1. The Land and the People And Early Civilizations of the Middle East
Chapter 25, Sections 1,2.
The Land and the People
And Early Civilizations of the Middle East

3. The Arabian Peninsula
Borders on Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia is the largest country. Has small population, due to lack of water in the barren desert.

4. The Fertile Crescent is arc-shaped, and stretches from the Mediterranean Sea along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to the Persian Gulf. It has rich soil and high population.

5. The Nile Valley
Nile Valley- The flooding of the Nile is both predictable and dependable. It is protected from invaders by deserts. Egyptians traded with the people of the Fertile Crescent.

6. The Maghreb
Means “The Western Isle”, and is surrounded by mountains, deserts, and water. It includes the North African regions of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

7. Major religions of the Middle East include Islam, Christianity, and Judaism..

8. Sumer (Sumerian Civilization)
The first civilization in the Middle East. It sprung up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Men learned to read and write there.

9. The Persian Empire
500BC-Spread across Asia Minor to the Indus Valley. The Persians allowed conquered peoples to retain their languages, customs and religions.

10. Hammurabi’s Code
Contained 282 laws regulating economic, social, and moral affairs. Tried to make the punishment fit the crime. (An eye for an eye).

11. Zoroastrianism
Persian religion that included many gods controlling nature, and Magi (priests) trying to win their favor. Zoroaster believed there was a great war between evil and good gods.

12. Hellenistic Civilization
A blend of Greek and Middle Eastern culture that arose from the conquests of Alexander of Macedonia. Its center was Alexandria, Egypt.