5 Themes of Geography

Middle East

Location

• “Middle East” or Southwest Asia

– The term “Middle East” came from the Europeans because it was in the middle between Europe and Asia on the trade routes.

• Global Importance of this location:

– Sea Routes

– Suez Canal

– Oil

Europe Far East

Middle East

Location

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Region

• 5 Regions

– Northern Tier (Turkey and Iranian Plateau)

– Fertile Crescent (Tigris and Euphrates R.)

– Arabian Peninsula

– Nile Valley (Egypt in Africa)

– Maghreb (Northern Africa, means “Western Isle”)

• Overall region is predominately unified by the Arabic language and Islam

Regions

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Northern Tier

Nile Valley Maghreb

Place

• Topography and Climate vary greatly in the Middle East.

– Not all desert!

– Mountains and Plateaus

– Fertile farming land in the Northern Tier

• Population density varies – few people in the Arabian Peninsula, more people in the Northern Tier

Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul

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Dubai, UAE

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Sana’a, Yemen

Place – Population Density

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Movement

• 3 of the world’s most followed religions started here and spread throughout the globe

• Historically, much of the world’s trade flowed through this area (Silk Road)

• Today, the Suez Canal is a vital route for trade and military ships

World Religions

• Religions from the Middle East are followed by more than 50% of the world’s population

Silk Road

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Human-Environment Interaction

• Some of the world’s earliest civilizations were located here

– Mesopotamia (3000 B.C.)

– Egyptians (2700 B.C.)

• Humans settled near water to survive (Nile, Fertile Crescent, coastline of Arabian Peninsula)

• Use desalination factories to make fresh water from salt water.

• Accessing Oil!

Desalination Plant in Israel

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Oil in the Middle East

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