1. The document provides instructions for students to follow on a geography activity about the Middle East, including picking up a packet, choosing colored pencils, and checking for absent work. 2. Key details about the Middle East climate, resources, and location of oil in the Persian Gulf are discussed. The importance of the Fertile Crescent as the site of early civilizations is also mentioned. 3. Major early empires of the region - the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Persians - are listed, along with their important contributions. The origins and spread of Islam from Muhammad in Mecca and Medina are briefly outlined.

1. Good morning, everyone! When
you walk in…
1. PICK UP YOUR PACKET AT THE TABLE!
2. Choose your colored pencils from the
box at the table! MAKE SURE YOU GET
A BLUE ONE!!!
3. If you have been absent, check the absent
files for last week’s work.

2. Bellringer 10/27/14
1. What does the phrase “Middle East” make you
think of? Why?
2. What type of climate do you think the Middle
East has?
3. Recall: Why is being near water so important?

3. Persian
Gulf
Red
Sea Arabian
Sea
Medina
Mecca
Tigris
River
Euphrates
River
LEAVE YOURSELF ROOM TO IDENTIFY EVERYTHING!
If you want,
you can
outline the
countries
instead of
coloring
them in.
If you want
to use a
pen, use a
pencil first
and then go
over it.

4. COLOR THE WATER BLUE!
Persian
Gulf
Red
Sea Arabian
Sea
Medina
Mecca
Tigris
River
Euphrates
River

5. Turn and Talk
Based on the map, how do you think the geography of the
Middle East affects the people who live there?
When the timer begins, turn to the person to your right and
discuss. Record ideas in your notebooks! You have 60 seconds.
Middle East
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6. Mesopotamia
means “between the rivers”
Tigris River and Euphrates River flow through it

7. Climate of the Middle East
Arid; hot and dry
Recall: Which type of climate usually means hot and
dry?

8. Checkpoint
What type of climate does
the Middle East have?

9. Most Important Natural Resources
Water and Oil
Recall: What kind of climate does the Middle East have?
Why might oil be so important in the Middle East?

10. Oasis
Oasis: area where a spring bubbles to the surface
Recall: What are the two most important natural
resources in the Middle East?
Why might an oasis be important in the Middle East?

11. Checkpoint
What is an oasis?

12. Location of the Middle East’s Oil
The Persian Gulf
Persian
Gulf
Why might this location cause problems?
Which country might benefit the most from this location?

13. Location of the Middle East’s Oil
The Persian Gulf
Persian
Gulf

14. Checkpoint
Where is the Middle East’s
oil located? Why is this
important?

15. The Fertile Crescent
• Includes Mesopotamia
• Fertile land
• Where world’s first civilizations developed
• First domesticated animals
Recall: What does “fertile” mean?
Why would the world’s first civilizations develop here?

16. Checkpoint
What is so important about
the Fertile Crescent?

17. Why were Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent invaded
so often?
• Trade and transportation
• Natural resources
• Fertile land

18. Great Empires
The Sumerians The Akkadian
Empire
The Persian
Empire
1 2 3
Recall: Why were the Fertile Crescent and
Mesopotamia invaded so often?

19. The Sumerians
The Sumerians
• Built world’s first
known cities
• Early writing
1

20. Checkpoint
What two major things were
the Sumerians known for?

21. The Akkadian Empire
The Akkadian
Empire
• Conquered
Sumerians
• Region’s first real
empire
2
Recall: Why were the Fertile Crescent and
Mesopotamia invaded so often?

22. Checkpoint
What two major things were
the Akkadians known for?

23. The Persian Empire
The Persian Empire
• Present-day Iran
• Includes many
other empires
3
Locate: The Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, Persian Gulf
Which modern country did the Persian Empire cover most?

24. Great Empires
The Sumerians The Akkadian
Empire
The Persian
Empire
1 2 3
You will have to
put these in
order on the test!

25. The Rise of Islam
• Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca
• Believed an angel told him to preach the word of
God
• Established and spread Islam in Medina
• His followers (Muslims) spread Islam all over
Medina
Mecca

26. The Rise of Islam
Check out the arrows on
the map. Why might they
point in those directions?

27. What is the Qur’an?
Holy book of Islam
Allah’s message to Muhammad

28. Mecca vs. Medina
Mecca
Muhammad’s birthplace
Holiest city in Islamic
religion
Medina
Mecca
Medina
Muhammad’s burial site
Second holiest city in
Islamic religion

29. Islam vs. Muslim vs. Arabic
Islam
Religion
Muslim
Followers of Islam
Arabic
Ethnicity and
language

30. What does “Allah” mean?
God in Arabic language

31. Try it out!

32. 1. What are the differences between Islam,
Muslim, and Arabic? Why is it important for us
to remember the differences?
2. Imagine that one country in the Middle East
attacked its neighbor. What might they be
fighting over? How would you try to solve the
crisis? Consider the geography of the Middle
East in your answer.
Complete sentences only!
Exit Ticket 10/27/14