Today’s Agenda Attendance & Fact or Fiction Map Games Go over the exams Review sheet notes and astronaut pictures Arab Spring: Egypt article and questions Homework: Complete the Egypt article questions

Water Resources in the Middle East Why is Water such a precious resource in the Middle East? –Only small areas of land, near the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas have environments where rainfall exceeds evaporation rates. –Most of the land is very dry, and freshwater is hard to find.

Notes 1. Two major reasons for conflict in the region –a. European powers like England and France divided up the land after WWI without considering ethnic and cultural boundaries. –b. Some ethnic/religious groups, like the Jews and Palestinians or the Lebanese and Syrians, lay claim to the same land and refuse to compromise (Holy land of Jerusalem)

Land Terms of the Middle East Aquifer – Underground water-bearing layers of porous rock, gravel, or sand. Desalination – The removal of salt from seawater to make it usable for drinking or farming 010/12/14/fc.abudhabi.cnn.html desalination videohttp:// 010/12/14/fc.abudhabi.cnn.html

Land Terms of the Middle East Alluvial Soils – Very rich soil, usually found near rivers, made up of sand and mud deposited by moving water. Oasis – A place in the desert where underground water surfaces. Pastoralism – The raising and grazing of livestock. This way of life is supports many people in steppe climates. Cool Astronaut Pictures…

Middle East notes Monotheism – The belief in one god. The three major monotheistic religions in this region are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Arable – Land that is suitable for farming. Petrochemical – Chemical products derived from petroleum or natural gas. Some fertilizers, medicines, plastics, paints are made with petrochemicals.

Notes Hajj – The yearly Islamic pilgrimage to Mekkah (picture in Saudi Arabia) Why is the Hajj typical of much of the tourism in the area? People from around the world come to visit religious sites and learn about the history. sesay.hajj.101.cnn.htmlhttp:// sesay.hajj.101.cnn.html the hajj