2. Crossroads? http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=& q=valley+forge+road+and+sumneytown+pike&sll=37.0625,- 95.677068&sspn=33.901528,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=S+V alley+Forge+Rd+%26+Sumneytown+Pike,+Lansdale,+Montgomery, +Pennsylvania+19446&z=16 A crossroad you may know! Continents meet For years, the Middle of trade routes

3. Strategically located? Military – why? Economic – Oil, trade routes

4. Northern Tier

6. Northern Iraq

7. Southern Turkey!

8. Arabian Peninsula

11. Oasis A fertile desert area that has enough water to support plant and animal life

12. Fertile Crescent Where first civilizations started Around the major river systems LOTS of good farming = LOTS of people!

14. Nile Valley

17. Desalination – taking salt out of water; VERY expensive Judaism (Jewish) Christianity (Christian) Islam (Muslim) ARAB: Native language is Arabic