Crossroads?http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=valley+forge+road+and+sumneytown+pike&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.901528,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=S+Valley+Forge+Rd+%26+Sumneytown+Pike,+Lansdale,+Montgomery,+Pennsylvania+19446&z=16

A crossroad you may know!

•Continents meet•For years, the Middle of trade routes

Strategically located?

• Military – why?

• Economic – Oil, trade routes

Northern Tier

Northern Iraq

Southern Turkey!

Arabian Peninsula

Oasis

A fertile desert area that has enough water to support plant and animal life

Fertile Crescent

• Where first civilizations started• Around the major river systems• LOTS of good farming = LOTS of people!

Nile Valley

Desalination – taking salt out of water; VERY expensive • Judaism (Jewish)• Christianity (Christian)• Islam (Muslim)

ARAB: Native language is Arabic