southwest Asia modified their environment in order to combat with the harsh environment by the use of technology. There are several other practices which allow them to survive in that hot climate such as food, clothes and structure of houses. These people eats food having cooling effect, wear light and white colored clothes which has the ability to reflect the radiation and they made house of clay which are cool.

its many islands, high mountains, and remote peninsulas isolated population centers.