Everyone hears a great deal about Iraq. This primary activity will help students place Iraq within the context of the Middle East and identify major political divisions in the area. They will locate other important geographic features and reflect upon the impact of geography on the history and current situation of this very complicated region.

• Familiarize students with countries in the Middle East
• Place Iraq within its geographic context.
• Link geographic features to economic, political and social realities of Iraq and the broader region.

1. Discuss with students the importance of regional concerns to any political entity, whether it is a city, state or country.
2. Introduce/Discuss the importance of Iraq in American, regional and global events
3. Provide students with outline map of Iraq
4. Provide students with outline map of Middle East
5. Provide students with Historical Map: Age of the Caliphs (Figure 2C)
6. Provide students with Middle East map: Colonial Past (Figure 2D)
7. Give students Student Sheet and have them work independently to fill in requested information.
8. After students have completed the sheet, go over responses to questions. Ask them what they thought were the most important geographic features.

Time Allocation: One class period

Variation on this Activity:

• Have students look at maps that provide information about land use, economic activity, ethnic and religious groups in Middle East. See how this new information informs their answers to questions on the Student Sheet.

Special Resources for this Activity

• For the outline map: outline map of Middle East
• Use with Middle East map: Colonial Past (Figure 2D) and
• Historical Map: Age of the Caliphs (Figure 2C) from Maps In The News: Iraq

Assessment criteria

• Did students note key geographic areas?
• Do students have a beginning understanding of the major countries and transportation venues?
• Do students have a beginning understanding of the physical proximity and potential for conflict in the region?

Here is an outline map of the Middle East, a place we all hear a lot about.

1. Using the map of the Middle East map: Colonial Past (Figure 2D) please locate and place the following on your map:
   • Countries:
     • Egypt
     • Israel
     • Lebanon
     • Syria
     • Jordan
     • Iraq
     • Iran
     • Saudi Arabia
     • Turkey
     • Afghanistan
     • Pakistan
     • Kuwait
     • Qatar
     • United Arab Emirates
     • Oman
     • Yemen
     • Cyprus
   • Bodies of Water: Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Nile River, Caspian Sea
2. Based on location, which countries might come into conflict over access to water transportation?
3. What other conflicts might arise based on geographic circumstances?
4. How does Iraq's physical position reflect its importance in the region?