The Middle The Middle EastEast

The Land The Land and the and the peoplepeople

Agenda•Problems of the ME ActivityProblems of the ME Activity•Hwk: Notes.Hwk: Notes.• If Time: MapsIf Time: Maps•Review MapsReview Maps•Objective: To identify key Objective: To identify key

geographic features of the geographic features of the Middle East and explain how it Middle East and explain how it affects people that live their.affects people that live their.

Save the Last WordSave the Last Word• Get into Get into main Groupsmain Groups• Person who is Person who is oldestoldest will will read 1 read 1

statementstatement to the group to the group• Each group member in Each group member in clockwise order clockwise order

will respond-write down responseswill respond-write down responses• Then Then original person says their original person says their

commentcomment on the back on the back• RepeatRepeat through four statements through four statements• Then person to the Then person to the left goesleft goes. .. .• When done When done go to article two!go to article two!

reviewreview•How did water scarcity lead How did water scarcity lead

to problems in the Me?to problems in the Me?•How can oil be a problem for How can oil be a problem for

the future of the Me?the future of the Me?•How does the environment How does the environment

shape cultures in the Me?shape cultures in the Me?

The Middle The Middle EastEast

The Land The Land and the and the peoplepeople

Agenda•Review-8 CardsReview-8 Cards•Hwk: Notes.Hwk: Notes.•MapsMaps•Review MapsReview Maps•Objective: To identify key Objective: To identify key

geographic features of the geographic features of the Middle East and explain how it Middle East and explain how it affects people that live there.affects people that live there.

reviewreview•How did water scarcity lead How did water scarcity lead

to problems in the Me?to problems in the Me?•How can oil be a problem for How can oil be a problem for

the future of the Me?the future of the Me?•How does the environment How does the environment

shape cultures in the Me?shape cultures in the Me?

The Middle The Middle EastEast

The Land The Land and the and the peoplepeople

Agenda•The Crossroad NotesThe Crossroad Notes•Hwk: Maps/NotesHwk: Maps/Notes•MapsMaps•Review MapsReview Maps•Objective: To identify key Objective: To identify key geographic features of the geographic features of the Middle East and explain Middle East and explain how it affects people that how it affects people that live their.live their.

The CrossRoadsThe CrossRoads•What’s in a name?What’s in a name?•Europeans invented Europeans invented the term (early 20th the term (early 20th century) century) to describe to describe the region that lies the region that lies between Europe and between Europe and the Far Eastthe Far East (China, (China, Japan, Korea, etc.)Japan, Korea, etc.)

•GeographicallyGeographicallySSouthwest Asiaouthwest Asia•LinguisticallyLinguisticallyAraArab Worldb World•ReligiouslyReligiously Islamic World Islamic World (poor choice)(poor choice)

The CrossRoadsThe CrossRoads•Crossroads of the WorldCrossroads of the World•Middle East stands at Middle East stands at the the connectionconnection of three of three continents (Africa, continents (Africa, Europe, Asia)Europe, Asia)•Connected Connected major trade major trade routesroutes both overland and both overland and by sea.by sea.

•Ideas and inventions have Ideas and inventions have spread across this region spread across this region ((DiffusionDiffusion))

•Strategic LocationStrategic Location

1.     vast 1.     vast oil reservesoil reserves

2.     2.     military and military and economiceconomic significance significance

3.     vital 3.     vital sea routessea routes

The CrossRoadsThe CrossRoads•Characteristics—More Characteristics—More than Deserts and than Deserts and CamelsCamels

•Very diverse but Very diverse but generally…..generally…..

•DryDry—most areas —most areas receive less than receive less than 8 8 inchesinches of rain per year of rain per year

•HotHot—during the summer skies —during the summer skies are clear and are clear and temps soar over temps soar over 100 degrees.100 degrees.

•Adapt: Farmers must raise Adapt: Farmers must raise crops that require little rain crops that require little rain and can stand hot temps. and can stand hot temps. (barley, wheat)(barley, wheat)

•Less than Less than 10%10% of the land of the land receives enough receives enough water to make water to make farmingfarming possible. possible.

The CrossRoadsThe CrossRoads•WaterWater•Water is the key issue in the Water is the key issue in the Middle East. It Middle East. It determines life!determines life!

•Water determines Water determines where people where people live, how long they stay, how live, how long they stay, how many can live there, caused many can live there, caused wars, forced people to move wars, forced people to move long distances, and has caused long distances, and has caused people to prosper or perishpeople to prosper or perish

•MountainsMountains ringing ringing the region the region prevent prevent rain clouds from rain clouds from reaching inlandreaching inland..

The CrossRoadsThe CrossRoads•4 Main Physical Regions4 Main Physical Regions•Northern TierNorthern Tier — area through — area through

Turkey and Iran mountains and Turkey and Iran mountains and plateausplateaus

•Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula — vast — vast plateau in Saudi Arabia, plateau in Saudi Arabia,

-small population/little -small population/little water/barren water/barren desert, desert,

-huge amounts of oil-huge amounts of oil

-birth place of Islam (Mecca)-birth place of Islam (Mecca)

• Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent — arc shaped region — arc shaped region from Med. Sea along Tigris and from Med. Sea along Tigris and Euphrates rivers to Persian Gulf. Euphrates rivers to Persian Gulf.

-rich soil, abundant water=major -rich soil, abundant water=major population population

•Nile River ValleyNile River Valley — through Egypt — through Egypt fertile areafertile area

-natural barriers protection--natural barriers protection-deserts deserts around itaround it

-flooding is predictable and -flooding is predictable and dependabledependable

reviewreview•Why does the Middle East Why does the Middle East

have a strategic importance?have a strategic importance?•What is the key issue in the What is the key issue in the

Middle East and why?Middle East and why?•What are the Four Physical What are the Four Physical

Regions of the Middle East?Regions of the Middle East?