Introduction
Maps can be a powerful tool for understanding the world, particularly the Middle East, a place in many ways shaped by changing political borders and demographics. Here are 40 maps crucial for understanding the Middle East — its history, its present, and some of the most important stories in the region today.
Task
Directions: Synthesize information from multiple maps to analyze historical causes to Middle Eastern conflicts today.
Process
Go here https://www.vox.com/a/maps-explain-the-middle-east and analyze the three maps entitled,
#1 "The fertile crescent, the cradle of civilization," #7 "What the Middle East looked like in 1914" and #8 "The Sykes-Picot treaty that carved up the Middle East."
Answer the following questions
1- What region of the world did civilization begin?
2- How many years ago did people begin to farm there? (Hint- it is 2017 now)
3-What world event began in 1914?
4-The Central Powers (Germany and the Ottoman Empire) lost World War One. What impact did this have on the Middle East?
5-(Critical Thinking) Why does the Sykes-Picot treaty still cause conflict today?
X-Factor- Create a solution (in place of the Sykes-Picot treaty) which would have led to less conflict in the Middle East today?