Unit: The Rise and Spread of Islam

Lesson Title:Introduction to Islam and Geography of Arabia

(See textbook pages 54-56)

What do we know about Islam?

Islam arose on the Arabian Peninsula in the early 600s A.D.

Studying the geography of the Arabian region will help us understand Islam and how it spread to other parts of the world.

Arabia is mostly a desert land.

The Arabian desert

Temperatures become scorching hot.

Water is scarce and difficult to find.

The Arabian Peninsula lies at the intersection of 3 continents - Africa, Europe and Asia. Trade routes connecting the continents passed through it.

Arabia was in a “crossroads” location.

Trade routes for goods like spices, silk and gold brought many different groups of people

through Arabia--and their ideas. The trade routes also helped to spread Islam.

At oases there was plenty of water and date palm trees for food and grass for the camels. These spots became centers of trade and towns in Arabia.

In class reading assignment

Read “Physical Features”

and “Desert Climate”

on page 56.

Answer this question:

List 3-4 different landforms that made up Arabia.

Let’s check our answers:

Land forms of Arabia:

• Desert (covers ¾ of the Arabian Peninsula)

• Oases (sources of water and vegetation that would become towns)

• Mountains

• Marshes

• Coasts

Right Side Notebook ActivityMap Challenge

Use the atlas on pages R34 –R37 to locate, label and color the list of geographical features and locations from the directions handout, onto the blank map.

(Trim the map and glue it into your notebook)