Overview of the Middle East

Northern Tier Region of mountains and plateaus Anatolian Plateau Iranian Region of mountains and plateaus Mountains create defenses A.P. has fertile soil and large pop. I.P. is dry and has low pop. Persian and Ottoman Empires Fertile Crescent Nile River Valley Arabian Peninsula Cultural hearth Tigris & Euphrates Rrs. flood depending on snow – unpredictable Lack natural defenses Control shifted often Cultural Hearth (Egyptians) Nile floods predictably Continuity in Kingdoms Natural defenses (desert) Lots of land (1/3 size of US) Low population scattered around oases 10% arable land Vast oil fields

Maghreb Founded by Islamic invasions Arab term means “Western Isle” Atlas Mts. to N and Sahara D. to S Population along Med. Sea coast Invasion launching point

Coping with the Climate Lack of rainfall and scarcity of water Early peoples built irrigation systems Improved upon through history Desalination plants invested in

Oil Salt, phosphate, copper resources Oil is most important Oil fields are unevenly distributed across the Middle East How has this led to disparity and conflict in the region?

Diversity in the Middle East Seven major languages Thousands of local languages/dialects Three major religions, each divided into many sects 19 countries and over 400 million people “Arabs” are main group

What is an “Arab”? Arabs are majority group in most Middle East countries In 600’s, Arabs conquered others Assimilation To conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or culture Diffusion Movement of customs or ideas from one culture to another Today, anyone who’s main language is Arabic

Religious Diversity and conflict Islam is dominant religion Jerusalem considered holy by three religions How can these problems be solved? List five things you know about the conflicts in the Middle East Explain in a brief paragraph explaining why location has affected the cultural diversity of the region