Chapter 25

Geography and Early History of the Middle East

Do Now

• The Middle East is often referred to as the crossroads of the world. Looking at your map, why do you think this is?

Crossroads of the World

• Crossroads of 3 contintents

• Middle Eastern Nations command vital sea routes– Suez Canal,

Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, Strait of Hormuz

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

5 Regions of Middle East

• Northern Tier– Anatolian Plateau

• Fertile soil and large population

• Ottoman Empire– Iranian Plateau

• Dry and small population• Persian Empire

• Arabian Peninsula– Vast Plateau 1/3 size of US– Dry and small population – Fertile on mountainous

southern coast

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

• Fertile Crescent– Mesopotamia: the

land between 2 rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) read Clash over the Euphrates pg 554

– Few natural barriers and open to invaders

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

• Nile Valley– Deserts to the east and

west protected it from invaders

– Sinai Peninsula connects Middle East

• Maghreb– ‘western isle’– Scarcity of water mean

most live along Med. coast

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Climate

• Most of region is desert and people cluster in well-watered areas

• Settlements are scattered

• Water and rainfall is scarce– Shaduf, drip irrigation,

and deslination plants (pg 613)

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Oil

• Unevenly Distributed means great economic differences between oil rich countries and those that lack

Ethnic Diversity

• Arabs– Majority and is anyone

whose native language is Arabic

– Most are Muslims• Turks • Iranians• Kurds• Islam is the majority religion• Christianity has it sects• Judaism is the most ancient

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Map Study

• Look over your map and prepare for map review…

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Ticket Out

• How has location contributed to cultural diversity in the Middle East?

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Section 2: Early Civilizations

• Sumerians– Located in Tigris-

Euphrates delta– Lived on grains,

dates, and fish– 3500 BC formation of

city-states• Own ruler and gods• Rivals fought each

other

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Religion

• Priests were most important– Collected taxes and

performed ceremonial offerings to gods

• Ziggurat– Tiered temple– Closer to the gods

• Scribes– Pictographs evolved into

cuneiform (wedged shaped symbols)

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Achievements of Sumerians

• Wheel• Sail• Plow• Accurate calendar• Arithmetic and

geometry• Measurement on the

#60– 60 second minute/hour/

360` circle

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Warfare and Trade

• Nomads from highlands attracted to fertile land

• Thousands of years of warfare and trade created rich blend of culture

• 1700 BC Babylonians and King Hammurabi– Law code

• 1500 BC Hittites from Anatolian Plateau invaded– Mastery of iron

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

• Phoenicians– Lebanon– Commerce and trade– “carriers of

civilization”– Alphabet was simple

and easy to learn

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Persian Empire

• 500 BC ruled from Turkey to India

• Darius I– Divided empire into 20

provinces and Satrap (eyes and ears) served as governor

– Allowed for diversity– Built roads and promoted

trade– Answer Map Study on page

560– 5 W’s Up Close 560

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Greek Influence

• Alexander the Great of Northern Greece conquered Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt

• Legacy is known as the Hellenistic Civilization (blending of Greek and ancient Middle East)

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Roman Conquest

• Based in Italy and by 115 AD extned to throughout the Middle East

• Trade Flourished from Persian Gulf to Atlantic Ocean

• Byzantine Empire– 330 AD Roman Empire

split

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Section 3Do Now:

• With a partner, complete as much of the religious organizer as you can without using the book.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Kingdom of Israel

• Hebrews migrate into the Fertile Crescent between Mesopotamia and Egypt

• 1025 Form Kingdom of Israel

• Under constant threat from invaders

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

2 Great Kings

• King David– Skilled General– Unified all of Israel

• King Solomon– Known for his Wisdom– Built Israel into a

beautiful capital• Taxed heavily• 930 BC death and

revolts weakened Kingdom and forced to exile

Foreign Rule and the Persians

• Persians control Fertile Crescent in 500 BC and allow Hebrews to return

• Greeks and Romans also ruled for period of time• Romans force Jewish people to leave in 70 AD

– diaspora

Teachings of Judaism

• Yahweh is the creator• Torah is sacred book• Prophets are religious

teachers reminding the people to live moral lives

• Covenant with God (Chosen People)

• 10 Commandments

Rise of Christianity

• Jewish prophets predicted a messiah would restore order

• Some believed Jesus was the messiah

• Roman Officials crucified Jesus

Spread of Christianity

• New Testament is the collections of his teachings

• Followers known as Christos (annointed)

• Appealing because everyone could achieve salvation