Mar 26, 2015
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.