Geography and Adaption Reading

Geography and the People EQ: What are the geographic features of the Arabian Peninsula and how did they influence the way the people of the region lived? If you were flying over the Arabian Peninsula and looked down, you would see vast deserts dotted by oases. You would see coastal plains that line the southern and western coasts and mountain ranges that divide these plains from the deserts. However, you would not see any major rivers or lakes. The hot, dry Arabian Peninsula is a challenging place to live. However, throughout history, the people of Arabia have made adaptations in order to thrive there. The Arabian Peninsula is located in the southwestern corner of Asia. It is surrounded by the Red Sea to the west, the Persian Gulf to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south The Desert Environment: About three quarters of the Arabian Peninsula is covered by desert. The world’s largest sand desert, Rub’ alKhali or Great Arabian Desert, covers most of southern Arabia. The Syrian Desert is located in the north. The hot, dry desert is a harsh environment. Summer temperatures rise above 120* Fahrenheit and winter and nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. The desert receives less than 4 inches of rainfall every year and droughts can last for years. Powerful winds can create blinding sandstorms and sand dunes that can rise over 800 feet into the sky. Adaptations: Many people living in the desert are nomads. Nomads are people who move from place to place. Arab nomads, called Bedouins, traveled through the desert raising sheep, goats, and camels. They would stop when they found a place that provided food and drink for their animals and would move on when the animals had eaten most of the vegetation. They used the camel for transportation because camels could survive days without water and could carry heavy loads. The Bedouins wore loose-fitting gowns and cotton headdresses to protect against dust, heat, and flies. They got almost everything they needed from their herd. They drank milk, made yogurt and cheese, and sometimes ate meat. The animals provided wool and leather for clothes, blankets, and tents. They traded to get items they needed such as grain and weapons. The Oases Environment: The desert is dotted with oases. Oases are areas in the desert where fresh water is available. They also provide plant life and shade. Oases develop in areas where water has been trapped underground and it seeps to the surface. It provides an area of fertile land in the harsh desert where plants, especially grass, shrubs, and palm trees, can grow. Adaptation: For hundreds of years, nomads would travel from oases to oases in search of food and water for their herds of animals. Some nomads became sedentary, settling in one place permanently, when they realized they could grow crops around the oases. They would dig irrigation ditches to get water to their crops of dates, peaches, and grains. The date palm tree was used for many things such as houses, roofs, rope, and irrigation pipes. Towns began to develop around the oases and became small trading centers. Farmers bartered or traded their crops for goods brought into town by the nomads. Farmers built dams and irrigation systems. They grew many different crops such as melons, pomegranates, and sap trees. They used manure and ashes from cooking fires as fertilizer The Coastal Plain Crossroads of the World Environment: Coastal plains run along the coasts of the peninsula. This landform separates the inland plateaus from the seas and oceans. The plains range from between 5 and 40 miles inland. The air is damp and moist and rain falls regularly in the plains. The Arabian Peninsula is located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. A great deal of trade passed through this region. Silk from China and spices, jewels, and cotton from India flowed west. Gold and ivory from Africa and gold and glass from Rome flowed east. The people of the Arabian Peninsula served as the “middlemen” in the trade between these lands. Arab traders used camels to carry goods through the desert in caravans, or groups of traveling merchants and animals. Along the coasts, merchants sent and received goods by ship. Because of the large amounts of trade in the region, the people of the Arabian Peninsula were introduced to new ideas and goods from many different places. They also shared their ideas with people from other civilizations. Adaptations: The Coastal Plains are good for farming because of the amount of rainfall they receive. Ancient people grew crops such as grains, fruits, and vegetables. They built dams, wells, and irrigation ditches to help water the crops. Perfumes and medicines were made from myrrh and frankincense that was made from the sap of trees. Merchants and trade developed. Goods were sent by caravan to towns along the oases. Ships carried goods to Africa and India. The Mountains Environment: The Sarawat Mountains run along the western and southern edges of the peninsula. The mountains divide the coastal plains from the desert. Moist winds from the Indian Ocean bring as much as 20 inches of rain each year to the mountains. The rain and elevation help to keep the temperatures cool year round. Adaptations: People have lived in the mountains of Arabia for thousands of years. They farmed on the steep sides of the mountains by carving “steps” or terraces of flat land into the mountain. This gave them a larger area of land to farm on.