The Geography of the Middle The Geography of the Middle EastEast

77thth Grade Social Studies Unit 1 Overview Grade Social Studies Unit 1 Overview

Unit 1 FocusUnit 1 Focus The focus of this unit is how physical and The focus of this unit is how physical and

cultural geography shape the environment, cultural geography shape the environment, nations, and people of the Middle Eastnations, and people of the Middle East

The The Middle EastMiddle East is also called is also called Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia, , because it is the southwest region of the Asian because it is the southwest region of the Asian continentcontinent This is important to know because different This is important to know because different

resources may call this region by either nameresources may call this region by either name Middle East = Southwest Asia = Middle EastMiddle East = Southwest Asia = Middle East

The Middle East

Southwest Asia

Southwest Asia

All of Asia

Location of the Middle EasLocation of the Middle Eastt While the location of this region is not While the location of this region is not

directly addressed in any of our standards directly addressed in any of our standards or elements, it plays a direct and important or elements, it plays a direct and important role in the history and development of the role in the history and development of the region region (as important, possibly more so, than the (as important, possibly more so, than the lack of water and abundance of oil in the region)lack of water and abundance of oil in the region)

Southwest Asia, Southwest Asia, (The Middle East)(The Middle East), is the , is the landmass that connects the three major landmass that connects the three major continents found primarily in the Eastern continents found primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere: Europe, Asia, & AfricaHemisphere: Europe, Asia, & Africa

Europe lies to the North and West of the Middle Europe lies to the North and West of the Middle EastEast The Southwest Asian nation of Turkey borders the The Southwest Asian nation of Turkey borders the

European nations of Georgia and Armenia to the East, European nations of Georgia and Armenia to the East,

TURKEYGeorgia

Armenia

It shares a portion of the Mediterranean Sea’s coastline with Southern Europe to the west, touching Greece at it’s northern point. This the thin strip of land between Turkey and Greece has been important in connecting Asia and the Silk Roads to Western Europe.

GREECE

TURKEY

The city of Istanbul, which was at one time called Byzantine & another time called Constantinople, lies almost halfway along this connecting land strip and was an important and historic stop along these international trade routes

The continent of Asia, of course, continues out to The continent of Asia, of course, continues out to the North and East from Southwest Asia (Middle the North and East from Southwest Asia (Middle East), eventually reaching out through India to the East), eventually reaching out through India to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean through ChinaIndian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean through China

ASIAMiddle East

PacificOcean

IndianOcean

The continent of Africa lies to the South and The continent of Africa lies to the South and West of the Middle EastWest of the Middle East The Southwestern Asian nation of Israel borders the The Southwestern Asian nation of Israel borders the

Northeastern African nation of Egypt, both areas Northeastern African nation of Egypt, both areas again share portions of the Mediterranean coastlineagain share portions of the Mediterranean coastline

AFRICA

ASIAMiddle East

The unique location of the Middle East region The unique location of the Middle East region has had major implications on the history and has had major implications on the history and development of the area.development of the area. Far from being isolated, its connections to all three Far from being isolated, its connections to all three

continents has led to its being affected in many continents has led to its being affected in many different ways and areas through the trade and different ways and areas through the trade and travel that passed through along its way around travel that passed through along its way around the globe ~ religion, culture, art, government, the globe ~ religion, culture, art, government, technology.technology.

These outside influences have significantly These outside influences have significantly driven the shape of both the history and driven the shape of both the history and present of the Middle Eastern Region and will present of the Middle Eastern Region and will continue to impact them as the people their continue to impact them as the people their head into the future.head into the future.

Geographic Understandings of the Middle EastGeographic Understandings of the Middle EastStandards, Elements, Essential Questions, EtcStandards, Elements, Essential Questions, Etc..

SS7G5SS7G5: The student will locate selected : The student will locate selected features in Southwest Asia (Middle East)features in Southwest Asia (Middle East)

SS7G5(A)SS7G5(A) – The student will locate on a world and – The student will locate on a world and regional political-physical map: the Euphrates River, regional political-physical map: the Euphrates River, Jordan River, Tigris River, Suez Canal, Persian Gulf, Jordan River, Tigris River, Suez Canal, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the Gaza StripGaza Strip We will also be including on our map: the Arabian We will also be including on our map: the Arabian

Desert, Libyan Desert , Syrian Desert, Caspian Sea, Desert, Libyan Desert , Syrian Desert, Caspian Sea, Black Sea, and the Mediterranean SeaBlack Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea

SS7G5(B)SS7G5(B) The student will locate on a world The student will locate on a world and regional political-physical map, the and regional political-physical map, the nations of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, nations of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and TurkeySaudi Arabia, and Turkey We will also be adding to our map the nations of We will also be adding to our map the nations of

Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Yemen, and OmanSyria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Yemen, and Oman

SS7G5 (A) & (B) Enduring UnderstandingSS7G5 (A) & (B) Enduring Understanding: : Every Every place has unique geographical features that influence place has unique geographical features that influence how cultures develop.how cultures develop.

SS7G5 (A) & (B) Essential QuestionSS7G5 (A) & (B) Essential Question: : How does the How does the physical geography of Southwest Asia contribute to its physical geography of Southwest Asia contribute to its culture?culture?

Why are people attracted to certain regions in which Why are people attracted to certain regions in which live?live?

SS7G6SS7G6:: The student will discuss environmental The student will discuss environmental issues across Southwest Asia (The Middle East)issues across Southwest Asia (The Middle East) (A) Explain how water pollution and unequal (A) Explain how water pollution and unequal

distribution of water impacts irrigation and distribution of water impacts irrigation and drinking water.drinking water.

SS7G6 (A) & Enduring UnderstandingSS7G6 (A) & Enduring Understanding: : Limited Limited resources are often a basis for power and conflictresources are often a basis for power and conflict

SS7G6 (A) Essential QuestionSS7G6 (A) Essential Question: : How does the How does the available water supply influence the development of available water supply influence the development of Southwest Asia, (The Middle East)Southwest Asia, (The Middle East)

SS7G7SS7G7:: The student will explain the impact of The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of natural resources and distribution of natural resources and population distribution on Southwest Asia population distribution on Southwest Asia (Middle East)(Middle East)

SS7G7(A)SS7G7(A) The student will explain how the The student will explain how the distribution of oil has affected the distribution of oil has affected the development of Southwest Asia (Middle East)development of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

SS7G7(B)SS7G7(B) Describe how deserts and rivers Describe how deserts and rivers of Southwest Asia, (The Middle East), have of Southwest Asia, (The Middle East), have affected the population in terms of where they affected the population in terms of where they live, the types of work they do, and how they live, the types of work they do, and how they traveltravel

SS7G7 (A) & (B) Enduring UnderstandingSS7G7 (A) & (B) Enduring Understanding: : Limited Limited resources are often a basis for power and conflictresources are often a basis for power and conflict

SS7G6 (A) Essential QuestionSS7G6 (A) Essential Question: : How has the How has the discovery of oil affected the people of the Middle discovery of oil affected the people of the Middle East?East?

SS7G8SS7G8 The student will describe the diverse The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southwest cultures of the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle East)Asia (Middle East)

SS7G8 (A)SS7G8 (A) The student will explain the The student will explain the difference between an ethnic group and a difference between an ethnic group and a religious groupreligious group

Unit 1 Enduring Understandings Unit 1 Enduring Understandings and Essential Questionsand Essential Questions

These are just a few examples of some of These are just a few examples of some of the Enduring Understandings and the Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions that we will be using Essential Questions that we will be using to guide us this 1to guide us this 1stst Unit as well as all of the Unit as well as all of the units that follow.units that follow.