The Middle East

Middle East Covers three continents Strategic location The Junction of Europe, Africa and Asia Strategic location The Crossroads of the world Center for trade because of all the seas Cultures shared customs and ideas (example of cultural diffusion) Bahrain

From Morocco in the West through Iran in the East From Turkey North to the Arabian Peninsula in the South Twice the size of the United States

The world’s earliest civilizations developed here between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia - land between two rivers): Sumerians (ziggurat and cuneiform), Babylonians, Assyrians, Ancient Hebrews (Jews), Egyptians (hieroglyphics), Hittites, Phoenicians, Persians Mesopotamia is also The Fertile Crescent An Oasis in the desert No natural barriers Frequent migrations and invasions from Mediterranean to Persian Gulf

Deserts and Plateaus A lot of desert Sahara - worlds largest, located in North Africa Arabian located in Arabian Peninsula Rub Al Khali – the Empty Quarter where the Bedouin (desert dwellers) live Plateaus Plateau of Iran Plateau of Anatolia

Mountains Atlas (Morocco) – separates them from rest of Africa Barrier to trade with rest of Africa Pontic (Northern Turkey) Taurus (South/East around Anatolia Plateau) Elburz (North Iran) Zagros (West around Iran Plateau) Atlas Zagros

Melting snows Cause floods Deposit silt Create rich soil with minerals Climate Mountains prevent clouds from reaching interior Near equator Warm winters, hot summers Less than 10 inches of rain per year Flash floods

Strategic Waterways Turkey controls waterways that link Black Sea and Mediterranean – Dardanelles and Bosporus straits (access for Russia to sea) Arabian Peninsula, surrounded by water Red Sea to the west Arabian Sea to the South Persian Gulf to the east Suez Canal connects Red Sea to Mediterranean Suez Canal

Waterways cont. Nile River Dead Sea Egypt founded World’s longest river Driest country, flooded yearly Feeds Sudan and Egypt Another civilization Dead Sea Lowest point on earth (1,371 ft) below sea level

Cultural Aspects Population Major language See Maps and Charts One of the driest areas of the world – 90% desert When Population increases in land of deserts Limited space – can only live in river valleys Major language Arabic See Maps and Charts http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/maps/demo.html

Economics Selective Exports: wheat, barley, rice, millet hazelnut Economics Selective Exports: wheat, barley, rice, millet Israel – Jaffa oranges Iraq – dates Turkey – nuts, figs, olives Egypt - cotton

Economics Leading Export Water (only 7% of land farmable) 70% of world’s oil reserves 50% of current world supply Water (only 7% of land farmable) Don’t produce enough to feed themselves – they rely on world markets What do you think is more important for this region? (Water or oil)

Fun Facts Most populous nation Nation with the largest area Egypt – 71.2 millon Nation with the largest area Algeria Smallest nations in population Qatar – 618,000 Smallest nation in area Bahrain Cairo, Egypt, the world's 13th most populous metro area

What three great world religions were founded in the Middle East? Judaism Christianity Islam