People of Southwest Asia7th Grade UBD - Unit 3 - Middle East

Preview

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.

             

            

Key Ideas- Location and Landforms

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.

What is Southwest Asia?

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 Asian CrossroadsSouthwest 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.

Landforms

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.

Landforms

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.

EarthquakesVideo- Earthquakes

Landforms

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.

Questions

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?

Answers

1. What three continents cross to give

Southwest Asia its relative location? Southwest Asia links Europe, Africa, and

Asia.

2. Why is Southwest Asia considered to

be a crossroads of world trade? It controls vital sea and land routes.

Key Ideas- Climate and Resources

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.

Reach Into Your Background

Water, like oil, is a

valuable commodity.

Which do you think is

more valuable to the

people of Southwest

Asia? Why?

(5 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Location

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.

Oil Wealth

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.

Global Consumption

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.

Environmental Issues

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.

Alternative to Persian Gulf Oil

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.

Water

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.

Bodies of Water

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.

The Key Resource

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.

Adapting the Land

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

Desalination-

Involves

changing salty

water into

fresh water

that can be

used for

drinking and

irrigation.

DesalinationVideo- Desalination Myths and Misconceptions

Key Ideas- Society and Culture

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.

Customs

Arabs serve

coffee or tea to

honor guests.

Refusing it is a

refusal of

generosity.

Men and Women

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.

Men and Women

In Middle Eastern

cultures, promiscuous

behavior can be more

damaging to family

honor.

Most Middle Easterners

still prefer an arranged

marriage.

Men and Women

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.

IslamVideo- Islam History and Teachings

Religion

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.

The Influence of Islam

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 Quran

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.

Five Pillars of Islam

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.

The Five Pillars of Islam

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.

Conclusion

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).

Questions

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?

Answers

1. What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Faith, Prayer, Alms, Fasting, and Pilgrimage are the

Five Pillars of Islam.

2. The two main sects or groups of Muslims are what?

The two main groups the Sunni and Shiite.

3. What three religions have their roots in Southwest

Asia?

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have their roots in

Southwest Asia.

Critical Thinking

Do you think it is

easy for three

religions to share

a holy city? Why

or why not?

(10 minutes)

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)