North Africa Southwest Asia Middle East SOL Review

North Africa, Southwest Asia Middle East SOL Review

Levels of importance of countries • GDP (Gross Domestic Product) • Kuwait • United Arab Emirates • Qatar • Israel

Levels of importance of countries • Land Size • Algeria • Saudi Arabia • Libya

Levels of Importance of Countries • Population • Iran • Turkey • Egypt

Much of the region is desert. -0 to 10 inches of precipitation yearly • Example: • The Sahara Desert

The region also has semi-arid climate: 10 to 20 inches of precipitation yearly • Also called STEPPE • Example: • The sahel, just south of the Sahara Desert • The sahel is shrinking in size.

Is the Middle East at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia?

YES, IT IS. ALL THREE CONTINENTS CONVERGE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

What is the major river of Egypt?

THE NILE RIVER

What two rivers in Iraq form the “Fertile Crescent” and are the “cradle of civilization? ”

TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS

These rivers have annual flooding. What is the name of the soil deposited on the riverbanks?

ALLUVIAL SOIL

The Nile River fans out before it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. What is this area at its mouth called?

DELTA

What are the green areas in a desert where there is some vegetation?

OASES

What is a dry streambed in the desert called?

WADI

Not all, but many countries in the Middle East have low incomes and poor infrastructures. Are they developed or developing?

DEVELOPING

In the poorer countries, the main economic activity is agriculture and pastoralism. Is this Primary, Secondary or Tertiary?

PRIMARY (GROWING CROPS)

Some countries have a high standard of living and are “developed. ” The main economic activity is OIL DRILLING. Is this Primary, Secondary or Tertiary?

PRIMARY (NATURAL RESOURCES)

The Middle East is a major producer of what natural resource? (black grease)

OIL

What is the economic alliance that controls price and production of oil?

OPEC ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES

Are all OPEC members in the Middle East?

NO. MOST ARE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. VENEZUELA IN SOUTH AMERICA IS A MEMBER!

What is the most precious resource in the Middle East?

WATER

What canal in Egypt is important for trade and shipping?

SUEZ CANAL

What bodies of water does the Suez Canal connect?

MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND RED SEA

People who come from outside the region to work are called ____.

GUEST WORKERS

What is the major dam on the Nile River?

ASWAN HIGH DAM

What is a positive effect of the Aswan High Dam?

IT CONTROLS FLOODING.

What is a negative effect of the Aswan High Dam?

CROP YIELDS ARE DECREASED BECAUSE THE RIVER DOES NOT FLOOD AND THERE IS NO ALLUVIAL SOIL!

Site locations Actual locations of cities • Alexandria, Egypt and Istanbul, Turkey – Harbor Sites • Jerusalem – Hilltop Site • Damascus, Syria – Oasis Site

Site Locations Relative locations of cities • Baghdad, Iraq – Controls land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • Istanbul, Turkey – Controls the Bosporus Strait and the Dardanelles • Mecca, Saudi Arabia – Islamic pilgrimage site

What is the Jewish country in the Middle East?

ISRAEL

Israel was carved out of a country that no longer exists. What is it?

PALESTINE

Most Arab Palestinians live in two areas within Israel today. What are they?

WEST BANK GAZA STRIP

What city is claimed by Jews, Christians and Muslims?

JERUSALEM

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all monotheistic. What does this mean?

THEY ALL WORSHIP ONE GOD.

Look at this population pyramid. What age group dominates the chart?

15 TO 29

Dry climate and physical features cause the population to be distributed unevenly. True? False?

IT IS TRUE. THERE IS NOT AN EVEN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION.

Areas of Conflict • Western Sahara and Morocco • Iraq and Kuwait • Israel and Syria (for the Golan Heights)

What is the main language in the Middle East?

ARABIC

What are the non-Arab countries in the Middle East?

TURKEY, ISRAEL, IRAN

The Kaaba Where and what religion?

MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA ISLAM

The Western Wall Where and what religion?

JERUSALEM JUDAISM OR JEWISH OR HEBREW

Dome of the Rock Where and what religion?

JERUSALEM ISLAM

Church of the Holy Sepulcher Where and what religion?

JERUSALEM CHRISTIANITY

What are these and where can they be found?

PYRAMIDS EGYPT

What are these and what religion?

MOSQUES AND MINARETS ISLAM

The Hagia Sophia Where?

ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FIRST A CHURCH, THEN A MOSQUE, NOW A MUSEUM)

Bazaar or Souk

Walled City of Jerusalem What was the purpose of the wall?

WALLS WERE FOR PROTECTION

Kurdistan • INCLUDES: Parts of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and the former Soviet Union • The KURDS, an ethnic group live here. • The KURDS would like their own nation • Strong NATIONALISM here.