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. Regions A. There are 6 geographical regions of the Middle East. Region Advantage Disadvantage Northern Africa Maghreb region is located at the Mediterranean Sea and serves as the access point to the Atlantic Ocean. Atlas mountains block the rain moving across the region and created the Sahara Desert. Water is scarce within the region.

Region Advantage Disadvantage Arabian Peninsula Fertile Crescent Oasis Fertile desert area which can support plants and animals. It also contains a large amount of oil. The region is the birthplace of Islam and the holy city of Mecca. 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 a small population due to the lack to water. However, there are some areas that are able to sustain a limited degree of agriculture. 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 Red Water Blue Building White - Desert 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. 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 Disadvantage Northern Tier Connects Europe and Asia Turkey has fertile soil in the Anatolian Plateau due to surrounding mountains- good for farming Strategic locationcontrols access to the Black Sea Some have tried to conquer it due to it s strategic importance! -to WHOM?

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

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

Hydroelectric Power Plant Aswan High Dam, Egypt

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 Anatolian Plateau Caucasus Mts. Atlas Mts. Zagros Mts. Iranian Plateau

Mountain Ranges in Mid-East Elburz Mts., Iran Zagros Mts., Iran Lebanese Mts. Taurus Mts., Turkey

Deserts Libyan Desert Sinai Desert Negev Desert Arabian Desert Rub al-khali Sahara Desert

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. Ginutra 2. Agal 3. Thobe 4. Besnt 5. Sandals

D. The Bedouins traditionally lived in

E. Due to the size of the group, the Bedouins had to establish marriage practices to ensure their continuation. 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

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.