1. INTRO TO THE MIDDLE EAST

2. HERE IS THE WORLD…
…AND HERE IS NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST ASIA
Due to the location, it’s called the Crossroads of Continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia

3. SOUTHWEST ASIA IS MORE COMMONLY CALLED THE “MIDDLE EAST”
NORTH AFRICA
MIDDLE EAST
SOUTHWEST ASIA
SOUTHWEST ASIA IS MORE COMMONLY CALLED THE “MIDDLE EAST”

4. SOME COUNTRIES IN NORTH AFRICA ARE
(Sinai Peninsula)
ALGERIA
AND EGYPT
LIBYA

5. SOME COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE:
AFGHANISTAN
TURKEY
IRAN
IRAQ
SAUDI ARABIA
KUWAIT
QATAR
ISRAEL
AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

6. Most of the climate is arid (dry) and semi-arid (partly dry)
DESERT
SEMI
DESERT
DESERT
DESERT
DESERT
SAHEL
DESERT
Most of the climate is arid (dry) and semi-arid (partly dry)

7. Physical Features
There is also a lot of seasonal flooding, alluvial soils (deposits from the river), and delta regions (like the Nile delta).
There are also natural water reservoirs likes oases and wadis.
An oasis is fertile land in a desert, usually fed by an underground spring
A wadi is a temporary watering hole when a gully gets filled up during the rainy season.

8. Many cities are known for their influence on culture and trade
BAGHDAD, IRAQ
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
TEHRAN, IRAN
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
TRIPOLI, LIBYA
MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA
CAIRO, EGYPT
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

9. Many Areas around the Middle East and North Africa are world famous.

10. The Pyramids at Giza
The ancient Egyptians used manual labor and wooden tools to build these magnificent tombs for pharoahs.

11. MINARETS
MOSQUES: places of worship for Muslims. Typical features are domes and minarets
DOME

12. Hagia Sofia
The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey. Built between 532 and 537. Originally designed as a Christian church, then turned into a mosque during ottoman rule, and now is a museum.

13. The Dome of the Rock
Jerusalem: This Muslim holy site was built on the remains of the Temple of Solomon, a holy site for Jews

14. The Kaaba
Located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Kaaba is the most sacred site for Muslims. A Muslim must take the haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca at least once in his/her life.

15. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jerusalem: This church was built on the site where Christians believe that Jesus Christ was crucified.

16. Oil Industry Oil Refining is the leading industry in the Middle East
The Middle East has an estimated amount of 50% of the entire worlds oil.
OPEC- organization of the 12 leading oil exporting countries in the world.
Designed to keep oil policies and prices in check.