The Middle East
Content Standards:
Geography 5: Regions can be determined, classified and compared using various criteria (landform, climate, population, cultural, or economic).
Geography 6: Variations among physical environments within the Eastern Hemisphere influence human activities. Human activities also alter the physical environment.
Economics 12: The choices people make have both present and future consequences. The evaluation of choices is relative and may differ across individuals and societies.
Geography 5: Regions can be determined, classified and compared using various criteria (landform, climate, population, cultural, or economic).
Geography 6: Variations among physical environments within the Eastern Hemisphere influence human activities. Human activities also alter the physical environment.
Economics 12: The choices people make have both present and future consequences. The evaluation of choices is relative and may differ across individuals and societies.
MAP 1 - The map below shows countries which are typically considered to be part of the Middle East, as well as countries in Northern Africa, that are sometimes considered to be part of the Middle East.
Who decides which countries get to be considered part of this REGION?
Use Maps 2, 3 and 4 below to identify the characteristics that help group these countries into a REGION.
MAP 2 - The map below shows the percentage of each country's Muslim population. Remember that Muslim means a follower of the Islamic religion.
Use Maps 2, 3 and 4 below to identify the characteristics that help group these countries into a REGION.
MAP 2 - The map below shows the percentage of each country's Muslim population. Remember that Muslim means a follower of the Islamic religion.
MAP 3 - The map below shows the countries in which Arabic is the only official language (green), or one of several official languages (blue).
Map 4 - The map below shows the physical landscape of the Middle East.
Green areas indicate the lowest points of elevation. Light yellow is flat elevation. Brown means a mountain or plateau.
Green areas indicate the lowest points of elevation. Light yellow is flat elevation. Brown means a mountain or plateau.
Water Needs in the Middle East
Section 1: Physical Geography of the Middle East
To understand water needs in the Middle East, you must start by understanding the physical geography of the region.
Study the map to the left.
Take notes on what you observe about the geography of the Middle East.
Hints: What color is most of the land pictured on the map?
What type of landform or climate would this represent?
Now, click on the link below "Landforms of the Middle East"
Take notes on what you observe about the geography of the Middle East.
Hints: What color is most of the land pictured on the map?
What type of landform or climate would this represent?
Now, click on the link below "Landforms of the Middle East"
Section 2: What's the Big Deal?
(or Why is fresh water so important?)
Watch the video below to watch about the water crises in the Middle East.
Take notes on WHY the issues are happening, and what possible results of the water crises could be.
Take notes on WHY the issues are happening, and what possible results of the water crises could be.
Section 3: Possible Solutions
The Power of Water in the Middle East | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Using the information you learned in your powerpoint, and the map above, decide on the best possible water solution for your Middle Eastern country.
Do your writing on the paper and turn it in.
Do your writing on the paper and turn it in.
Map of Aquifers in the Middle East.
Blue = aquifer
Tan = none
Blue = aquifer
Tan = none
Egypt's Aswan Dam - Evaluating Historical Sources
First, you must decide WHEN a source was produced:
1. Is it a historical source (from the past)?
2. Is it a contemporary source (from now)?
Then, you must decide if the source is reliable and accurate.
Can the information be verified in other sources?
What are the author’s sources of information?
Is the information original or reprinted/excerpted from another source?
How does the source compare with others on the same topic?
1. Is it a historical source (from the past)?
2. Is it a contemporary source (from now)?
Then, you must decide if the source is reliable and accurate.
Can the information be verified in other sources?
What are the author’s sources of information?
Is the information original or reprinted/excerpted from another source?
How does the source compare with others on the same topic?
Muslim Women's Issues -
Wearing of the Hijab
View of Muslim Women Who Wear the Hijab
why_muslim_women_do_wear_the_hijab.pptx | |
File Size: | 594 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Muslim Women Who Do NOT Wear the Hijab
muslim_women_who_do_not_wear_the_hijab.pptx | |
File Size: | 235 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Western Views of the Hijab
western_views_of_the_hijab.pptx | |
File Size: | 500 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Ethnic Groups of the Middle East
Who are you?
Today, start the lesson by thinking about what defines you as a person. Make a quick list in your notebook of all the things that define you. For example: gender, interests, religion, family, friends.
When we study the MIddle East, it is important to remember that it is a large area and contains people of many different backgrounds, religions, levels of income, and cultures.
Today, start the lesson by thinking about what defines you as a person. Make a quick list in your notebook of all the things that define you. For example: gender, interests, religion, family, friends.
When we study the MIddle East, it is important to remember that it is a large area and contains people of many different backgrounds, religions, levels of income, and cultures.
Today, we will be learning about ethnic groups in the Middle East. Remember ethnic groups are groups of people that have a shared culture, language, and historical background.
Click the map to the left to learn about the ethnic composition of each country in the Middle East.
Click the map to the left to learn about the ethnic composition of each country in the Middle East.
Videos
Next - watch the following videos about ethnic groups in the Middle East. For each video, write one new thing that you learned / observed, AND one question that you still have.
Next - watch the following videos about ethnic groups in the Middle East. For each video, write one new thing that you learned / observed, AND one question that you still have.
Video 1
Video 4
Situated between Africa, Asia, and Europe, the Middle East has been a crossroads for traders, travelers, and empire builders for thousands of years. Africans, Central Asians, and Celts have all added to the ethnic mix. Major ethnic groups in the Middle East today include Arabs, Iranians (also known as Persians), Turks, Jews, Kurds, Berbers, Armenians, Nubians, Azeris, and Greeks.
Most of the countries in this region are multiethnic. But even as diversity enhances the cultural richness of a society, it unfortunately may also lead to political conflict. The Kurds, for example, do not have their own nation-state, but are instead spread across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Their political and military attempts to create an autonomous Kurdistan have been strongly resisted by those states.
Most of the countries in this region are multiethnic. But even as diversity enhances the cultural richness of a society, it unfortunately may also lead to political conflict. The Kurds, for example, do not have their own nation-state, but are instead spread across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Their political and military attempts to create an autonomous Kurdistan have been strongly resisted by those states.