1. Economy of the Middle East

2. Middle East? OR Near East? OR Southwest Asia? OR….?

3. Includes 25+ territories
Western Sahara is disputed
5.91 million square miles

4. Location Almost 2 times the size of US
Located at latitudes equivalent Boston and Bogota

5. Population Around 600 million people
Majority of population in four countries:
Iran
Egypt
Turkey
Pakistan
Why is this?

6. Natural Vegetation Map

7. Climate Map

8. Has a high population growth
Developing countries
Muslim cultures
Palestine, one of the highest growth rates in the world
The more urban the population, the wealthier the country
Kuwait

10. On the other hand…..
Desperately poor countries urban population is less than 32%
Ex:
Afghanistan
Sudan
Yemen

11. Water in the Middle East!
Black Sea
Caspian 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

12. Tigris-Euphrates River System
Land in between, historically called Mesopotamia
“Land between two rivers”
Shared by Iraq, Turkey, and Syria
Part of the Fertile Crescent
Marsh, swamps, shallows

13. The Jordan River System
extremely important resource to surrounding countries
Where Jesus was baptized
Sections still used for baptism

14. The Dead Sea 1,385 ft. below sea level
Lowest Place on Earth
One of the saltiest bodies of water
Has a high buoyancy-people can easily float
Health benefits

15. The Arabian Peninsula and It’s Oil

16. 2/3 of the world’s oil is located in the Middle East (most located along the Persian Gulf and in Iraq)

17. The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.

18. The Oil Giant of Saudi Arabia
Occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula
Homeland of Arab civilization and Islam
Interior is plateau
Has no permanent rivers!
Saudization

19. Persian Gulf Oil Exports

20. Saudi Oil Has the largest amount of proven oil reserves in the world
Produces 2nd largest amount of oil
Ghawar, worlds largest oil field

21. Bahrain Small island Connected to SA by four-lane causeway
Also center for oil refinement, but running out of oil
Only country of Arabian Penninsula to allow women to vote

23. Qatar
UAE
On worlds third largest natural gas reserve
4/5 of population are imported workers because of that industry
Home of al-Jazeera
But before the oil and gas….
Confederation of seven units
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the oil economic centers
Because of oil, UAE is successfully diversifying its economy
More liberal, especially Dubai

25. Source of ancient worlds frankincense
Yemen
Oman
Source of ancient worlds frankincense
Capital, Muscat vital trade port between ME-SA
Been U.S. allies in Gulf War and War in Iraq
Located on mountainous southern tip
Receives heaviest rainfall of the peninsula
Struggling economy
Lack of industrial production
Immigrant Yemen workers
Late oil discovery

27. Iraq Why such a hot spot? Tigris and Euphrates used for agriculture
Sunni
Shi’ite
Kurd
Tigris and Euphrates used for agriculture
Baghdad is everything!
Located perfectly

28. Continued….. Oil is main source of revenue
Should have allowed them to thrive, but….
Arab Baath Socialist Party

29. Iran Used to be Persia, until occupied by British
Restoration of the “shah”
Reza Pahlavi
1979, Khomeini
Islamic Republic

30. Continued… First country in ME to produce oil
Also, pistachio and Persian rugs
Mostly Mts., plateau and desert
Northwest region able to grow subtropical crops
Majority depend on irrigation

31. Kuwait Size of New Jersey
Yet, 4th largest store of petroleum resources
From poor fishers and farmers to wealthy urbanized state
OIL ONLY!

32. U.S. and Iraq
Iran-Iraq War
1991 Gulf War
2003 War in Iraq

33. U.S. and Iran 1980 Iraq Iran War 1980 Tehran Hostages
2002 “Axis of Evil”
Straight of Hormuz/Nuclear capabilities

34. ACTIVITY
Using the chart, create a trade flow map of how the U.S. obtains oil from around the world.
Be sure to indicate the amount of oil imported by arrow size.

35. Trade Flow Map Examples