Download 5 Themes of Geography - Garnet Valley School District

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
Middle
East
Far East
Location
• a
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
• a
Northern Tier
Maghreb
Nile Valley
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
• a
Dubai, UAE
• a
Sana’a, Yemen
Place – Population Density
• a
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
• a
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
• a
Oil in the Middle East
• a