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

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

Dead Sea

Lowest Point on Earth2,300’ below sea levelHighest Salt Content (33%)

Mountains Taurus and Anti-Taurus in

Turkey surround large plateau with fertile soil

Zagros Mountains drier soil

Afghanistan highest mountains Hindu Kush Mountains

Deserts

Sahara Desert stretches across northern Africa and continues as Arabian and Syrian Deserts then becomes South Iranian Desert

Geography and CivilizationFertile Crescent-

between Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, richest soil

Mesopotamia- Greek means “between the rivers”

MesopotamiaFarming- flat, swampy

areaRivers flooded leaving

behind fertile mud- silt food- peopleChallenges- little rainfall,

rivers overflowLeaders formed

government/civilization

Complete Middle East Map

Use pages 114-115 in Desk Atlas to complete the map

Ancient Middle East

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

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)

Deciphering Cuneiform

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

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)

Hittite Used Sumerian cuneiform

and developed similar code to Hammurabi

Master ironworking techniques (Ornaments, tools, weapons)

Empire fell to Sea People

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

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

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

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)