Chapter 7: The Geography of the Arabian Peninsula

Coastal Plains Adaptation

* Farming * Most people were Farmers & traders * Built Irrigation systems

Desert Adaptation

* Nomads called Bedouins * Bedouins depended on herds of animals * clothed themselves in loose-fitting long gowns and cotton headdresses to protect against dust, heat, and flies.

Oases Adaptation

* Sedentary * Dug wells to get more water for plants * Grew fruits, grain etc. Palm was very valuable * Trade Centers developed around Oases * Farmers bartered with Nomads

Mountains Adaption

* lived in houses made of mud and brick * Built terraces for farming * Farmers relied on many different crops. Like fruits melons and pomegranates

terrace

A flat strip of ground on a hillside used for growing crops.

caravan

A group of people traveling together for mutual protection, often with pack animals such as camels.

nomad

A person who moves from place to place, often in search of water and vegetation.

plateau

A raised area of flat land.

Why was the location of the Arabian Peninsula ideal for the spread of goods and ideas?

Arabia lies at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. The people of Arabia served as middlemen in the trade between these lands. Serving as a link between diverse regions exposed Arabs to new goods and ideas. Arabs shared their knowledge along these trade routes as well.

How did Arabs adapt to life in the desert, coastal plains, oases, and mountains? Consider how these terms apply: nomad, sedentary, oasis, irrigation, and terrace.

Desert: Nomads raised animals that could survive in the desert and moved from place to place to find vegetation for their livestock. Coastal Plains: Due to environment (air damp and moist, rain falls regularly, some waterways,) the area is suitable for farming. People built deep wells, dams, and irrigation systems (to bring water to dry places in order to grow crops.) Oases: Some people gave up the nomadic lifestyle to settle and become sedentary in the desert oasis. Most people on the oases were farmers, but towns also grew up and became centers of trade. Mountains: People lived off the land by creating terraced fields. This adaptation allowed them to make better use of the steep slopes.

What is "Al - JAzeera"

Island

How was location of Arabia important?

It helped trading.

Who started Islam?

Muhammad

Is Arabian Peninsula Aljazeera? Why?

No, its a peninsula. It has water on tree sides.

sedentary

Permanently settled in one place.

Oases

Provide water and plant life in the desert environment.

Arabian Peninsula is located between ______ and _________.

Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

How did the environment influence the growth of cities and the development of trade routes?

The cities were set up in oases because there was fertile soil and abundant water. The trade routes crossed through the desert because the camels could easily travel through this environment and this is where a lot of trading centers were.

irrigate

To bring water to a dry place in order to grow crops.

barter

To buy and sell by trading goods or services rather than money.

Describe the physical features and climate of the Arabian Peninsula. Be able to locate its main features on a map.

Vast deserts dotted by oases. Coastal plains line the southern and western coasts. Mountain ranges divide these coastal plains from the deserts. Fiery heat (above 120 F in summer,) bitter cold (winter and night time temperatures can drop below freezing); and little water or plant life. Annual rainfall less than 3- 4 inches per year. Also desert is often swept with windstorms.

adaptation

What people, animals, or plants do in order to thrive.

Arabian Peninsula

Where Islam was first preached.