Middle East. Landforms A. Mountains Landforms B. Peninsulas

Middle EastMiddle East

LandformsLandforms

A. MountainsA. Mountains

LandformsLandforms

B. PeninsulasB. Peninsulas

LandformsLandforms

C. DesertsC. Deserts

LandformsLandforms

D. SeasD. Seas

LandformsLandforms

E. RiversE. Rivers

MountainsMountains

The mountainous region is The mountainous region is an area of much an area of much seismicseismic activity.activity.

Seismic: related to Seismic: related to earthquakesearthquakes

PeninsulasPeninsulas

A. Arabian PeninsulaA. Arabian Peninsula

B. Sinai PeninsulaB. Sinai Peninsula

SeasSeas

A. The Dead Sea sits at the mouth of the A. The Dead Sea sits at the mouth of the Jordan River.Jordan River.

The Dead Sea has four times the salt The Dead Sea has four times the salt content of the worldcontent of the world’’s oceans.s oceans.

SeasSeas

B. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland B. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water on Earth.body of water on Earth.

SeasSeas

C. TheC. The Aral Sea lies east of the Caspian Aral Sea lies east of the Caspian Sea.Sea.

RiversRivers

Over 90% of EgyptOver 90% of Egypt’’s people s people live along the Nile delta.live along the Nile delta.DeltaDelta: A Triangular section of : A Triangular section of land at a riverland at a river’’s mouth containing s mouth containing rich, alluvial deposits of soil.rich, alluvial deposits of soil.

RiversRivers

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers run mainly The Tigris and Euphrates rivers run mainly through Iraq.through Iraq.

ClimateClimate

Deserts cover almost 50% of the region.Deserts cover almost 50% of the region.

ClimateClimate

DesertDesert

Small-scale farming is possible in an Small-scale farming is possible in an oasisoasis..

OasisOasis: A place in the desert where : A place in the desert where water and vegetation can be found.water and vegetation can be found.

OasisOasis

ClimateClimate

Wadis Wadis are also common throughout are also common throughout deserts of the Middle East. These are deserts of the Middle East. These are streambeds that remain dry until a heavy streambeds that remain dry until a heavy rain.rain.

ClimateClimate

Many people of this climate and Many people of this climate and region are region are bedouinsbedouins, nomadic , nomadic desert people.desert people.

ClimateClimate

SteppeSteppe

This climate provides enough This climate provides enough rainfall to support pasture for rainfall to support pasture for sheep, goats, and camelssheep, goats, and camels..

ClimateClimate

2. 2. PastoralismPastoralism, the raising and grazing of , the raising and grazing of livestock, is a way of life for people who livestock, is a way of life for people who live in this steppe climate.live in this steppe climate.

ClimateClimate

Coastal and HighlandCoastal and Highland

Coastal and Highland Coastal and Highland areas near mountain ranges areas near mountain ranges receive the mostreceive the most rainfall.rainfall.

ClimateClimate

Farmers in these areas can raise Farmers in these areas can raise cereals.cereals.

CerealsCereals: grains that are grown for food, : grains that are grown for food, such as wheat, oats, and barley.such as wheat, oats, and barley.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

A. OilA. Oil

1. 1. 60%60% of the world of the world’’s oil s oil comes from this region.comes from this region.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

B. CopperB. Copper

C. CoalC. Coal

D. PhosphateD. Phosphate

PhosphatePhosphate: A chemical used in : A chemical used in fertilizersfertilizers

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

E. E. Many other products like fruits, Many other products like fruits, animals, and crops are bought and animals, and crops are bought and sold at a local sold at a local suq,suq, an enclosed an enclosed marketplace in the region.marketplace in the region.

ReligionReligion

Judaism, Christianity, and Judaism, Christianity, and IslamIslam

monotheismmonotheism: belief in one : belief in one god. god.

ReligionReligion

JudaismJudaism is the oldest is the oldest monotheistic faith.monotheistic faith.

Judaism teaches obedience Judaism teaches obedience to Godto God’’s laws, and their history s laws, and their history is recorded in the Hebrew is recorded in the Hebrew Bible.Bible.

ReligionReligion

Christianity follows the teaching Christianity follows the teaching of of Jesus.Jesus.

Christian scriptures include the Christian scriptures include the Hebrew Bible and the Hebrew Bible and the NewNew TestamentTestament..

ReligionReligion

IslamIslam

According to the religion of Islam, According to the religion of Islam, MuhammadMuhammad believed that he was a believed that he was a prophet of God. prophet of God.

ProphetProphet: messenger of: messenger of

God.God.

ReligionReligion

2. A Muslim house of worship is a 2. A Muslim house of worship is a mosquemosque..

ReligionReligion

The Muslim holy book is the The Muslim holy book is the Quran.Quran.

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

SumeriansSumerians

MesopotamiaMesopotamia lies between the Tigris and lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Euphrates rivers.

This is where the Sumerian civilization This is where the Sumerian civilization developed.developed.

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

SumeriansSumerians

Sumerians progressed in the Sumerians progressed in the study of study of mathmath and and engineering.engineering.

The Sumerian writing system is The Sumerian writing system is called called cuneiformcuneiform. It consists of . It consists of wedge-shaped symbols written on wedge-shaped symbols written on clay tablets.clay tablets.

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

4. 4. The Phoenicians formed the The Phoenicians formed the basis for many basis for many modernmodern alphabetsalphabets..

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

5. One of the Persians5. One of the Persians’’ greatest greatest achievements was the building of achievements was the building of qanatsqanats, or underground canals., or underground canals.

These were necessary because These were necessary because water evaporated running above water evaporated running above ground across the desert.ground across the desert.

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

EgyptiansEgyptians

This regionThis region’’s farmers were the first s farmers were the first to to domesticatedomesticate plants and animals plants and animals..

DomesticateDomesticate: Make plants and : Make plants and animals useful to people.animals useful to people.

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

The Egyptian civilization developed The Egyptian civilization developed around the around the NileNile River. River.

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

3. Egyptian Achievements3. Egyptian Achievements

a. 365-day calendara. 365-day calendar

b. Pyramidsb. Pyramids

c. c. HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics: Picture writing system.: Picture writing system.