1. Major Regions

2. The Northern Tier Across Turkey and Iran –Anatolian Plateau: ringed by mountains, fertile region, supports farming, large population –Iranian Plateau: ringed by mountains, dry region, no farming, small population

4. Arabian Peninsula About 1/3 the size of the United States Borders major bodies of water Small population b/c most of it is a desert Major role in world economy –OIL Home of Islam

6. Fertile Crescent Arc-shaped region Mediterranean Tigris & Euphrates Persian Gulf

7. Fertile Crescent Home to first civilizations: Mesopotamia Few natural barriers led to being conquered often throughout history Region floods unpredictably in spring or summer –Too much=disaster; too little=drought

8. Nile Valley Geographic Advantages –Ample natural barriers Deserts in the east and west –Predictable & dependable flooding

10. The Maghreb Maghreb means ‘Western Isle’ in Arabic Northern Africa People concentrated near Mediterranean Coast Small population in Sahara and Atlas Mtns