THE MIDDLE EASTLesson 1: Geography & People

OBJECTIVES Identify importance of the region. Describe diversity of Middle Eastern

peoples. Locate key nations, waterways, and

land forms in the Middle East

WARM UP: THE MIDDLE EAST Why is the Middle

East called the Middle East?

LAND & CLIMATE

Where is the Middle East? Arabian Peninsula, SW Asia, North Africa

Regions Northern Tier Arabian Peninsula Fertile Crescent Nile Valley Maghreb

LAND & CLIMATE Key Features

Deserts (Sahara, Rub ’al Khali)

Mountain Ranges (Atlas, Zagros & Elburz)

Rivers (Tigris & Euphrates, Nile)

Little rainfall – seasonal “wadis” erode topsoil – poor agriculture

Resources Oil (60%) – OPEC

uneven distribution of wealth Salt, copper, phosphate

IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION

Strategic Location Vital Waterways Valuable Oil

Resources Religious Sites

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLES Historical Diffusion

Traders, conquerors, nomads cross ME

Spread/share ideas

Today 19 countries, 350m ppl! Ethnic Diversity Religious Diversity

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Turks (56m)

Israelis(5m)

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)Armenians (5m)

Kurds (20m)

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Persia(S.Russia – Iran)

Iran Muslim Persian-Farsi

Turks (56m)

Israelis(5m)

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)Armenians (5m)

Kurds (20m)

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Persia(S.Russia – Iran)

Iran Muslim Persian-Farsi

Turks (56m)

Asia Minor Turkey Muslim Turkish

Israelis(5m)

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)Armenians (5m)

Kurds (20m)

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Persia(S.Russia – Iran)

Iran Muslim Persian-Farsi

Turks (56m)

Asia Minor Turkey Muslim Turkish

Israelis(5m)

“Canaan” (Egypt – Iraq)

Israel (1948) Judaism Hebrew

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)Armenians (5m)

Kurds (20m)

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Persia(S.Russia – Iran)

Iran Muslim Persian-Farsi

Turks (56m)

Asia Minor Turkey Muslim Turkish

Israelis(5m)

“Canaan” (Egypt – Iraq)

Israel (1948) Judaism Hebrew

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)

“Palestine”(Egypt, S.Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Leb)

Israel, W. Bank, Gaza Strip,(Refugee Camps)

Muslim Arabic

Armenians (5m)

Kurds (20m)

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Persia(S.Russia – Iran)

Iran Muslim Persian-Farsi

Turks (56m)

Asia Minor Turkey Muslim Turkish

Israelis(5m)

“Canaan” (Egypt – Iraq)

Israel (1948) Judaism Hebrew

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)

“Palestine”(Egypt, S.Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Leb)

Israel, W. Bank, Gaza Strip,(Refugee Camps)

Muslim Arabic

Armenians (5m)

Turkey Armenia(Turkey & Russia)

Christian Armenian

Kurds (20m)

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLESGroup Homeland Location Religion Language

Arabs(190m ppl)

Arabian Peninsula

20 Countries in ME & Europe

90% Muslim10% Christian

Arabic

Iranians (50m)

Persia(S.Russia – Iran)

Iran Muslim Persian-Farsi

Turks (56m)

Asia Minor Turkey Muslim Turkish

Israelis(5m)

“Canaan” (Egypt – Iraq)

Israel (1948) Judaism Hebrew

Palestinians (1m ISR, 1.8m OT, 2m RC)

“Palestine”(Egypt, S.Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Leb)

Israel, W. Bank, Gaza Strip,(Refugee Camps)

Muslim Arabic

Armenians (5m)

Turkey Armenia(Turkey & Russia)

Christian Armenian

Kurds (20m)

“Kurdistan” Turkey, Iran, Iraq,

Syria, RussiaMuslim Kurdish

MAP ACTIVITYUSE Books or Phones

•Countries•Special Territories•Waterways•Deserts•Mountains•Cities

CLOSURE

Why is it important we study this region?

Strategic Importance

Economic Interests Religious Diversity

HOMEWORK Finish Middle East Map (if not complete

in class)