Different Names for the Same Thing What do the names mean? Why are there so many names for the same place?

Different Names for the Same Thing

What do the names mean?What do the names mean?

Why are there so many names for the same place?

Why are there so many names for the same place?

Middle East

The “Middle East” links up three major continents and many different groups of people regard this area as an extremely important part of the world.

The area received this name from the Europeans who referred to

countries that were closer to Eastern Europe as the “Middle East” while countries that were further away were termed “Far East”.

Cradle of Civilization

Most of the archeological research shows that the first civilizations started in this part of the world

This is NOT where humans first appeared, but it is where they

first built their civilizations.

Southwest Asia

This term refers to the proper geographic region these

countries fall into (they are literally located in SW Asia)

Crossroads of the World

The use of this phrase comes from the fact the these countries link up three major continents (Asia, Europe and Africa) and many peoples passed through, settled and exchanged ideas here.

Eastern Mediterranean

An area of mostly arid/desert climates with some areas that receive rain located mostly along the coast of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. 195&199

Turkey

Turkey has two major mountain ranges, the Pontic Mountains in the north and the Taurus Mountains in the South.

Physical Features (Land)

Turkey is located both in the continent of Europe and Asia (p. 195)

Physical Features (Land) contd.

Syrian Desert: a desert that covers most of Syria and Jordan and is made up of mostly rock and gravel (p.106)

Negev Desert: a desert that is located mostly in southern Israel (p.197)

Physical Features (Water)

Bosporus: a waterway that connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea (see pg. 198). – Very important for TRADE because

many ships travel through here.

Jordan River: begins in Syria and flows south through Israel and Jordan where it empties into the Dead Sea. (p. 195)

TheJordan RiverSystem:

Israel & Jordan--A Fight OverWater Rights?

Dead Sea: a large lake located on the border of Israel and Jordan that is extremely salty only allowing bacteria to grow there and it’s the lowest point on earth. (see pg. 197)

Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth

HighestSaltContent(33%)

HighestSaltContent(33%)

2,300’ below sea level2,300’ below sea level

Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran

A region dominated by deserts with some areas receiving rainfall near Mountain ranges and coastlines. (p.221)

Climate can be very hot and very cold because the desert experiences extreme temperatures since it has little moisture to moderate the temperature. (p. 222)

Physical Features (Land)

Rub al-Khali (a.k.a. “Empty Quarter”): a desert located mostly in southern Saudi Arabia and is the largest all-sand desert in the world. (p.106)

Fertile Crescent: a region that stretches from the Mediterranean sea and stretches to the Persian Gulf including most of the area between and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. (p.231)

Rub al-Khali:“The Empty Quarter”

Desert Bedouins

Fertile Crescent

The Fertile Crescent

Physical Features (Land)

Iran is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. (p. 221)

West: Zagros Mtns.North: Elburz Mtns.Most of Iran is desert but the

mountains and portions of the desert do have trees. (p. 221)

Mountain Ranges in Mid-East

Elburz Mts., IranElburz Mts., Iran Zagros Mts., IranZagros Mts., Iran

Pontic Mts., TurkeyPontic Mts., Turkey Taurus Mts., TurkeyTaurus Mts., Turkey

Mountains & Plateaus

Atlas Mts.

El

burz

Mts

.

Taurus

Mts. Zagros

Mts.

Iranian Plateau

AnatolianPlateau

Caucasus Mts.

Heja

z Mts.

Physical Features (Water)

Persian Gulf: large body of water borders by Saudi Arabia to the West, Kuwait/Iraq to the North and Iran to the East. (p.221)–Many important ports are located

along this body of water because a lot of the world’s oil is shipped out from here.

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: Rivers that mostly run through what is modern day Iraq. The land between the two rivers is very rich and fertile and gave rise to some of the first civilizations in the world. (Q#9)

Red Sea: major body of water located West of the Arabian Peninsula (Q#8)

The Tigris & Euphrates

River System

Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers”

Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers”

Marsh Arabs, So. IraqMarsh Arabs, So. Iraq

Dust Storms Along the Tigris-Euphrates Flood Plains

Suez Canal

Suez Canal: body of water located in Egypt that “connects” the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. (p.106)– Very important for trade because

many of the goods from Europe and the Far East travel through here

–Makes a lot of money for the Egyptians because they charge fees to pass through.

Suez Canal

Completed by the British in 1869Completed by the British in 1869

Bodies of Water

TigrisRiver

Nile River

EuphratesRiver

Jordan River Persian Gulf

ArabianSea

Mediterranean Sea

IndianOcean

Red Sea

Black Sea

Gulf of Aden

Strait ofHormuz

Suez Canal

Dardanelles Strait

AtlanticOcean

Gulf ofOman

Caspian

Sea

The Middle East Today:Political Map

1

2

3

456--> 7<--8

Deserts

Sahara Desert

ArabianDesert

NegevDesert

SinaiDesertLibyan

DesertRubal-Khali

Completed Map

TigrisRiver

Nile River

EuphratesRiver

Jordan River Persian Gulf

ArabianSea

Mediterranean Sea

IndianOcean

Red Sea

Black Sea

Gulf of Aden

Strait ofHormuz

Suez Canal

Dardanelles Strait

AtlanticOcean

Gulf ofOman

Caspian

Sea

ArabianDesert

NegevDesert

SinaiDesert

Rubal-Khali

Atlas Mts.

El

burz

Mts

.

Taurus

Mts. Zagros

Mts.

Iranian Plateau

AnatolianPlateau

Caucasus Mts.

Heja

z Mts.Sahara Desert

Libyan Desert

The Middle East vs. the U. S.Latitude Lines

Middle East: Climate Regions

Middle East: Population Density

The Middle East:Natural Vegetation

The Natural Resources of theMiddle East

Middle East Resources

The two most important resources in the Middle East are WATER and OIL.

Resources: Water

Water: There is little of this resource in this arid climate and it is vital to one’s survival. (drink, grow food)

Irrigation: to supply an area of land with water by means of ditches, canals, pipes or some man made method.

Wadis – Instant Springs

Desert Oases: Water at a Premium!

Fresh Groundwater Sources

Irrigation

Desalinization

Plants

Resources: OilOil: There is a lot of this resource

throughout the region making many Middle Eastern countries very wealthy.

However, there are some countries that do not have a lot of oil reserves and they are either– Poor OR– Successful because they have developed

another part of their economy.(I.E.) Israel: leader in the diamond cutting industry and other technology businesses.

Resource Oil (Contd.)

KEY CONCEPT STATEMENT:–More Oil –More $ –More Buildings (i.e. schools,

hospitals, police, fire, roads) – Better education, health,

trade/economy – Better standard of living (life)

World Oil Reserves

Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil

KuwaitCity

KuwaitCity

Leading U. S. Oil Suppliers

The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.