7th Grade UBD - Unit 3 - Middle East

Location and Landforms- The region has several landforms.
Its rivers are a vital resource. Surrounding seas serve as
transportation routes.

Climate and Resources-The region is dry except for the
fertile valleys of Turkey and the Middle East. Oil is a major
resource. Water is scarce.

Society and Culture- Three of the world’s religions- Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam have their roots in Southwest Asia.

Today, as in ancient times, Southwest Asia is an
important region. It is the crossroad of three
continents- Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The region has several landforms. Its rivers are a
vital resource. Surrounding seas serve as
transportation routes.

Unlike Africa, Southwest
Asia is not a separate
continent. It is the corner
of the enormous continent
Asia.

There are a wide number
of religions that are
practiced in this region of
the world.

Southwest Asia links Europe, Africa, and Asia.

In ancient times, many people migrated there.
Traders crossed the region spreading goods
and ideas.

Modern Southwest Asia is still a crossroads of
world trade. It controls vital sea and land
routes.
Key Term
Strait- A
narrow
waterway that
connects two
larger bodies
of water.

Many Americans think of Southwest Asia as
one large desert. In fact, the region has a
variety of landforms.

Mountains affect movement and
communication. Traders, invaders, and
modern-road builders had to find a way around
or through the mountains.

Mountains also influence
Southwest Asia’s
environment.

The region’s high peaks
affect rainfall.

The area has severe
earthquakes that
sometimes kill thousands
of people.
Video- Earthquakes

Some parts of the region has
a climate suitable for growing
crops.

While other areas are large
deserts. Like mountains,
deserts discourage the
movement of people because
they have little or no water.
1.
What three continents cross to give
Southwest Asia its relative location?
2.
Why is Southwest Asia considered to be a
crossroads of world trade?
What three continents cross to give
1.
Southwest Asia its relative location?

Southwest Asia links Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Why is Southwest Asia considered to be a
2.
crossroads of world trade?

It controls vital sea and land routes.

Oil and water are unevenly distributed in the
region.

Much of the world’s supply of oil is from
Southwest Asia.

Even though many people are farmers, the
region has to import food because of lack of
enough fertile land and moisture.

Water, like oil, is a
valuable commodity.
Which do you think is
more valuable to the
people of Southwest
Asia? Why?
(5 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)

The majority of the
Persian Gulf Oil Fields
are located in the
Persian Gulf Basin.

The top five future oil
fields in the world all
reside in the Middle East.

Much of the world’s supply of oil is from
Southwest Asia.

This one region is thought to have most of
the world’s supply of oil.

Yet only a few nations in Southwest Asia have
large oil reserves.

Although continents
such as North America
and Europe use the most
oil currently, countries
such as China and India
are rapidly growing, thus
increasing their need for
oil.

The burning of fossil fuels
creates greenhouse
gases.

Water pollution through
oil spills have can very
adverse affects the
animals and plant life of
the surrounding spill.

Although there are
large reserves of oil in
and around the Persian
Gulf, new sources of
energy are eventually
going to be required to
replace these oil fields.

Lack of moisture has made
fresh water, especially from
rivers, enormously
important to the region.

The Fertile Crescent, an area
of green land, is a key
agricultural region due to
the availability of water.
Key Term
The Fertile
Crescent- Is located
in the Middle East, a
crescent-shaped
area where
agriculture and
civilizations evolved
first.

The Persian Gulf is
important to the world’s
economy.

The Suez Canal is a key
link in world trade
routes running between
Europe and Asia.
Key Term
Aquifers-An
underground
reservoir of
water which
can be
extracted for
use.

Because of the arid
climate, water is a scarce
and valuable resource in
Southwest Asia.

As population grows so
does the demand for
water.

Today there are often
tensions among nations
that share water supplies.
Key Term
Wadis-Are dry
streambeds
found
throughout the
desert region.
Key Term
Depleted- Is
when natural
resources
become
exhausted over
centuries of
use.

Modern scientists
have invented
methods to help
people adapt to the
arid climate. Two
ways are desalination
and fertigation.
Key Term
Fertigation- Is
feeding water and
fertilizer directly
to the roots of
crops.
Key Term
DesalinationInvolves changing
salty water into
fresh water that
can be used for
drinking and
irrigation.
Video- Desalination Myths and Misconceptions

Three of the world’s religions- Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam have their roots in
Southwest Asia.

Islam is viewed by many Muslims not simply
as a religion, but also as a cultural identity
and heritage.

Arabs serve coffee
or tea to honor
guests. Refusing it
is a refusal of
generosity.

The public display of
intimacy between men and
women is considered
offensive.

This code also applies to
husbands and wives .

The maintenance of family
honor is one of the highest
values.

In Middle Eastern
cultures, promiscuous
behavior can be more
damaging to family
honor.

Most Middle Easterners
still prefer an arranged
marriage.

Women’s status vary
depending on the country
involved.

In the Persian Gulf States,
most women do not work.
Those who do, work only
in all-female
environments such as
schools for women.
Key Term
Hijab- A head
covering
worn in public
by some
Muslim
women.
Video- Islam History and Teachings

Arabs are people in different
countries who share a
common culture and
language.

About 90 percent of the
people in Southwest Asia are
Muslim.

They are divided into two main
groups the Sunni and Shiite.

Religion is an important
part of culture.

Like Jews and Christians,
Muslims believe in one
God.

Monotheism is the belief
that there is one God

Allah is the Arabic word for
God.

The sacred book of Islam is
the Quran. Besides teaching
about God, the Quran
provides a guide to life.

Like the Bible, the Quran
forbids lying, stealing, and
murder. It also prohibits
gambling, eating pork, and
drinking alcohol.

Islam unifies the people
of Southwest Asia.

Islamic law governs all
aspects of life, including
family life, business
practices, banking and
government.
Key Term
Allah- The
Arabic
word for
God.
Key Term
Mosque- A
Muslim
place of
worship.
1.
Faith: Belief in one god and that Muhammad is his
prophet.
2.
Prayer: Five times a day – facing Mecca.
3.
Alms: Giving money to the poor is REQUIRED, not
optional.
4.
Fasting: During the month of Ramadan, Muslims cannot
eat or drink anything during the daylight hours.
5.
Pilgrimage: Once in their lives – if they can afford it,
Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islam is an important religion, which shares
many beliefs and practices with Christianity
and Judaism.

Muslims live in many different countries. Islam
is especially widespread in Africa, Asia, and
southeastern Europe (the Balkans).
1.
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
2.
The two main sects or groups of Muslims are
what?
3.
What three religions have their roots in
Southwest Asia?
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
1.

Faith, Prayer, Alms, Fasting, and Pilgrimage are the
Five Pillars of Islam.
The two main sects or groups of Muslims are what?
2.

The two main groups the Sunni and Shiite.
What three religions have their roots in Southwest
3.
Asia?

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have their roots in
Southwest Asia.
 Do you think it is
easy for three
religions to share
a holy city? Why
or why not?
(10 minutes)

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)