The Arabian The Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Peninsula, Iraq, Iran,

and Afghanistanand Afghanistan

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography

This area is often called the This area is often called the Persian Persian GulfGulf, named for the water it , named for the water it surrounds. It is also called the surrounds. It is also called the Middle Middle EastEast..

The Arabian Peninsula consists of The Arabian Peninsula consists of several countries: several countries: Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia, , KuwaitKuwait, , BahrainBahrain, , QatarQatar, , United Arab United Arab EmiratesEmirates, , OmanOman, and , and YemenYemen

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography

Iran, Iraq, and Iran, Iraq, and AfghanistanAfghanistan are located are located north and east of the north and east of the Arabian Arabian PeninsulaPeninsula

Most of this region has a Most of this region has a desertdesert or or steppesteppe climate. Temperatures in the climate. Temperatures in the desert can reach desert can reach 129129 degrees in the degrees in the summer—and dip below summer—and dip below freezingfreezing in in the winter nights.the winter nights.

ResourcesResources

WaterWater is an important resource is an important resource because it is because it is scarcescarce..

Oil/PetroleumOil/Petroleum is the region’s most is the region’s most important resource. Most of the important resource. Most of the countries here rely heavily on oil for countries here rely heavily on oil for their their economieseconomies..

ReligionReligion

IslamIslam was founded by a merchant was founded by a merchant named named MuhammadMuhammad. He was from . He was from the Arabian town of the Arabian town of MeccaMecca (now in (now in Saudi Arabia).Saudi Arabia).

Around AD 610 he had a Around AD 610 he had a visionvision that that he had been named a he had been named a prophetprophet by by AllahAllah, or God., or God.

ReligionReligion

The religion of Islam spread quickly The religion of Islam spread quickly to to North AfricaNorth Africa, much of , much of AsiaAsia, and , and parts of parts of EuropeEurope..

Followers of Islam are called Followers of Islam are called MuslimsMuslims..

ReligionReligion

Muslims follow a set of Muslims follow a set of rulesrules to guide to guide their their behaviorbehavior. These rules are . These rules are outlined by the outlined by the Five Pillars of IslamFive Pillars of Islam (more on this later).(more on this later).

ReligionReligion

There are two main branches of Islam. There are two main branches of Islam. Followers of the Followers of the largestlargest branch are branch are called called SunniSunni. Followers of the second-. Followers of the second-largest branch are called largest branch are called ShiaShia..

Early in Islam’s history, these two Early in Islam’s history, these two groups disagreed over groups disagreed over leadershipleadership in in the Islamic world. This dispute still the Islamic world. This dispute still causes problems causes problems todaytoday..