Middle East Geography

Where is the Middle East?

Geography Area where Africa, Asia and Europe interconnect No natural boundaries Sometimes called “Near East”

Climate Hot and arid Winters are mild with little rain Summers are long and hot Coastal areas have a breeze

Rivers in Middle East Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run parallel to each other Flooding of the rivers allow for rich soil Not as long as the Nile River

Dead Sea Lowest Point on Earth 2,300’ below sea level Highest Salt Content (33%)

Mountains Taurus and Anti-Taurus in Turkey surround large plateau with fertile soil Zagros Mountains drier soil Afghanistan highest mountains Hindu Kush Mountains

Deserts Sahara Desert stretches across northern Africa and continues as Arabian and Syrian Deserts  then becomes South Iranian Desert

Geography and Civilization Fertile Crescent- between Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, richest soil Mesopotamia- Greek means “between the rivers” Richest soil is between the Tigris and Euphrates River. Both Rivers begin in Turkey and flow south through Iraq. Mesopotamia geographic conditions brought worlds first civilization.

Mesopotamia Farming- flat, swampy area Rivers flooded leaving behind fertile mud- silt food- people Challenges- little rainfall, rivers overflow Leaders formed government/civilization Have the students underline silt. The silt would enrich the soil. Farmers able to grow grains such as wheat and barely. Came up with solutions to control the water, canals, basins to store water,

Complete Middle East Map Use pages 114-115 in Desk Atlas to complete the map

Ancient Middle East

Sumerian First civilizations in Mesopotamia between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Sumeria built huts, raised cattle, farmed for food Temples= ziggurats First gather in large city- states City-state political unit with own government First Civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates River. Ziggurats= each city center a large temple rose to the city’s chief god.

Ancient History- The Sumerians Developed first written language= cuneiform (5oo characters) First people use the wheel/plow Reservoirs store water Invented the library Polytheism worship of many gods Conquered by Sargon (Akkadians) Cuneiform use sharp tools called styluses to make wedge shaped symbols on clay tablets. Usage of the wheel was for making carts for farming and trade. Use of pottery. Usage of bronze to make weapons Sumerians believed gods were like humans ate, fell in love, married, fought BUT had lots of power(rich harvests or floods)

Deciphering Cuneiform

The Babylonian Empire Around 2000 BC tribe Amorites settled in Babylon on Euphrates River 1792 BC Hammurabi became king of Babylon Hammurabi warrior, ruler, administrator, trade Hammurabi’s Code 282 code of laws (dealing with trade, theft, murder)  Written down for all to see  Everyone knew punishments Hammurabi oversaw building projects and improved tax-collection system to pay for them, schools taught Sumerian language and cuneiform writing

Hittite War-like Indo-Euro tribe Asia Minor, now Turkey Success came from horse- drawn war chariot powerful  held 3 soldiers (one drove, second fought, third defense)

Hittite Used Sumerian cuneiform and developed similar code to Hammurabi Master ironworking techniques (Ornaments, tools, weapons) Empire fell to Sea People

Assyrians Northern Mesopotamia, near Assur, along Tigris River Grew barley and raised cattle Lay along major trade routes, tribes invaded Power was in military warrior society  Chariots, foot soldiers AND cavalry  Siege Warfare  Feared for harsh treatment Siege warfare surrounding and blocking of a city, town or fortress by an army attempting to capture it

Assyrian Kings ruled through local leaders local leaders collected taxes, enforced laws, raised troops for army System of roads ( messengers, troops moving easier, trade) Punished anyone who opposed them (way of keeping peace) Library 20,000 cuneiform tablets (Epic of Gilgamesh) Assyrian Empire weakened Harsh punishment would cut up the people and feed to the dogs, wolves Epic of Gilgamesh- written on 12 tablets

Chaldeans Most famous ruler Nebuchanezzar II Built numerous palaces and temples Hanging Gardens thousands of trees and flowers grew on terraces and roofs Calendar based on phases of moon- astronomy position of the stars Hanging Gardens 7 wonders of the world Astronomy position of the stars and sued them to track economic, political and weather events

Phoenicians Western end of Fertile Crescent (Mediterranean Sea) Land not for farming turned to trade (sailors) trees for timber Purple dye from shellfish color fabric, costly Glassblowing Formed Carthage- coast of northern Africa One of the worlds first alphabets (22 letters) Alphabets letters can be combined to make words System of writing use symbols or pictures