Download Middle East Part I Notes

Middle East
Part I Notes
What do we already know about the
Middle East ?
What do we already know about the Middle East ?
Pre-Test
1. T/F- The U.S. is currently fighting a war in the Middle
East.
2. Which country in this region is among the closest allies of
the US?
3. Into which middle eastern country did the US go to war
after 9-11-01?
4. T/F- The international community is concerned with
protecting waterways in the middle east.
5. What middle eastern city is significant to Jews, Muslims,
and Christians?
6. T/F- All Muslim women cover their faces.
7. T/F- You can ski in the Middle East.
What we are going to learn:
• how physical and cultural geography shape the
environment, nations, and people of the Middle East
I. Introduction
A. The term Middle East refers to the region which is
between Europe and the Far East.
• The Middle East is only 'middle' in relation to Europe.
Today, this region is also referred to as the Near East or
Southwest Asia.
•
Due to religion, language and culture, North Africa is
also included in this area.
•
The Middle East consists of 19 countries and almost
350 million people.
•
The major languages are Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew,
Kurdish, Persian, Greek, and Armenian.
•
The three major religions are Islam, Christianity, and
Judaism.
B. The Middle East stands at the crossroads to three continents:
1. Africa
2. Asia
3. Europe
Besides the location, the
region is the center of
faith and conflict.
C. The Middle East has served as a melting
pot for the world.
• Due to the location, traders have
•
•
passed through on land and over
seas to transport goods.
Along with traders, this area has
been conquered by numerous
groups of people.
All of these groups gradually
combined to formulate what is
considered Middle East.
D. The location and the vast amount of oil
reserves, has given the Middle East a
strategic importance today.
Why is oil so Important???
What would happen without it?
Arab Music…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF-kgZf2nFI
II.
A.
Regions
There are 6 geographical regions of the Middle East.
Region
Advantage
Disadvantage
Northern Africa
Maghreb region is
Atlas mountains block
the rain moving
across the region and
created the Sahara
Desert. Water is
scarce within the
located at the
Mediterranean Sea
and serves as the
access point to the
Atlantic Ocean.
region.
Region
Advantage
Disadvantage
Arabian
Peninsula
Oasis –
Fertile desert area which
can support plants and
animals.
The area has a small
population due to the
lack to water. However,
there are some areas
that are able to sustain
a limited degree of
It also contains a large
agriculture.
amount of oil. The
region is the birthplace of
Islam and the holy city of
Mecca.
Fertile Crescent
The area is known as
"The Cradle of
Civilization". The rich
soil and abundant water
has made it a major
population center.
The area has very few
natural barriers and has
been conquered many
times. Although
plentiful water is a
benefit for farming,
flooding also occurs.
Region
Advantage
Disadvantage
Nile Valley
The Nile River is
protected by deserts
which make it difficult to
conquer the region. It is
also heavily populated.
Annual flooding is
predictable and
dependable.
The soil does have good
drainage but salinity is a
problem.
Red – Water
Blue – Building
White - Desert
Salinity –
Containing salt.
Fertilizing the land is an
option with fresh dirt and
manure. However, most
of the poor farmers
cannot afford it. The
densely populated area
has pollution, disease and
sanitation issues as well.
Region
Advantage
Disadvantage
Iranian Plateau
The birthplace of several
empires.
A dry region with a low
population.
Region
Advantage
Northern Tier
Connects Europe and
Asia
Disadvantage
Some have tried to
conquer it due to it’s
strategic importance!
Turkey has fertile soil in
-to WHOM?
the Anatolian Plateau
due to surrounding
mountains- good for
farming
Strategic locationcontrols access to the
Black Sea
Which is missing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro8m4c-o4bc
B. There is several Islamic nations that are located in the former
Soviet Union. They are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
You may have heard
of this region…
• Disputed regions &
Violence?
– Sochi?
– Boston?
• Energy?
• Movies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_I3tIjztj8&lis
t=RD4_I3tIjztj8#t=71
Shade the following
regions accordingly:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Maghreb- Brown
Nile River Valley- Blue
Arabian Peninsula- Yellow
Fertile Crescent- Green
Iranian Plateau- Orange
Northern Tier- Red
Shade the following
regions accordingly:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Maghreb- Brown
Nile River Valley- Blue
Arabian Peninsula- Yellow
Fertile Crescent- Green
Iranian Plateau- Orange
Northern Tier- Red
What we are going to learn:
• how physical and cultural geography shape the
environment, nations, and people of the Middle East
III. Geographical Features-
WATER!
A. The key feature of the Middle East is water. There is an old saying from
the region…
The Mighty Nile River:
EGYPT:
Nile Delta
Annual Nile Flooding
Aswan High Dam, Egypt
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Suez Canal
Completed by the British in 1869
Mesopotamia:
”Land Between the Two
Rivers”
Marsh Arabs, So. Iraq
The
Jordan River
System:
Israel &
Jordan--A Fight Over
Water Rights?
Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth
2,300’ below sea level
Highest
Salt
Content
(33%)
Wadis –
Mountains & Plateaus
Caucasus
Mts.
Anatolian
Plateau
Atlas Mts.
Iranian
Zagros Plateau
Mts.
Mountain Ranges in Mid-East
Elburz Mts., Iran
Lebanese Mts.
Zagros Mts., Iran
Taurus Mts., Turkey
Deserts
Sinai
Desert
Libyan Desert
Sahara Desert
Negev
Desert
Arabian
Desert Rub
al-Khali
Desert Bedouins
VI. Bedouins
A. Traditionally, the people of the Middle East were nomadic.
B. There are two types of Bedouins.
1. Horizontal Nomads –
a. Wadi –
2. Vertical Nomads –
C. The Bedouins wore a traditional robe, which enabled
them to keep their core temperature low in the desert.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ginutra –
Agal –
Thobe –
Besnt –
Sandals –
D. The Bedouins traditionally lived in …
Due to the size of the group, the Bedouins had to
establish marriage practices to ensure their continuation.
E.
1.
Endogamy – Marrying someone inside the group.
a. If a group follows endogamy, it has to be large. The
major problem is the health risks of marrying someone
who is closely related to you.
2.
Exogamy – Marrying someone outside of the group.
b. Enforced by small groups.
F. _________________________________
____________________________________
Most of them do not still live in the traditional
manner. Instead of horses and camels, today’s
Bedouin owes Jeeps and pick up trucks. Many
of the younger men have been able to find
employment in the army, oil fields, or deliver
goods from the desert to the city. Those who
chose to live in the traditional manner, mainly
herd sheep, goats, and camels. The changing
lifestyle of these once nomadic herders and
traders can be seen in the creation of “The
Bedouin Hour” on radio Kuwait.
Rub al-Khali:
“The Empty Quarter”
Desert Oases: Water at a Premium!
Fresh Groundwater Sources
B. The Middle East is dominated by two features;
C.
Desertification is caused by several reasons.
D. Over 90% of the North African and Arabian Peninsulas are deserts that
receive less then 10 inches of yearly rainfall. Settlers had to be inventive in
order to improve the soil for agriculture. Today, modern technology is used to
increase yearly agricultural output.
1. Drip irrigation –
Modern Drip
Irrigation System
2. Desalination plants –
In nature, this basic process is
responsible for the hydrologic cycle.
The sun causes water to evaporate
from surface sources such as lakes,
oceans, and streams. The water vapor
eventually comes in contact with
cooler air, where it re-condenses to
form dew or rain.
This process can be imitated
artificially, and more rapidly than in
nature, using alternative sources of
heating and cooling.
Desalinization
Plants
E.
a. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism movements can be found all
through the region.
b. Some of the countries are trying to solve the problem of water. Egypt
has undertaken a massive dam project to regulate the Nile Rivers flow
by building the Aswan High Dam. The dam collects water from the
White and Blue Nile Rivers. The effects of the dam are decreasing
due to the rapid increase of sediment.
V. People
A. The Middle East is home to many different people and traditions. The
majority of the people are Arab. There are several different descriptions of
what an Arab is?
B. What is an Arab?
1. In the mid 1600’s, Arabs where people from the Arabian
Peninsula. They were conquered by the many different peoples of the
Middle East and North Africa.
2. Over time, the conquered peoples adapted the Arabic language and the
religion of Islam.
3. Arab is used to describe anyone whose native language is Arabic.
C. Islam is the religion for the majority of people that live in the Middle East.
However, many non-Muslim people live within in the region as well.