The Middle EastCradle of Culture

andCenter of Conflict

Statues and Monuments of

local, national or global significance.

The Ka’aba is a sacred black stone located in the Main Mosque in

Mecca.

The Western Wall: Remains of the Temple of

Solomon in Jerusalem.

Dome of the Rock: Holy Islamic site where

Mohamed ascended into heaven.

Inside the Dome of the Rock Mosque.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

Pyramids in Egypt: tombs/monuments for

the pharaohs.

Examples of Religious themed diverse art.

Stained Glass: King David-Jerusalem.

Arabic Calligraphy decorating

a mother of pearl plaque.

A Byzantine mosaic-Istanbul Turkey.

A Turkish prayer rug, used by Muslims to

kneel and face Mecca when they pray 5 times

a day.“There is no God, but

Allah and Mohammed is His prophet.”

Prayer Rug

Baghdadlocated near Tigris

river.

Outdoor Market in Baghdad

Baghdad Mosque Note: minarets.

A Suq in Baghdad

Cairo on the Nile

Istanbul on the Bosporus Straits.

The Byzantine cathedral of Hagia Sophia is located

in Istanbul.

Inside Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia at Night.

The Central Mosque in Mecca.

Zagros Mtns. Overlook Tehran.

The Golan Heights in Syria.

These heights were occupied by Israel in 1967.

Birthplace of the Three Monotheistic

ReligionsBelief in One God.

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

Three religions with so much in common and so much in conflict. Whether or not they can find a common ground on which to

build a lasting peace will determine the

future of the Middle East.

Southwest Asia (North Africa & The Middle

East)

North Africa & the middle East

Leading countries according to GDP

KuwaitUnited Arab Emirates

(U.A.E.)QatarIsrael

Leading countries according to Land size

AlgeriaSaudi ArabiaLibya

Leading countries according to population

IranTurkeyEgypt

Physical CharacteristicsArea is the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia

It has a primarily desert or semi-arid climate

Sahara, Sahel, and steppes are the primary vegetation region

Crossroads of ContinentsAfrica Europe Asia

Sahara--world’s largest desert, it stretches over most of North Africa and is growing

Sahel--area separating the Sahara from the tropical rainforest of Africa.

Horned Viper

Houbara

Fennec Fox

Jeroba

Desert Hedgehog

Monitor

Sand Cat

Scarab Beetle

The Sahel is an area of temperate grassland (steppe) moving into sparse desert scrub-like vegetation

Three main mountain ranges:1. Atlas Mountains in northern Algeria and Morocco

2. Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey

3. Zagros Mountains in western Iran

Atlas Mountains in MoroccoAtlas Mountains of Morocco

Even though this is a dry area, water plays a very large role

There are several large bodies of water which play a major role in world politics

Examples :Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf

Strait of HormuzArabian SeaRed Sea

Other important bodies of water

Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Bosporus Strait, Dardanelles Strait, Nile River (longest in the world), Tigris and Euphrates (home to the world’s first civilization) and the Jordan River

The area is also subject to seasonal flooding, alluvial soils, delta regions, oases, and wadis

Seasonal flooding--several of the rivers flood regularly (Nile) which deposit rich alluvial soil for farming

The desert regions are home to many Oases (a place where fresh water makes it possible for life to exist in a dry area) and wadi (a gully or usually dry river bed cut by running water after a downpour)

Economic Characteristics:The area has a heavy reliance on Primary economic activities such as oil drilling, agriculture and herding/grazing

The area is the home of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Many countries in the area still belong today

Major producers of the world’s oil

Provide large oil revenues

Positive effects--jobs, revenue, position of power

Negative effects--reliance on one industry, pollution, unequal distribution of wealth

Water is the region’s MOST PRECIOUS resource

Aswan High Dam has had positive and negative effects on the region.

Suez Canal enhanced shipping routes in the region

Suez Canal *The 101-mile waterway

connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

* The Suez Canal is used to transport goods to and from all three continents.

Positive effects of the Aswan High damControls flooding, recreation areas, power

Negative effects of the Aswan high Damland losing fertility, lost homes when dam built,

There is a great variation in the standard of living in the region.

It ranges from the relatively high to the poverty stricken.

There is also a wide range of per capita income and differing levels of development

Trade has been important to the region from the earliest time.

Today regional conflicts and political unrest have affected trade and tourism

The area today has contemporary trade routes (sea lanes)

Cultural Characteristics:The area has experienced rapid urbanization

Most modernization has centered around urban areas and more traditional life has continued in the rural areas

Large percentage of the population is under the age of 15 due to conflict, disease and the hardships associated with the region.

The population is generally unevenly distributed due to the environment and resources

All but three of the countries are Arab nations and they use the Arabic language.

Turkey, Iran and Israel are the non-Arab countries

North Africa and Southwest Asia are the birthplace to three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

All three claim similar holy places and the dominant group has changed over the years.

Since 1949, the region has been in conflict over the area known as Palestine. This area is present day Israel.

Sinai Peninsul

alocated between

Egypt and the Arabian Peninsul

a

Much of the region has a nomadic lifestyle

NOMADIC-to wander from place to place behind a food source or for other reasons

The art of the region reflects the diversity of the religions;

stained glass, geometric tiles, calligraphy, mosaics, and prayer rugs

Cities as centers of trade and culture:

Baghdad, IraqCairo, EgyptIstanbul, TurkeyJerusalem, IsraelMecca, Saudi ArabiaTehran, Iran

Cultural LandscapeMosques, minaretsChurch of the Holy Sepulcher

Hagia Sophiabazaars, sugsWestern Wall (of Jerusalem)

Dome of the RockKa’abaPyramidsOil rigswalled cities

Sahara desert

Oasis

Stained Glass/Mosaics

Prayer Rugs

Oil Rigs

Ka’aba

Dome of the Rock

Hagia Sophia

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Pyramids

Western Wall

Western Wall