Geography and Life in Arabia

Standard 7.2.1 Describe the geography and climate of the Arabian Peninsula. Discuss the impact of surrounding bodies of water and of nomadic and settled lifestyles. Objective: To learn that the geography and location of the Arabian Peninsula have greatly influenced the lifestyles of those who live there.

What system are we discussing? Environmental!!!

Where is the Arabian Peninsula?

What is a “crossroads location”? People travel through it to get to other areas Arabian Peninsula is a crossroads location because it is in between which three continents? Europe Asia Africa

Physical Features Mostly sandy deserts and sand dunes Water exists mainly in oases scattered across the deserts

Desert Climate Arabia is one of the hottest, driest places in the world! Can plants survive here? Can animals? How does the desert climate impact life there?

How does the desert climate impact life in Arabia? 2 main ways of life – what are they? Sedentary or settled Nomadic or constantly moving

Sedentary or settled way of life People settled around oases & trade routes Towns developed Souks were markets where people gathered to buy, sell and trade

Sedentary life Modern-day souk or bazaar

Nomadic life Lived in tents and raised animals Why animals? Food source = milk and meat Skins Could travel vs. plants

Nomadic life Modern-day desert nomads

Now that you have read and reviewed the geography and environmental system of the Arabian Peninsula… …answer the following questions in your notebook. Good luck!

Check for understanding… Why was the Arabian Peninsula known as a “crossroads” location?

Check for understanding… Why was the Arabian Peninsula known as a “crossroads” location? It is located between Asia, Europe and Africa. People traveled through the peninsula in order to travel and trade with other lands. Culture influenced by many different types of people.

Not done yet… 2. What are two things you can find in the Arabian Peninsula?

Not done yet… 2. What are two things you can find in the Arabian Peninsula? Sand dunes and rare oases.

Almost done… 3. What is this a picture of? Why were these important?

Almost done… 3. What is this a picture of? Why were these important? A souk. It’s a place where people could buy, sell and trade. Sharing of different cultures.

One more to go… What are two ways the people living on the Arabian Peninsula were able to make a living?

One more to go… What are two ways the people living on the Arabian Peninsula were able to make a living? Some were sedentary to settled and farmed or created needed goods. Others were nomads who raised herds of hearty animals while moving through the desert.

(P2) Draw this graphic organizer in your notebook. oasis desert climate lifestyle benefits drawbacks

How can you connect the geographic regions & the lifestyles of the people who live there? oasis desert wet, fertile soil climate hot and dry lifestyle benefits drawbacks

Lifestyle? oasis desert wet, fertile soil climate hot and dry sedentary lifestyle nomadic benefits drawbacks

Benefits? oasis desert wet, fertile soil climate hot and dry sedentary lifestyle nomadic settled life, trade, towns benefits member of a tribe / traditional lifestyle drawbacks

Drawbacks? oasis desert wet, fertile soil climate hot and dry sedentary lifestyle nomadic settled life, trade, towns benefits member of a tribe / traditional lifestyle open to attack drawbacks dangerous lifestyle

Ok, so now for the fun part! How did you do??? Ok, so now for the fun part!

Activity for today! Intro: In what ways did townspeople & nomads rely on each other? Townspeople traded for nomads’ herds and animals products. Nomads also needed supplies such as blankets, clothing, and cooking supplies from townspeople.

What are these?

Magazine Covers Using the supplies given to you, create a magazine cover for an imaginary magazine that would have appealed to both the nomads and townspeople of early Arabia. Criteria: Needs a title Article titles need to appeal to both types of people Neatness and accuracy count!!!

Don’t forget… The main features of the Arabian Peninsula are deserts and oases. There are two main lifestyles of Arabia – nomadic and sedentary.