1. Overview of the Middle East

2. Northern Tier Region of mountains and plateaus
Anatolian
Plateau
Iranian
Region of mountains and plateaus
Mountains create defenses
A.P. has fertile soil and large pop.
I.P. is dry and has low pop.
Persian and Ottoman Empires
Fertile Crescent
Nile River Valley
Arabian Peninsula
Cultural hearth
Tigris & Euphrates Rrs. flood depending on snow – unpredictable
Lack natural defenses
Control shifted often
Cultural Hearth (Egyptians)
Nile floods predictably
Continuity in Kingdoms
Natural defenses (desert)
Lots of land (1/3 size of US)
Low population scattered around oases
10% arable land
Vast oil fields

3. Maghreb Founded by Islamic invasions Arab term means “Western Isle”
Atlas Mts. to N and Sahara D. to S
Population along Med. Sea coast
Invasion launching point

4. Coping with the Climate
Lack of rainfall and scarcity of water
Early peoples built irrigation systems
Improved upon through history
Desalination plants invested in

5. Oil Salt, phosphate, copper resources Oil is most important
Oil fields are unevenly distributed across the Middle East
How has this led to disparity and conflict in the region?

6. Diversity in the Middle East
Seven major languages
Thousands of local languages/dialects
Three major religions, each divided into many sects
19 countries and over 400 million people
“Arabs” are main group

7. What is an “Arab”?
Arabs are majority group in most Middle East countries
In 600’s, Arabs conquered others
Assimilation
To conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or culture
Diffusion
Movement of customs or ideas from one culture to another
Today, anyone who’s main language is Arabic

8. Religious Diversity and conflict
Islam is dominant religion
Jerusalem considered holy by three religions
How can these problems be solved?
List five things you know about the conflicts in the Middle East
Explain in a brief paragraph explaining why location has affected the cultural diversity of the region