1. Crossroads of the World
The Middle East
Crossroads of the World

2. What is the Middle East? Region in Southwest Asia
Crossroads of continents:
Europe
Asia
Africa
Extends from
Morocco to Iran

3. What is the Middle East? Its people share common traits: language
history
religion
Access to many
major waterways
The Tigris River

4. Climate Short period of rainfall Rains wash away topsoil
Temperature extremes
Hot and dry
Deserts and green coastal lands

5. Natural Resources
Oil is the Middle East’s most important natural resource
70% of the world’s known oil reserves are located in the Middle East
Middle Eastern countries produce 2/3 of the world’s oil

6. Natural Resources
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil producer

7. Natural Resources Other natural resources include:
gold, iron, and copper
Water is scarce and difficult to harness
Fertile river valleys and coastal lands
Aswan High Dam in Egypt

8. Geographic Features
Desert – an area that has less than 10 inches of annual rainfall
Arabian Desert
Syrian Desert
Oasis – fertile place in a desert where water is available through an underground spring

9. Five Physical Regions Northern Tier Arabian Peninsula Fertile Crescent
Nile River Valley
Maghreb
Beach in Lebanon

10. 1. The Northern Tier Stretches across present-day Turkey and Iran
Anatolian Peninsula
* fertile soil and moisture available for farming to support a large population
Iranian Plateau
* Elburz and Zagros Mountain ranges
* dry region with a small population
A bazaar in Turkey

11. 2. Arabian Peninsula
A plateau that borders the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf
Mostly barren desert
Beneath the desert is a huge amount of oil, which supports the country
Small population because of lack of water
Most of the population lives around the oases

12. 2. Arabian Peninsula
Birthplace of Islam

13. 3. Fertile Crescent
Arc-shaped region that stretches from the eastern Mediterranean along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to the Persian Gulf
Rich soil and abundant water have led to a large population

14. 3. Fertile Crescent

15. Mesopotamia “land between two rivers” Part of the Fertile Crescent
Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Located in modern-day Iraq
Land is very fertile
Some of the earliest civilizations began here
Ancient Babylon

16. 4. Nile River Valley Located in northeastern Africa
Nile River supports the population of this region

17. 5. Maghreb North African nations of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco
Lies west of the Arabian Peninsula
Isolated land surrounded by water, mountains, and deserts

18. 5. Maghreb Sahara Desert and Atlas Mountains
Few people live here because of scarcity of water
Major crossroad of the southern rim of Mediterranean
Gateway to the Atlantic Ocean
Mosque in Morocco

19. Review Questions
1) The Middle East is at the crossroads of which 3 continents?
2) Describe the climate of the Middle East.
3) What country produces the most oil?
4) Define oasis.
5) Which 2 rivers make up the region called Mesopotamia?