Geography of the Middle East

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Geography of the Middle East
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• The Middle East is considered the region that
  connects Europe, Africa and SW Asia.

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• Northern Africa is often included in the Middle
  East.
• Remember N Africa has a double heritage. Most
  people are Muslim and speak Arabic due to the
  close proximity.

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• Since ancient times, the Middle East has been at
  a crossroad.
• It has connected major trade routes on land
  and on seas.

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M.E. has done a lot of trade with India and
China. Also carried good through the
Mediterranean to Europe.
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• The Middle East has great strategic importance.
  
• Many nations command the vital sea routes.
• Red Seas
• Persian Gulf
• Mediterranean Sea
• Suez Canal

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• The Middle East also has a great deal of oil.
• Gives it great strategic importance also for
  economic reasons.

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• Islam, Christianity and Judaism all originated
  in the Middle East.

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• Climate dictates where people live in the Middle
  East!
• Nearly all the region is desert.

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• People live along coasts and in river valleys.
• Here they can irrigate and farm the land.

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• Less than 10 of the land makes farming even
  possible.

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• The nations on the Arabian Peninsula have spent
  a great deal of on desalinization. (salt water
  to fresh water)

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Oil

• The most valuable resource in the Middle East is
  oil!
• It is distributed unevenly among countries.
• Huge economic differences seen between oil rich
  countries and those that lack oil.

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The People

• The Middle East is
• home to many different
• people many, different
• languages, religions
• and traditions.
• Arabic
• Turkish
• Hebrew
• Kurdish
• Persian
• Armenian

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• Arabs however, make up the majority.
• Defined anyone whose native language is
  Arabic.

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• Islam is the religion observed by the majority
  of the people in the Middle East.
• Most Arabs are Muslim.
• Islam is divided into many sects The main two
  branches are
• Sunni
• Shiite