The Middle East◦ known as the crossroads of

civilization

Geography of the Middle East 

Connects three major continents◦Africa, Asia and Europe

Central location◦Economic and cultural crossroads

Lack of natural barriers◦Encouraged cultural diffusion

Only a small strip of fertile land◦Between Saudi Arabia and Oman

Crossroads:

West to East: Countries of Morocco to Afghanistan

North to South: country of Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula

Areas included as part of the Middle East:

Deserts cover 90% of the region

Physical Setting

Regions of the Middle East

Sahara Desert◦Land to sea winds (very dry)◦Coastal mountains- Atlas Mountains

◦Near the equator-warm to hot temperature

Nile River Basin◦Includes Egypt and the Sudan

North Africa (Maghreb)

Plateau that measures about 1/3 of the US

Surrounded by water on all three sides◦West: Red Sea◦South: Arabian Sea

◦East: Persian Gulf

Arabian Peninsula

Largest nation in the region is Saudi Arabia

Mostly desert- Arabian desert

Source of area’s riversIranian Plateau- covers most of Iran

Anatolian Plateau- covers most of Turkey

Asia Minor- The Northern Tier

Stretches from the Mediterranean Sea through the Tigris- Euphrates River Valley to the Persian Gulf

Fertile Crescent

Two main areas include:◦Mediterranean Area: Palestine, Syria

◦Mesopotamia: Tigris and Euphrates River valley

Melting snow from nearby mountains ◦causes flooding (destructive)

◦deposits of silt (good for farming)