Major Regions

The Northern Tier Across Turkey and Iran Anatolian Plateau: ringed by mountains, fertile region, supports farming, large population Iranian Plateau: ringed by mountains, dry region, no farming, small population

Arabian Peninsula Home of Islam About 1/3 the size of the United States Borders major bodies of water Small population b/c most of it is a desert Major role in world economy OIL Home of Islam

Fertile Crescent Arc-shaped region Mediterranean Tigris & Euphrates Persian Gulf

Fertile Crescent Home to first civilizations: Mesopotamia Few natural barriers led to being conquered often throughout history Region floods unpredictably in spring or summer Too much=disaster; too little=drought

Geographic Advantages Nile Valley Geographic Advantages Ample natural barriers Deserts in the east and west Predictable & dependable flooding

The Maghreb Maghreb means ‘Western Isle’ in Arabic Northern Africa People concentrated near Mediterranean Coast Small population in Sahara and Atlas Mtns