1. The Eastern Mediterranean
CHAPTER 20
The Eastern Mediterranean
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today

2. Section 1 Natural Environments
Objectives:
What landforms and rivers are found in the eastern Mediterranean region?
What climates, biomes, and natural resources does the region have?

3. Section 1 Natural Environments
Landforms and rivers:
Turkey—plains and hills; two mountain ranges; Anatolian Plateau
coastal plain in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel
rift valley, edged with hills
Jordan River, flows into Dead Sea
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

4. Climates, biomes, and natural resources:
Section 1 Natural Environments
Climates, biomes, and natural resources:
arid, semi-arid, 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

5. World Geography Today
4/25/2017
Section 2 History and Culture
Objectives:
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?
Chapter 20

6. Peoples and empires: Section 2 History and Culture
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.
Ottoman Empire ruled the region by 1600s.

7. Development of Israel:
Section 2 History and Culture
Development of Israel:
Zionist movement of late 1800s called for Jewish homeland.
Jews moved to Palestine after World War I.
Migration increased in 1930s and 1940s.
U.N. divided Palestine into Jewish and Arab states in 1947.
Israel declared independence in 1948.
Israel gained territories through war—West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights.

8. Peoples and cultures: Section 2 History and Culture
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.

9. Section 3 The Region Today
Objectives:
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?

10. Section 3 The Region Today
Economic activities:
heavy reliance on agriculture; irrigation important
strong industrial base in Israel—high-tech, diamond-cutting, chemicals
carpets—key Turkish industry
tourism—major industry

11. Cities: rapid growth cramped housing, traffic congestion
Section The Region Today
Cities:
rapid growth
cramped housing, traffic congestion
ancient city centers, with souks
newer areas around center
war damages in some cities—Nicosia, Beirut

12. Challenges: status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip Kurdish conflict
Section The Region Today
Challenges:
status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Kurdish conflict
Islamic fundamentalism in Turkey
Cyprus division
Palestinian refugees in Jordan
environmental issues—water scarcity, overgrazing