1. Major Regions

2. 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

4. 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

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

7. 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

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

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