World Geography TodayChapter 20 The Eastern Mediterranean Preview Section 1: Natural EnvironmentsNatural Environments Section 2: History and CultureHistory and Culture Section 3: The Region TodayThe Region Today Chapter Wrap-Up

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Read to Discover What landforms and rivers are found in the eastern Mediterranean region? What climates, biomes, and natural resources does the region have? Section 1: Natural Environments

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Turkey—Plains and hills; two east-west mountain ranges, Pontic and Taurus; Anatolian Plateau Coastal plain in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel Rift valley from Africa to Syria, edged with hills Jordan River flows into Dead Sea Tigris and Euphrates Rivers from Anatolia to the Persian Gulf Section 1: Natural Environments Landforms and Rivers

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Question What are the natural environments of the Eastern Mediterranean? Section 1: Natural Environments

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Turkey—Coal, copper, iron ore Dead Sea— Potash, magnesium Natural Environments of the Eastern Mediterranean Arid Semiarid Mediterranean Forests, particularly in Cyprus Diverse in semiarid areas Hardy species in desert areas ClimatesBiomesResources Section 1: Natural Environments Oil and natural gas

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Arid, semiarid, and Mediterranean climates Distance from sea, elevation, rain shadows—Factors in temperature and rainfall Evergreen forests once common, now mainly gone Syrian Desert—Scarce plant and animal life Valuable minerals and energy—Coal, copper, iron ore, potash, magnesium Section 1: Natural Environments Climates, Biomes, and Natural Resources

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Read to Discover How have various peoples and empires influenced the eastern Mediterranean? How did the modern state of Israel develop? What are the peoples and cultures of the region like? Section 2: History and Culture

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Question What peoples and Empires have existed in the Eastern Mediterranean? Section 2: History and Culture

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Early Farming Settlements Hebrews Roman Empire Arabs European Mandates Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Independence Peoples and Empires Section 2: History and Culture Crusaders Egyptians Hittites Persians

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Several ancient empires occupied the area: Egyptian, Hittite, Persian. Hebrews established kingdom and Judaism. Romans exiled Jews, then spread Christianity. Byzantine Empire brought growth of Eastern Orthodox Church. Arab Muslim armies occupied the area and spread Islam. Crusades brought clashes between Muslims and Christians. Section 2: History and Culture Peoples and Empires

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Ottoman Turks established another Muslim empire in the region in the 1300s. Political struggles, corruption, and rivalries with other countries weakened the empire, along with internal ethnic conflict. After World War I, Atatürk created the Republic of Turkey. Former Ottoman territories became European mandates. Mandates gained independence after World War II. Section 2: History and Culture Peoples and Empires (continued)

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Zionist movement of late 1800s called for Jewish homeland. Jews moved to Palestine after World War I. Migration increased in 1930s and 1940s. UN divided Palestine into Jewish and Arab states in Israel declared independence in Israel gained territories through war—West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights. Section 2: History and Culture Development of Israel

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Main peoples—Arabs, Jews, Turks, Kurds Religions—Islam, Judaism, Christianity Members of same ethnic group may follow different religions— e.g., Christian Arabs. Cultural identity may be distinct from religious identity. Urban-rural divide in Turkey—Modern versus traditional customs Jewish religious law influences Israeli culture. Multiethnic influences in Israel reflect different national origins. Section 2: History and Culture Peoples and Cultures

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Read to Discover On what activities do the eastern Mediterranean economies rely? What are the cities of the region like? What challenges do the people of the region face? Section 3: The Region Today

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Question What types of economies do the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean have? Section 3: The Region Today

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Jordan Underdeveloped economy, foreign aid, Palestinian refugees, tourism important Cyprus Disrupted by civil war, tourism important Israel Hostile foreign relations, high-tech industries, diamond cutting, tourism Lebanon Growth disrupted by civil war, Palestinian refugees Syria Underdeveloped economy, high unemployment Turkey Growth slowed by earthquakes, uses dams for agriculture, has textile industry and others, tourism The Economies of the Eastern Mediterranean Section 3: The Region Today

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Heavy reliance on agriculture; irrigation important Strong industrial base in Israel—High-tech, diamond-cutting, chemicals Carpets and textiles—Key Turkish industry Tourism—Major industry Foreign aid received Section 3: The Region Today Economic Activities

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Rapid growth High birthrates, migration from rural areas Cramped housing, traffic congestion Ancient city centers with souks Newer areas around center War damage in some cities—Nicosia, Beirut Section 3: The Region Today Cities

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip Armenian and Kurdish conflict Islamic fundamentalism in Turkey Ethnic and religious division—Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan Environmental issues—Water scarcity, overgrazing Section 3: The Region Today Challenges

World Geography TodayChapter 20 Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas 1.What physical feature extends north from Africa to create the Jordan River valley and the Dead Sea? 2.How has the region’s vegetation changed over time? 3.Why did many Jews immigrate to the region that later became Israel? 4.What are the three main religions of the eastern Mediterranean? What major feature do these religions share? 5.What two countries are recovering from many years of ethnic and religious conflict?