1. The Middle East

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

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