Welcome to the Welcome to the Middle East!Middle East!

An Introduction to the An Introduction to the Region’s GeographyRegion’s Geography

Where is the Middle East?Where is the Middle East?

Southwest and Southwest and Central Asia are Central Asia are located between located between Africa, Europe, and Africa, Europe, and the rest of Asiathe rest of Asia

Also called Also called Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia

““The Middle East”????The Middle East”????

This region got the This region got the name “Middle East” name “Middle East” long ago because long ago because European rulers European rulers thought it was halfway thought it was halfway to the Far East (places to the Far East (places like China)like China)

The name stuck! This The name stuck! This name is now the name name is now the name used in news and in used in news and in school more. We’ll school more. We’ll use both names. use both names.

Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

3 different plates 3 different plates intersect in the intersect in the Middle East: African, Middle East: African, Eurasian, and Eurasian, and ArabianArabian

The result: rugged The result: rugged mountains, valleys, mountains, valleys, plateaus, gulfs, and plateaus, gulfs, and seas have been seas have been created where the created where the plates meetplates meet

Peninsulas and PlateausPeninsulas and Plateaus Three Main Regions of Three Main Regions of

SW Asia:SW Asia:– A: Arabian PeninsulaA: Arabian Peninsula: :

bordered by the Red Sea, bordered by the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf; mostly desert (Rub Gulf; mostly desert (Rub al-Khali is the largest)al-Khali is the largest)

– B: Anatolian PeninsulaB: Anatolian Peninsula: : (a.k.a., Anatolia, Asia (a.k.a., Anatolia, Asia Minor) home to most of Minor) home to most of Turkey, bordered by Black Turkey, bordered by Black Sea (north) and Sea (north) and Mediterranean Sea (south)Mediterranean Sea (south)

– C: Plateau of IranC: Plateau of Iran: : bordered by Caspian Sea bordered by Caspian Sea (north) and Persian Gulf (north) and Persian Gulf (southwest)(southwest)

A

B

C

Deserts and Mountains Deserts and Mountains Dry Dry ClimateClimate

Mountains: prevent rain Mountains: prevent rain from reaching the area from reaching the area dry climatedry climate– A: Elburz MountainsA: Elburz Mountains– B: Zagros MountainsB: Zagros Mountains– C: Taurus MountainsC: Taurus Mountains

Deserts: lots of them! Deserts: lots of them! dry dry climateclimate

Not JUST hot and dry. Not JUST hot and dry. Overall, the climate varies. Overall, the climate varies. – Winters: cold, this is when Winters: cold, this is when

the rain they do get comesthe rain they do get comes– Summers: rarely have rain Summers: rarely have rain – Varies by region—milder Varies by region—milder

and more rain in areas and more rain in areas along Mediterranean, very along Mediterranean, very hot and little rain in Saudi hot and little rain in Saudi desertdesert

A

B

C

So can they farm if it’s so So can they farm if it’s so dry?dry?

Yes, although it can be very challenging! Yes, although it can be very challenging! Water is scarce (limited) in the regionWater is scarce (limited) in the region They have mostly They have mostly subsistence agriculturesubsistence agriculture, ,

which means people grow food that their family which means people grow food that their family will use (as opposed to growing it to sell) will use (as opposed to growing it to sell)

What do they grow?What do they grow?– Wheat, barley, citrus fruits, olives, figs, nuts, grapes, and Wheat, barley, citrus fruits, olives, figs, nuts, grapes, and

livestocklivestock

How do they manage to How do they manage to farm?farm?

Irrigation began in the Middle East Irrigation began in the Middle East IrrigationIrrigation: a way of supplying water to crops, : a way of supplying water to crops,

often by digging canals from the region’s often by digging canals from the region’s important riversimportant rivers

Ancient methods:Ancient methods:– Qanats: found source of water in higher land, built Qanats: found source of water in higher land, built

underground tunnel that sloped down to the village underground tunnel that sloped down to the village (began in Iran, spread throughout Middle East)(began in Iran, spread throughout Middle East)

Modern methods:Modern methods:– 1950s: Israel built huge system of canals to bring water 1950s: Israel built huge system of canals to bring water

from Jordan River and Sea of Galilee to Negev Desertfrom Jordan River and Sea of Galilee to Negev Desert– Turkey has been building system of dams to create Turkey has been building system of dams to create

hydroelectric power and direct water to its farmlandshydroelectric power and direct water to its farmlands– These methods often cause tension with neighboring These methods often cause tension with neighboring

countries, who want to use this same watercountries, who want to use this same water

What other resources do they What other resources do they have?have?

While water is scarce, they While water is scarce, they have plenty of have plenty of oiloil!!

The Middle East has The Middle East has about about 2/32/3 of the world’s oil of the world’s oil reserves!reserves!

Saudi Arabia, the world’s Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil holder, has 25%! leading oil holder, has 25%! It is followed by Canada, Iran, It is followed by Canada, Iran, Iraq, the UAE, and KuwaitIraq, the UAE, and Kuwait

But besides oil, they have few But besides oil, they have few other resources.other resources.

This can be good and bad—This can be good and bad—when oil prices are high, they when oil prices are high, they are happy and their are happy and their economies boom, but when economies boom, but when oil prices fall, their economies oil prices fall, their economies suffer.suffer.

Only Israel is considered a Only Israel is considered a “developed” country.“developed” country.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Located at crossroads of Europe, Located at crossroads of Europe, Africa, and AsiaAfrica, and Asia

Physical features = mountains, Physical features = mountains, deserts, and riversdeserts, and rivers

Dry climate makes farming a Dry climate makes farming a challengechallenge

Lack of water but lots of oilLack of water but lots of oil