1. The Major Regions of the Middle East
Middle East Geography
The Major Regions of the Middle East

2. Region 1: The Northern Tier (Turkey-Iran)
Mountains area with plateaus
Has a relatively large population

3. Region 1: The Northern Tier (Turkey-Iran)
The Iranian Plateau is found here in the East
Surrounded by mountains
Region is very DRY
DRY = BAD FARMING
BAD FARMING = LOW POPULATION
Persian Empire was found here
The Anatolian Plateau is found here in the West
Surrounded by mountains
Has very rich soil
Rich soil = good farming
Good farming = HIGH POPULATION
Found on Asia Minor – home of Ottoman Empire

4. Region 2: Arabian Peninsula
Smaller in population due to lack of water
Remember No Water + No Farming = No People
Most people here live in scattered oases
An oasis is fertile dessert that has enough water to sustain life
Contains a large supply of oil
Arabian peninsula plays huge role in world economy because of oil
Saudi Arabia is found here
Countries like this have become very $$$$ because of oil

5. Region 2: Arabian Peninsula

6. Region 2: Arabian Peninsula
Birthplace of Islam
The Holy City of Mecca is found here
Attracting Muslims from around the globe to this part of the Middle East

7. Region 3: The Fertile Crescent
Stretched down the Eastern Mediterranean along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Contains abundant water and rich soil
Rich/Good Soil + A lot of Water = High population
Large center of population
Location of Mesopotamia
Means “land between the rivers”
The regions wealthiest settlements were found here

8. Region 3: The Fertile Crescent
Fertile Crescent has little natural barriers
Provides little protection
Mesopotamia was often invaded because of little protection and wealthy cities/people
Land of the Fertile Crescent
Because the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are unpredictable land; flooding may occur causing destruction and devastation
Farmers have built dikes and canals to control the flooding

9. Region 3: The Fertile Crescent

10. Region 4: The Nile Valley
Considered to be the Cradle of Civilization
Enjoyed great advantages from it’s location
Desserts were found on both the east and the west
Flooding of the Nile River was predictable and dependable
The deserts in the area protect it from invaders
Trade was important
Access to the Nile and the Mediterranean linked people here to the people of the Fertile Crescent

11. Region 4: The Nile Valley

12. Region 5: Northern Africa (aka: Maghreb)
Includes the Northern African nations of:
Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco
Other African countries share cultural links with this region
Libya, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania
Maghreb means “Western Isle” in Arabic
Located West of Arabian Peninsula
Location of the Sahara Desert and Atlas Mountains
Little/No Water Here = No Population

13. Region 5: Northern Africa (aka: Maghreb)

14. Region 5: Northern Africa (aka: Maghreb)
Most people in this area live along the Mediterranean coast
Fertile soil + Rain = High Population
Major Crossroads – Connecting the Middle East with Africa, Europe, and the West
Gateway to the Atlantic

15. Climate of the Middle East
Climate Dictates where people live
Water = Good Soil
Good Soil = A lot of people
People gather in areas where water is plentiful
Irrigation systems were built in some areas to help get water to where it was not found
Desalination is very popular here
Turing salt water into usable fresh water

16. Resources of the Middle East
Oil is the most valuable resource here
Helps to run the world’s economy
Oil is unevenly distributed across the Middle East
Explains the fact some countries are quite rich while other countries are very poor
Salt
Phosphate – used in fertilizers
Copper