1. Crossroads of the World
The Middle East
Crossroads of the World

2. What is the Middle East? Region in Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia, (The Middle East), is the landmass that connects the three major continents found primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere: Europe, Asia, & Africa
Extends from
Morocco to Iran

3. What is the Middle East? Its people share common traits: language
history
religion
Access to many
major waterways
The Tigris River

4. Climate Short period of rainfall Rains wash away topsoil
Temperature extremes
Hot and dry
Deserts and green coastal lands

5. Natural Resources
Oil is the Middle East’s most important natural resource
70% of the world’s known oil reserves are located in the Middle East
Middle Eastern countries produce 2/3 of the world’s oil

6. Natural Resources
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil producer

7. Natural Resources Other natural resources include:
gold, iron, and copper
Water is scarce and difficult to harness
Fertile river valleys and coastal lands
Aswan High Dam in Egypt

8. Geographic Features
Desert – an area that has less than 10 inches of annual rainfall
Arabian Desert
Syrian Desert
Oasis – fertile place in a desert where water is available through an underground spring

9. Southwest Asia The Middle East
The Middle East is also called Southwest Asia, because it is the southwest region of the Asian continent
This is important to know because different resources may call this region by either name
Middle East = Southwest Asia = Middle East
Southwest Asia
The Middle East

11. Five Physical Regions Northern Tier Arabian Peninsula Fertile Crescent
Nile River Valley
Maghreb
Beach in Lebanon

12. 1. The Northern Tier Stretches across present-day Turkey and Iran
Anatolian Peninsula
* fertile soil and moisture available for farming to support a large population
Iranian Plateau
* Elburz and Zagros Mountain ranges
* dry region with a small population
A bazaar in Turkey

13. 2. Arabian Peninsula
A plateau that borders the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf
Mostly barren desert
Beneath the desert is a huge amount of oil, which supports the country
Small population because of lack of water
Most of the population lives around the oases

14. 2. Arabian Peninsula
Birthplace of Islam

15. 3. Fertile Crescent
Arc-shaped region that stretches from the eastern Mediterranean along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to the Persian Gulf
Rich soil and abundant water have led to a large population

16. 3. Fertile Crescent

17. Mesopotamia “land between two rivers” Part of the Fertile Crescent
Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Located in modern-day Iraq
Land is very fertile
Some of the earliest civilizations began here
Ancient Babylon

18. 4. Nile River Valley Located in northeastern Africa
Nile River supports the population of this region

19. 5. Maghreb North African nations of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco
Lies west of the Arabian Peninsula
Isolated land surrounded by water, mountains, and deserts

20. 5. Maghreb Sahara Desert and Atlas Mountains
Few people live here because of scarcity of water
Major crossroad of the southern rim of Mediterranean
Gateway to the Atlantic Ocean
Mosque in Morocco

21. Review Questions
1) The Middle East is at the crossroads of which 3 continents?
2) Describe the climate of the Middle East.
3) What country produces the most oil?
4) Define oasis.
5) Which 2 rivers make up the region called Mesopotamia?