The Middle East- Introduction

The Middle EastPages 107- 108

Middle Eastern Territory (today)

O Saudi ArabiaO EgyptO LebanonO IsraelO JordanO IraqO IranO Kuwait

O YemenO OmanO United Arab

EmiratesO QatarO Bahrain SudanO Turkey

Historical ImportanceO birthplace of Christianity and

JudaismO Modern English alphabet and

numbering system originO a world crossroad: ancient/modern

trade routesO Countless conflicts: Romans

conquered ME, Crusades, recent and current conflicts over control of ME oil

GeographyO Large territory (Saudi Arabia 2x BC)O many different land forms: desert

plateaus, mountainous regions, coastlines

O Much of the Middle East is dry and desert-like

O Average July temperature= 30 degrees C

O Average winter temperature= 16 degrees C

Geography (continued)O Oases important settlement areasO crops: oranges, dates, figs, olives,

wheat, other grains, and vegetablesO Geography has an important effect

on historyO All major towns/cities located near

waterO Impacted trade and spread of religionO Islam quickly spread across great

distances

The ArabsO ArabiaO Semitic peopleO 1000 B.C.E onward

O Lived as Bedouin or in villages/towns around oases/other water source

O trade was important for both groups- crossroads of two international trade routes

O Camel domestication- caravans carried expensive goods across the desert

The Arabs (continued)O town and desert people belonged to

clansO desert (Bedouin) clans led by chiefs

who prided themselves in their generosity, bravery, fighting ability

O towns- gave people an identity and connections, protected and supported each other, clan chiefs ran governments