1. Middle Eastern Geography

2. Different Names for the Same Thing
Why are there so many names for the same place?
Why are there so many names for the same place?
Middle East
Southwest Asia
Cradle of Civilization
Crossroads of the World
What do the names mean?
What do the names mean?

3. Middle East
The “Middle East” links up three major continents and many different groups of people regard this area as an extremely important part of the world.
The area received this name from the Europeans who referred to countries that were closer to Eastern Europe as the “Middle East” while countries that were further away were termed “Far East”.

4. Cradle of Civilization
Most of the archeological research shows that the first civilizations started in this part of the world
This is NOT where humans first appeared, but it is where they first built their civilizations.

5. Southwest Asia
This term refers to the proper geographic region these countries fall into (they are literally located in SW Asia)

6. Crossroads of the World
The use of this phrase comes from the fact the these countries link up three major continents (Asia, Europe and Africa) and many peoples passed through, settled and exchanged ideas here.

7. Eastern Mediterranean
An area of mostly arid/desert climates with some areas that receive rain located mostly along the coast of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. 195&199

8. Turkey
Turkey has two major mountain ranges, the Pontic Mountains in the north and the Taurus Mountains in the South.

9. Physical Features (Land)
Turkey is located both in the continent of Europe and Asia (p. 195)

10. Physical Features (Land) contd.
Syrian Desert: a desert that covers most of Syria and Jordan and is made up of mostly rock and gravel (p.106)
Negev Desert: a desert that is located mostly in southern Israel (p.197)

11. Physical Features (Water)
Bosporus: a waterway that connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea (see pg. 198).
Very important for TRADE because many ships travel through here.
Jordan River: begins in Syria and flows south through Israel and Jordan where it empties into the Dead Sea. (p. 195)

12. The Jordan River System:
Israel & Jordan--A Fight Over Water Rights?

13. Dead Sea: a large lake located on the border of Israel and Jordan that is extremely salty only allowing bacteria to grow there and it’s the lowest point on earth. (see pg. 197)

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

15. Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran
A region dominated by deserts with some areas receiving rainfall near Mountain ranges and coastlines. (p.221)
Climate can be very hot and very cold because the desert experiences extreme temperatures since it has little moisture to moderate the temperature. (p. 222)

16. Physical Features (Land)
Rub al-Khali (a.k.a. “Empty Quarter”): a desert located mostly in southern Saudi Arabia and is the largest all-sand desert in the world. (p.106)
Fertile Crescent: a region that stretches from the Mediterranean sea and stretches to the Persian Gulf including most of the area between and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. (p.231)

17. Rub al-Khali: “The Empty Quarter”

18. Desert Bedouins

19. Fertile Crescent

20. The Fertile Crescent

21. Physical Features (Land)
Iran is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. (p. 221)
West: Zagros Mtns.
North: Elburz Mtns.
Most of Iran is desert but the mountains and portions of the desert do have trees. (p. 221)

22. Mountain Ranges in Mid-East
Elburz Mts., Iran
Zagros Mts., Iran
Pontic Mts., Turkey
Taurus Mts., Turkey

23. Mountains & Plateaus Caucasus Mts. Elburz Mts. Anatolian Plateau
Taurus Mts.
Iranian Plateau
Zagros Mts.
Atlas Mts.
Hejaz Mts.

24. Physical Features (Water)
Persian Gulf: large body of water borders by Saudi Arabia to the West, Kuwait/Iraq to the North and Iran to the East. (p.221)
Many important ports are located along this body of water because a lot of the world’s oil is shipped out from here.

25. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: Rivers that mostly run through what is modern day Iraq. The land between the two rivers is very rich and fertile and gave rise to some of the first civilizations in the world. (Q#9)
Red Sea: major body of water located West of the Arabian Peninsula (Q#8)

26. The Tigris & Euphrates River System
Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers”
Marsh Arabs, So. Iraq

27. Dust Storms Along the Tigris-Euphrates Flood Plains

28. Suez Canal
Suez Canal: body of water located in Egypt that “connects” the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. (p.106)
Very important for trade because many of the goods from Europe and the Far East travel through here
Makes a lot of money for the Egyptians because they charge fees to pass through.

29. Suez Canal
Completed by the British in 1869

30. Bodies of Water Caspian Sea Black Sea Dardanelles Strait
Atlantic Ocean
Tigris River
Mediterranean Sea
Euphrates River
Jordan River
Suez Canal
Strait of Hormuz
Persian Gulf
Nile River
Gulf of Oman
Red Sea
Arabian Sea
Gulf of Aden
Indian Ocean

31. The Middle East Today: Political Map2 4 5 1
6--> 7
<--8 3

32. Deserts Negev Desert Sinai Desert Libyan Desert Arabian Desert
Rub al-Khali
Sahara Desert

33. Completed Map Caucasus Mts. Black Sea Caspian Sea Dardanelles Strait
Anatolian Plateau
Elburz Mts.
Atlantic Ocean
Mediterranean Sea
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Taurus Mts.
Iranian Plateau
Jordan River
Zagros Mts.
Atlas Mts.
Negev Desert
Sinai Desert
Suez Canal
Strait of Hormuz
Arabian Desert
Persian Gulf
Libyan Desert
Nile River
Gulf of Oman
Rub al-Khali
Red Sea
Hejaz Mts.
Sahara Desert
Arabian Sea
Gulf of Aden
Indian Ocean

34. The Middle East vs. the U. S. Latitude Lines

35. Middle East: Climate Regions

36. Middle East: Population Density

37. The Middle East: Natural Vegetation

38. The Natural Resources of the Middle East

39. Middle East Resources
The two most important resources in the Middle East are WATER and OIL.

40. Resources: Water
Water: There is little of this resource in this arid climate and it is vital to one’s survival. (drink, grow food)
Irrigation: to supply an area of land with water by means of ditches, canals, pipes or some man made method.

41. Wadis – Instant Springs

42. Desert Oases: Water at a Premium!

43. Fresh Groundwater Sources

44. Irrigation

45. Desalinization Plants

46. Resources: Oil
Oil: There is a lot of this resource throughout the region making many Middle Eastern countries very wealthy.
However, there are some countries that do not have a lot of oil reserves and they are either
Poor OR
Successful because they have developed another part of their economy.
(I.E.) Israel: leader in the diamond cutting industry and other technology businesses.

47. Resource Oil (Contd.) KEY CONCEPT STATEMENT: More Oil  More $ 
More Buildings (i.e. schools, hospitals, police, fire, roads) 
Better education, health, trade/economy 
Better standard of living (life)

48. World Oil Reserves

49. Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

50. Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

51. Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil
Kuwait City

52. Leading U. S. Oil Suppliers
The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.