1. Physical Landscape and The People
The Middle East
Physical Landscape and The People

2. Physical Middle East Also known as “Southwest Asia”
Sometimes also includes North Africa
Islam
Arabic language
Oil

3. Physical Middle East

4. Physical Middle East A crossroads of civilization
Africa, Asia, and Europe are connected through trade routes
Migrating people spread ideas, inventions, etc.
Culture originating in the Middle East
Iron making
Alphabet
Judaism, Christianity, Islam

5. Physical Middle East

6. Physical Middle East
The Middle East is also important to the world for economic reasons
Control of important sea routes
Control of large oil reserves

7. Major Regions Five major regions Northern Tier Arabian Peninsula
Fertile Crescent
Nile Valley
The Maghreb

8. Major Regions Northern Tier Turkey to Iran (pg. 552)
Mountains and plateaus
Diverse:
Anatolian Plateau in Turkey: fertile soil, large population
Iranian Plateau: dry, small population

9. Major Regions Arabian Peninsula Large plateau
Largest country: Saudi Arabia
Small population:
Lack of water
Oasis: fertile desert area that has enough water to support life
Large amounts of oil
Birthplace of Islam

10. Major Regions Fertile Crescent
Eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf
Rich soil, abundant water
Major population center
Hotspot for early civilizations
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

11. Major Regions Nile Valley
Important historical connections between the people of Egypt and the people of the Fertile Crescent
Judaism

12. Climate and Resources Nearly all of the region is desert
Lack of water caused some adaptations
Building of irrigation systems
Desalination: taking the salt out of sea water to make it drinkable

13. Climate and Resources Oil Most valuable resource in the Middle East
Problem: unevenly distributed

15. The People Ethnic diversity
Arab: anyone whose native language is Arabic
Majority of people in Middle East are Arab
Turks, Iranians, Kurds

16. The People Religious Diversity Islam is the majority religion
Most Arabs are Muslim
Christianity, Judaism
Judaism is the most ancient of the three religions from the region

17. Review The Middle East is a crossroads Five Major Regions:
Northern Tier, Arabian Peninsula, Fertile Crescent, Nile Valley, The Maghreb
Resources: Oil
Vocabulary:
Southwest Asia, oasis, desalination, Arab,