Does this map look familiar? Can you identify anything on this map?

The Middle EastThe Middle EastCountriesCountries

Georgia Performance Georgia Performance StandardsStandards

SS7G5a-bSS7G5a-b

Georgia Performance StandardsGeorgia Performance Standards

SS7G5 The student will locate selected features in Southwestern Asia (Middle East).b. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map the nations of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Where in the world Where in the world is the Middle East? is the Middle East?

What does it look like from What does it look like from space?space?

Map of Middle EastMap of Middle East

 

 

CountrCountryy

What to What to know about know about the countrythe country

Physical Physical FeaturesFeatures

AfghanistanAfghanistan    

IranIran    

IraqIraq    

Saudi Saudi ArabiaArabia

   

IsraelIsrael    

TurkeyTurkey    

Where in the world is Afghanistan??

AfghanistanAfghanistan

► Capital: KabulCapital: Kabul► LandlockedLandlocked► Neighbors: Neighbors: IranIran to the west, to the west, PakistanPakistan to the to the

east and south, the former U.S.S.R. to the east and south, the former U.S.S.R. to the northnorth

► Geography-no major rivers, mountains Geography-no major rivers, mountains (great (great place for terrorists to hide)place for terrorists to hide)

Doesn’t look like the Middle East does it??

The opium poppy, one of the most lucrative sources of income for many Afghanis. Opium is used to make the legal drugs like morphine and illegal drugs like heroin.

The small areas of steppes in northern Afghanistan and in southwestern Afghanistan are some of the most productive farming areas, although they are still reliant on season rains and melting snowfall from the mountains.

Do you recognize this picture??

Where in the world is Iran?

IranIran

►Capital: TehranTehran►Neighbors: Neighbors: Iraq to the west, Afghanistan to Iraq to the west, Afghanistan to

the eastthe east►Caspian Sea to the north and Persian Gulf to Caspian Sea to the north and Persian Gulf to

the souththe south►Second largest M.E. countrySecond largest M.E. country►Geography: Mountains, plains, and desertsGeography: Mountains, plains, and deserts►Formerly called Persia

Lots of earthquakesLots of earthquakes

The country of Iran “looks down on” Iraq. Iran is much more mountainous and has a large central plateau region.

Example of Persian Architecture

Everybody loves motorcycles

Looks like the world’s biggest sand castle!

Skiing in the Middle East????

Where in the world is Iraq?

IraqIraq

► Capital: BaghdadCapital: Baghdad► Neighbors: Neighbors: Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east,

Saudi Arabia to the southSaudi Arabia to the south► Geography: Geography: A few mountains, swamps (??), deserts, A few mountains, swamps (??), deserts,

and rivers- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and rivers- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (irrigation for (irrigation for farming)farming)

► Lots of OIL!! Persian Gulf VERY important for tradeLots of OIL!! Persian Gulf VERY important for trade

Marshlands in Iraq

Camels are the best way to travel in some areas

Army helicopters-a common sight

to see

Al Mansour Hotel in Baghdad

Many areas are very “western”, that is if they haven’t been blown up

Along the Euphrates River

Where in the world is Saudi Arabia?

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

►Capital: RiyadhCapital: Riyadh►Largest M.E. countryLargest M.E. country►Neighbors: Neighbors: Iraq, to the north, Red Sea Iraq, to the north, Red Sea

to the west, Persian Gulf to the eastto the west, Persian Gulf to the east►Almost completely desertAlmost completely desert►OIL!!!!!OIL!!!!!

Oil and trade make Saudi Arabia one of the richest countries in the world

Home of the most sacred Muslim cities

Where in the world is Israel?

IsraelIsrael► Capital: JerusalemCapital: Jerusalem► Neighbors: Neighbors: Egypt to the southwest,Egypt to the southwest,

Mediterranean Sea to the west, Mediterranean Sea to the west, Jordan to east, Lebanon to NorthJordan to east, Lebanon to North

► Geography: Geography: Less desert than theLess desert than theother M.E. countries, milder climateother M.E. countries, milder climate

► More farmland, but less oilMore farmland, but less oil

Israel is bordered by Lebanon and Syria in the north, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, and Egypt and the Gaza Strip in the southwest. It covers an area slightly smaller than New Jersey.

Near the Sea of Galilee

Mount Susita

Where in the world is Turkey?

TurkeyTurkey

► Capital: AnkaraCapital: Ankara► Only country Only country found on 2 found on 2

continentscontinents-Europe and Asia-Europe and Asia► Neighbors: Neighbors: Iraq to the southeast, Mediterranean Iraq to the southeast, Mediterranean

Sea to the southwest, Syria to SouthSea to the southwest, Syria to South► Lots of different geographyLots of different geography: mountains, plains, : mountains, plains,

and coastal regions, very little desertand coastal regions, very little desert► Turkey and Israel are very similar geographicallyTurkey and Israel are very similar geographically

Architecture combines the Middle East and Europe

Cool picture, huh??

Hint for remembering the countries

►In Arabic, you read from right to left►Starting on the right, the 4 hardest

countries to locate are alphabetical (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia)

►Turkey and Israel are easy to identify

Country What to know about the country

Physical Features

JordanJordan East of IsraelEast of Israel Jordan RiverJordan River

KuwaitKuwait Very small country Very small country on Persian Gulfon Persian Gulf

Desert, Desert, Persian GulfPersian Gulf

SyriaSyria Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea, South of Sea, South of Turkey, West of Turkey, West of IraqIraq

Euphrates Euphrates River, River, MediterraneaMediterranean Sean Sea

LebanonLebanon Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea, SW of Syria, Sea, SW of Syria, North of IsraelNorth of Israel

MediterraneaMediterranean Sean Sea

• Color your map• Color each country a different

color• Put a bold border around Israel,

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey , and Afghanistan

• These are the countries you need to know for your test