Middle Eastern Regions
This region includes Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman.
Arabian Peninsula
The capital of Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh
This desert covers most of Saudi Arabia.
What is the main religion practiced in most Middle Eastern countries?
Islam
What are traditional Middle Eastern marketplaces called?
Bazaars
This region is known as the “Cradle of Civilization” and includes the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Fertile Crescent
The capital of Iran.
Tehran
What are the Tigris and Euphrates?
Rivers that run through the Fertile Crescent region (modern day Syria and Iraq).
What are the two main branches of Islam?
Sunni and Shia
Name a common Middle Eastern food.
Hummus, Falafels, Kebabs, Tabouleh, etc.
These countries are located along the Persian Gulf and are known for their oil wealth.
Gulf States
This city in Iraq is located near the Tigris River.
Baghdad
This mountain range runs through northern Iran.
Zagros mountains.
What religion is practiced mainly in Israel?
Judaism
What form of art uses intricate designs and Arabic writing instead of pictures of people or animals?
Calligraphy
This region includes Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.
This city is Israel’s capital and also sacred to Judaism.
Jerusalem
How have deserts shaped settlement patterns in the Middle East?
Most people live near rivers, coasts, or oases where water and farming are possible.
Which city is considered holy by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism?
Jerusalem
How do clothing styles in the Middle East reflect both geography and religion?
Light fabrics help with desert heat, and modest designs follow religious traditions.
This region is home to what was historically called the Persian Empire.
Iran
This Egyptian city is famous for the Pyramids of Giza.
Cairo
The Arabian Peninsula is mostly desert, yet cities like Riyadh and Mecca thrive. What physical features or resources made this possible?
Access to oases, trade routes, and oil resources allowed growth despite harsh desert conditions.
How have religion and geography shaped cultural traditions in the Middle East?
Religion influences laws, dress, holidays, and daily practices; geography affects where religious groups settled and how they interact,
Why do marketplaces (souks) play such an important role in social and cultural life in the Middle East?
They serve as economic centers and gathering places that preserve traditions and community ties.