Early World History: Unit II: Mesopotamia

Today, we will move to our second unit on Mesopotamia. Every unit this year will begin with a day devoted to geography. You will have a quiz on geography during each unit, and and in the spring, you will have a cumulative geography exam (pass/fail only). The best online game to learn the geographic features of the Middle East is http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Middle-east_Geography.htm

Source: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east_pol_2013.pdf

Today, you will read about the geographic features of the Middle East and, using the ones listed below, complete this blank map:

COUNTRIES	CITIES	LANDMARKS
Bahrain Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen	Mecca Tehran Damascus Jerusalem Baghdad Mosul	Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Arabian Sea Persian Gulf Gulf of Aden Tigris River Euphrates River

However, realize that political map boundaries (the black lines) are artificial and of "modern" construction. Also, they are ephemeral (lasting for a very short time) in the "Big History" of the world. After World War I, they were first set like this by the victors at the peace conferences that followed.

League of Nations Mandates, 1920