I. MAPS REFLECT CHANGES OVER TIME.
A. Perspectives of place names: Middle East v. North Africa and Southwest Asia
B. Disputed areas: Western Sahara

II. CLIMATES AND VEGETATIONS.

III. HUMANS BOTH INFLUENCE AND ARE INFLUENCED BY THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
A. Human impact on environment
1. Water diversion/management
a. Aswan High Dam
b. Canals
c. Irrigation
2. Changing landscapes: desertification
B. Environmental impact on humans
1. Settlement patterns
2. Housing materials
3. Agricultural activity
4. Types of recreation
5. Transportation patterns

IV. REGIONS MAY BE DEFINED BY PHYSICAL OR CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Physical region: Sahara Desert
B. Cultural region: Religion - Islam

V. REGIONAL LABELS MAY REFLECT CHANGES IN PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS: Middle East.

VI. REGIONAL LANDSCAPES REFLECT THE CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR
INHABITANTS.
A. Architectural structures: mosques
B. Statues and monuments of local, national, or global significance: Pyramids (Egypt)

VII. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES CAN LINK OR DIVIDE REGIONS.
A. Language: Arab world - Arabic
B. Religion as a unifying force: Islam
C. Religion as a divisive force: Jews, Christians and Muslims all claiming Jerusalem as their
religious heritage site

VIII. THE INTERACTION OF HUMANS WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT AFFECTS THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A REGION: decreased soil fertility - Aswan High Dam.

IX. DIFFERENT CRITERIA MAY BE USED TO DETERMINE A COUNTRY’S RELATIVE IMPORTANCE.
A. Land size: Algeria and Libya
B. Population: Egypt

X. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia
B. Arid and semiarid climates
C. Mountains: Atlas
D. Water features: Mediterranean Sea, Nile River
E. Seasonal flooding, alluvial soils, delta regions, oases, wadis

XI. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Heavy reliance on primary activity (oil drilling, agriculture, pastoralism)
B. Major producers of world’s oil
C. Oil revenues - positive and negative effects
D. Water - region’s most precious resource
E. Great variation in standard of living - ranging from relatively high to poverty-stricken
F. Regional conflicts, political unrest that affects tourism
G. Aswan High Dam - positive and negative effects
H. Suez Canal - enhanced shipping routes in the region
I. Guest workers (?)
J. Trade important to region from earliest time
K. Wide range of per capita income and levels of development
L. Contemporary trade routes (sea lanes)
M. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

XII. CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Rapid urbanization
B. Modernization centered in urban areas while traditional life continues in rural areas
C. Large percentage of population under the age of 15
D. Arab countries and Arabic language
E. Conflict over Palestine.
F. Nomadic lifestyles.
G. Art that reflects the diversity of religion (stained glass, geometric tiles, calligraphy, mosaics, and prayer rugs)
H. Cities as centers of culture and trade: Cairo
I. Cultural landscape: mosques and minarets, bazaars and suqs, Pyramids, oil rigs

XIII. ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE FOSTERS THE FORMATION OF ECONOMIC UNIONS:
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

XIV. DIVISIONS ARE REGIONS OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE OVER WHICH GROUPS OF PEOPLE
ESTABLISH SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL CONTROL.
A. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
B. United Nations
C. League of Arab States

XV. SPATIAL DIVISIONS MAY GENERATE CONFLICT: boundary and territorial dispute - Western
Sahara/Morocco.

XVI. PATTERNS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT OCCUR ACCORDING TO SITE AND SITUATION: harbor site: Alexandria, Egypt.