5 Themes of Geography -...
Transcript of 5 Themes of Geography -...
5 Themes of Geography
Middle East
Location
• “Middle East” or Southwest Asia
– The term “Middle East” came from the Europeans because it was in the middle between Europe and Asia on the trade routes.
• Global Importance of this location:
– Sea Routes
– Suez Canal
– Oil
Europe Far East
Middle East
Location
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Region
• 5 Regions
– Northern Tier (Turkey and Iranian Plateau)
– Fertile Crescent (Tigris and Euphrates R.)
– Arabian Peninsula
– Nile Valley (Egypt in Africa)
– Maghreb (Northern Africa, means “Western Isle”)
• Overall region is predominately unified by the Arabic language and Islam
Regions
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Northern Tier
Nile Valley Maghreb
Place
• Topography and Climate vary greatly in the Middle East.
– Not all desert!
– Mountains and Plateaus
– Fertile farming land in the Northern Tier
• Population density varies – few people in the Arabian Peninsula, more people in the Northern Tier
Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul
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Dubai, UAE
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Sana’a, Yemen
Place – Population Density
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Movement
• 3 of the world’s most followed religions started here and spread throughout the globe
• Historically, much of the world’s trade flowed through this area (Silk Road)
• Today, the Suez Canal is a vital route for trade and military ships
World Religions
• Religions from the Middle East are followed by more than 50% of the world’s population
Silk Road
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Human-Environment Interaction
• Some of the world’s earliest civilizations were located here
– Mesopotamia (3000 B.C.)
– Egyptians (2700 B.C.)
• Humans settled near water to survive (Nile, Fertile Crescent, coastline of Arabian Peninsula)
• Use desalination factories to make fresh water from salt water.
• Accessing Oil!
Desalination Plant in Israel
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Oil in the Middle East
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