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Middle East Geography

Middle East Geography. Where is the Middle East?. Geography. Area where Africa, Asia and Europe interconnect No natural boundaries Sometimes called “Near East”. Climate . Hot and arid Winters are mild with little rain Summers are long and hot Coastal areas have a breeze.

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Middle East Geography

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  1. Middle East Geography

  2. Where is the Middle East?

  3. Geography • Area where Africa, Asia and Europe interconnect • No natural boundaries • Sometimes called “Near East”

  4. Climate • Hot and arid • Winters are mild with little rain • Summers are long and hot • Coastal areas have a breeze

  5. Rivers in Middle East • Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run parallel to each other • Flooding of the rivers allow for rich soil • Not as long as the Nile River

  6. Dead Sea Lowest Point on Earth 2,300’ below sea level Highest Salt Content (33%)

  7. Mountains • Taurus and Anti-Taurus in Turkey surround large plateau with fertile soil • Zagros Mountains drier soil • Afghanistan highest mountains Hindu Kush Mountains

  8. Deserts • Sahara Desert stretches across northern Africa and continues as Arabian and Syrian Deserts then becomes SouthIranian Desert

  9. Geography and Civilization • Fertile Crescent- between Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, richest soil • Mesopotamia- Greek means “between the rivers”

  10. Mesopotamia • Farming- flat, swampy area • Rivers flooded leaving behind fertile mud- silt • food- people • Challenges- little rainfall, rivers overflow • Leaders formed government/civilization

  11. Complete Middle East Map Use pages 114-115 in Desk Atlas to complete the map

  12. Ancient Middle East

  13. Sumerian • First civilizations in Mesopotamia between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • Sumeria built huts, raised cattle, farmed for food • Temples= ziggurats • First gather in large city-states • City-state political unit with own government

  14. Ancient History- The Sumerians • Developed first written language= cuneiform (5oo characters) • First people use the wheel/plow • Reservoirs store water • Invented the library • Polytheism worship of many gods • Conquered by Sargon (Akkadians)

  15. Deciphering Cuneiform

  16. The Babylonian Empire • Around 2000 BC tribe Amorites settled in Babylon on Euphrates River • 1792 BC Hammurabi became king of Babylon • Hammurabi warrior, ruler, administrator, trade • Hammurabi’s Code 282 code of laws (dealing with trade, theft, murder)  Written down for all to see  Everyone knew punishments

  17. Hittite • War-like Indo-Euro tribe • Asia Minor, now Turkey • Success came from horse-drawn war chariot powerful  held 3 soldiers (one drove, second fought, third defense)

  18. Hittite • Used Sumerian cuneiform and developed similar code to Hammurabi • Master ironworking techniques (Ornaments, tools, weapons) • Empire fell to Sea People

  19. Assyrians • Northern Mesopotamia, near Assur, along Tigris River • Grew barley and raised cattle • Lay along major trade routes, tribes invaded • Power was in military warrior society  Chariots, foot soldiers AND cavalry  Siege Warfare  Feared for harsh treatment

  20. Assyrian • Kings ruled through local leaders local leaders collected taxes, enforced laws, raised troops for army • System of roads ( messengers, troops moving easier, trade) • Punished anyone who opposed them (way of keeping peace) • Library 20,000 cuneiform tablets (Epic of Gilgamesh) • Assyrian Empire weakened

  21. Chaldeans • Most famous ruler Nebuchanezzar II • Built numerous palaces and temples • Hanging Gardens thousands of trees and flowers grew on terraces and roofs • Calendar based on phases of moon- astronomy position of the stars

  22. Phoenicians • Western end of Fertile Crescent (Mediterranean Sea) • Land not for farming turned to trade (sailors) trees for timber • Purple dye from shellfish color fabric, costly • Glassblowing • Formed Carthage- coast of northern Africa • One of the worlds first alphabets (22 letters)

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