Chapter 25, Sections 1,2. The Land and the People And Early Civilizations of the Middle East.

Chapter 25, Sections 1,2.

The Land and the People

And Early Civilizations of the Middle East

The Arabian Peninsula

Borders on Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia is the largest country. Has small population, due to lack of water in the barren

desert.

The Fertile Crescent is arc-shaped, and stretches from the Mediterranean Sea along the

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to the Persian Gulf. It has rich soil and high population.

The Nile Valley

• Nile Valley- The flooding of the Nile is both predictable and dependable. It is protected from invaders by deserts.

Egyptians traded with the people of the Fertile Crescent.

The Maghreb

Means “The Western Isle”, and is surrounded by mountains, deserts, and water. It includes the North

African regions of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Major religions of the Middle East include Islam, Christianity, and

Judaism..

Sumer (Sumerian Civilization)

• The first civilization in the Middle East. It sprung up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Men learned to read and write there.

The Persian Empire

500BC-Spread across Asia Minor to the Indus Valley. The Persians allowed conquered peoples to retain

their languages, customs and religions.

Hammurabi’s Code

Contained 282 laws regulating economic, social, and moral affairs. Tried to make the punishment fit the crime. (An eye for an eye).

Zoroastrianism

Persian religion that included many gods controlling nature, and Magi (priests) trying to win their favor. Zoroaster believed there was a great war between

evil and good gods.

Hellenistic Civilization

A blend of Greek and Middle Eastern culture that arose from the conquests of Alexander of Macedonia. Its center was Alexandria, Egypt.