Southwest AsiaMr. Sicilia7th Grade HistoryWaverly Middle School

THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Southwest Asia Section 1

Eastern Mediterranean: Physical GeographyPhysical Features

◦ The Bosporus◦ Dead Sea◦ Mountains,

Deserts, & PlainsClimate

◦ Dry/little vegetation

Resources◦ Valuable Minerals◦ Water Availability

Eastern Mediterranean:Turkey

Turkey’s History◦ Invasion by Romans◦ Rule by Ottomans◦ 20th Century

DemocracyPeople

◦ Mostly Ethnic Turks◦ Cultural Mix of Modern

and TraditionalTurkey Today

◦ Democratic Nation◦ European Union?

Eastern Mediterranean:IsraelIsrael’s History

◦ Ancient Hebrews◦ Creation of the Nation

of Israel◦ Arab-Israeli War

Israel Today◦ Jewish Culture is Major

Part of Daily LifeThe Palestinian

Territories◦ Areas Within Israel

Controlled partly by Palestinian Arabs

Eastern Mediterranean:Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan

Syria◦ Once part of Ottoman

Empire◦ Arab Country Ruled by

Powerful FamilyLebanon

◦ Recovering From Civil War

◦ People Divided By Religion

Jordan◦ Few Resources◦ Home to Bedouins ◦ Rely on Foreign Aid

THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, IRAQ, AND IRAN

Southwest Asia Section 2

The Arabian Peninsula:Physical GeographyPhysical Features

◦ Deserts, Plains, and Mountains

Climate◦ Dry with Little

VegetationOil

◦ World is Dependant

◦ Abundant in this Region

The Arabian Peninsula:Saudi Arabia and its Neighbors

Islamic Culture◦ Speak Arabic◦ Origins of Islam◦ Sunni Muslims

Economy Based on Oil◦ OPEC◦ Unemployment◦ Banking and Tourism

MonarchiesPersian Gulf War

IranIran’s History

◦ Great Empires (Persia)

◦ Islamic RepublicIran Today

◦ Persians, Speak Farsi

◦ Islamic Religious Leaders Restrict Most Iranian’s Rights