Chapter 17: The Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan

7th Grade Social StudiesANDREWS

Comparison (p.376)

Physical Map (p.377)

1. The Zagros Mts. And Great Salt Desert make travel difficult in Iran.

2. The highest mountains are the Hindu Kush and they are found in Afghanistan.

Physical Map – Analyzing Information (p.377)

3. Turkey is partly in Europe and partly in Asia.

4. A person might travel down the Euphrates River and through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to avoid the deserts.

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Physical/Population Maps-Comparing (p.377)

5. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and a large area of plains contribute to Iraq’s fairly high population rate.

Political Map (p.378)

1. The region’s two largest countries are Saudi Arabia and Iran. Bahrain is the smallest.

Political/Climate MapsComparing (p.378,379)

2. Many of the boundaries in this region are straight lines because there are few physical features to define boundaries.

3. Some maps may show Saudi Arabia’s southern border as a dotted line because it is in the desert and may be unmarked or in dispute.

Political Map – Drawing Inferences and Conclusions (p.378)

4. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman lie along the Persian Gulf. Maintaining access to the Arabian Sea through these important waterways might cause conflicts between these countries.

Climate Map (p.379)

1. All the countries have desert climates except Cyprus, Lebanon, and Turkey.

2. Cyprus and Lebanon have only a Mediterranean climate.

Climate/Population Maps - Comparing (p.379,380)

3. Climate influences the region’s population patterns because desert areas have low population densities.

Climate, Population, and Physical Maps- Analyzing Info (p.377, 379. 381)

4. Commercial farming is possible in central Iraq because irrigation is provided by rivers.

Population Map (p.380)

1. Turkey, Syria, and Iran has more than two cities of more than 2 million people.

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Population/Physical Maps (p.377,380)

The Rub’ Al-Khali has almost no residents.

Population Map – Analyzing Information (p.380)

4. Use this map to make a chart, graph, database, or model of population centers in Southeast Asia.

Population Map – Analyzing Information (p.380)

5. Istanbul’s location is good for a large city because trade from the Black Sea and areas to the north has to pass through Istanbul on its way to the Mediterranean.

Resource Map (p.381)

1. A tanker traveling from Abadan to Mediterranean ports would go southeast through the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Omen to the Arabian Sea, southwest to the Gulf of Aden, northwest through the Red Sea, and through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea.

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Resource Map (p.381)

2. Natural Gas and Oil are two energy resources that are usually found together in this region.

3. Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia have gold. Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey have coal deposits.

Resource Map – Critical Thinking (p.381)

4. Use this map to create a chart, graph, database, or model of economic activities in Southwest Asia.

Resource Map- Drawing Inferences and Conclusions (p.381)

5. Vegetables may be costly in Kuwait because there is no farmland indicated on the map. Fruits, grains, and vegetables would have to be imported, driving up prices.

Why Study this region?

The world’s first urban civilization, Sumer, developed in what is now Iraq. The mighty Persian Empire ruled the area later. These civilizations have left behind great works of art, architecture, and literature.

This region contains most of the world’s known oil reserves.

Why Study?

The U.S. military has been involved in the region. For example, U.S. personnel played a major role in Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91.

This region is the cradle of Islam, and home to many of its followers. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the U.S.

CHAPTER 17The Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan

Section 1: Physical Geography

Section 2: The Arabian Peninsula

Section 3: Iraq

Section 4: Iran and Afghanistan

Section 1: Physical Geography

Persian Gulf Red Sea Arabian Sea Tigris River Euphrates River Elburz Mts. Zagros Mts. Hindu Kush Rub’ al-Khali Arabian Peninsula

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Section 1: Objectives

Identify the major physical features of the region.

Describe the climates found in this region.

Identify the region’s important resources.

Vocabulary exotic rivers

Rivers that begin in humid regions and then flow through dry areas

wadisDry steambeds in Southeast Asia

fossil waterWater that is not being replaced by rainfall

Questions

What are the major physical features of this area?

What are the climates of this region?

What are the region's important resources?

SECTION 1

Physical Geography

Question:What rivers, mountains, bodies of water, deserts and climates can be found in the region?

SECTION 1

Physical Geography

Rivers

Mountains

Bodies of water

Deserts

Climate typesTigris

Euphrates Elburz

Kopet-Dag

Zagros

Hindu Kush

Persian Gulf

Red Sea

Arabian Sea

Great Salt

Rubal-Khali

An Nafud

desert

steppe

Physical Geography of the Region

Main Ideas

Why do you think Mesopotamia was important in ancient times?

Mesopotamia was important in ancient times because it was a fertile and well watered area.

Main Idea

What is the region's climate?

The region’s climate is desert or steppe.

Sec 2: The Arabian Peninsula

Section 2: Objectives

Describe what Saudi Arabia’s history, government, and people are like.

Identify the kinds of government and economy the other countries of the Arabian Peninsula have.

Vocabulary Muslims

Followers of Islam caliph

A religious and political ruler in the Muslim world, a title which means "successor to the Prophet Muhammed"

SunniThe largest branch of Islam

Vocabulary (cont.)

ShiaThe second-largest branch of Islam

Qur'anThe holy book of Islam

OPECOrganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which tries to influence the price of oil on world markets

Questions

What is significant about Saudi Arabia's history, government, and people?

How are the governments and economies of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula organized?

SECTION 2

Question:What are some of the important aspects of Saudi Arabia’s history, government, and economy?

The Arabian Peninsula

SECTION 2

The Arabian Peninsula

History of Islam

A.D. 610— Muhammad reports his vision. Islam spreads.

Late 600s—Sunni and Muslims disagree about leadership of Islam.

Traditional Economy

Barley, dates, fruits, millet, vegetables, and wheat are traditional crops. Nomads kept sheep, goats, horses, and camels.

Political Developments

1920s—Local ruler conquers neighbors, creates kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. King rules with advice of others. Saudi Arabia and United States establish close relationship.

Oil Industry

1930s—Oil discovered in Saudi Arabia. Country becomes world’s leading oil exporter. Oil becomes most important part of economy and pays for desalination plants.

Saudi Arabia’s History, Government, and EconomySaudi Arabia’s History, Government, and Economy

Main Ideas

What kind of government does Saudi Arabia have?

Saudi Arabia’s government is a monarchy.

Main Idea

What role does oil play in the economies of small countries on the Arabian Peninsula?

Oil is the most important export of the small countries on the Arabian Peninsula.

Oil fields of Saudi Arabia What was Saudi

Arabia like before oil was discovered there?

How has oil changed Saudi Arabia's economy and society?

2. .

Islam (28:00)

Section 3: Iraq

Section 3: Objectives

Identify the key events in Iraq’s history.

Describe Iraq’s government and economy.

Describe the makeup of Iraq’s population.

Vocabulary

embargoA limit on trade

Questions

What are some key events in Iraq's history?

How is Iraq's government organized, and what is its economy like?

What is the makeup of Iraq's population?

SECTION 3

Question:What peoples make up the population of Iraq?

Iraq

SECTION 3

Iraq

ArabsArabs

KurdsKurds

small minority groupssmall minority groups

Iraq’s PopulationIraq’s Population

Main Ideas

What are some different groups that have controlled Mesopotamia?

The Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Arabs, the Ottoman Empire and the British have all controlled Mesopotamia.

Main Idea

What is Iraq's government like?

Iraq’s government was a dictatorship where Saddam Hussein maintained a large army and secret police force. It is now a newly forming democracy.

Iraq (2:28)

Section 4: Iran and Afghanistan

Iran Afghanistan

Section 4: Objectives Identify some important events in

Iran’s history.

Describe what Iran’s government and people are like.

Describe the problems Afghanistan faces today.

Vocabulary

shahAn ancient Persian word for king

theocracyA government ruled by religious leaders

Questions

What are Iran's government and people like?

What are some of the challenges Afghanistan faces today?

Afghanistan’s Women

Question: What do you like to do in your spare time? Make a list of things you enjoy doing? Who do you do these things with?

Watch ESPN Award Show

SECTION 4

Question:What are some important events in the history of Iran?

Iran and Afghanistan

SECTION 4

500s B.C.

Persian Empire established

300s B.C.

Persian Empire conquered

by Alexander the Great

A.D. 600s

Arab invasion of the region and establishment

of Islam

1921

Shah in

power

1979

Shah overthrown by Islamic republic

1980

Beginning of war with

Iraq

Key Events in Iran’s HistoryKey Events in Iran’s History

Iran and Afghanistan

Main Ideas What ethnic and religious groups

live in Iran?

Ethnic Persians, ethnic Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmans are the ethnic groups of Iran. Shia and Sunni Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the religious groups living in Iran.

Main Idea

How have Afghanistan's recent wars affected the country?

The recent wars in Afghanistan have damaged trade, industry, and transportation.

Iran (2:17)

Chapter Wrap-Up

1. What are the three landform regions that make up this part of Southwest Asia?

2. What is the most important resource of this region?

3. Which countries in this area have large reserves of oil?

4. Which small country has some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world?

5. How have wars affected politics in this region?

1. What are the three landform regions that make up this part of Southwest Asia?

2. What is the most important resource of this region?

3. Which countries in this area have large reserves of oil?

4. Which small country has some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world?

5. How have wars affected politics in this region?

CHAPTER 17

Credits

All information and activities borrowed from Holt, Rinehart, and Winston; People, Places, and Change