Geography of the Middle East

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Geography of the Middle East

• Mr. Kilbridge

Religion McQuaid Jesuit
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Introduction

• The importance of geography for our understanding
  of the Hebrew Bible
• You will learn ME geography political and
  physical
• You will understand Israels position as a
  geopolitical football

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Overview

• Israels understanding of itself and of its God
  is largely determined by its geopolitical history
• Example Psalm 80 You brought a grapevine
  out of Egypt you drove out other nations and
  planted it in their landOur enemies have set it
  on firelook at them in anger and destroy them!
  Preserve and protect the people you have chosen,
  the nation you made strong. We will never turn
  away from you again.Show us your mercy, and we
  will be saved.

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Vocabulary

• Glossary of terms
• Political geography human territorial
  boundaries sometimes artificial, sometimes
  natural
• Physical geography landforms and climates that
  form our physical environment

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Political Geography
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Political Geography Present
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Political Geography Past

• Rise and fall of Empires in the ANE
• Egyptians (c. 2000 - 1300 BCE)
• Assyrians (745 - 605 BCE)
• Babylonians (605 - 539 BCE)
• Persians (539 - 331 BCE)
• Greeks (331 - 323 BCE under Alexander)
• Romans (c. 100 BCE - c. 450 CE)
• Israel at the strategic crossroads
• Israel as a geopolitical football

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Egyptians

• The Lord said, I have seen the misery of my
  people in Egypt...and have come down to rescue
  them...
• Exodus 37,8

Captives from various kingdoms in the Palestine
area are led by Egyptian captors.
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Assyrians

• King Jehu of Israel bowing before Shalmaneser
• (From the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III c.
  825 BCE, the only contemporary picture of an
  Israelite ruler. This event is not depicted in
  the Bible.)

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Assyrians

• The Israelites persisted in all the
  sins...until finally the Lord banished them from
  his presence...and they were carried into exile
  from their own land to Assyria...
• 2 Kings 1722, 23
• (722 BCE)

Judeans impaled by Assyrian warriors at the
Battle of Lachish (701 BCE)
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Seige of Lachish, Judah
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Sennechrib at Lachish
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Siege of Lachish
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Assyrian Empire
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Babyloniansand the Babylonian Exile587-536 BCE

• By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept
  when we remembered Zion.
• Psalm 137

A Protective Genius that once guarded the palace
of Ashurnasirpal II
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Babylonian Empire
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Persians

• In the first year of King Cyrus (of Persia), the
  king issued this decree of God in Jerusalem
• Let the house (temple) be rebuilt as a place
  where sacrifices are offered...
• Ezra 63

Clay cylinder on which Cyrus recounted his defeat
of the Babylonians and his policy of returning
captives to their own lands. (536 BCE)
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Persian Empire
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Greeks

• Alexander of Macedon, son of Philip, had ...
  defeated Darius, King of the PersiansSo he
  advanced to the ends of the earth, plundering
  nation after nation.
• 1 Maccabees 1 1-3

Alexander of Macedon (the Great)
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Alexanders Empire
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Antiochus IV Epiphanes

• The Greek inscription on the coin reads, King
  Antiochus, god manifest, bearing victory
• His actions led to the Maccabean Revolt and
  purification of the Temple in 164 BCE.

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Romans

• they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be
  led captive among all nations and Jerusalem will
  be trodden down by the Gentiles...
• Luke 2124

Triumphant Romans carry away the Menorah and
Altar from the Temple after the fall of Jerusalem
in 70 A.D. detail from the Arch of Titus
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Masada
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Physical Geography
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Physical Geography

• Common images
• Climate Systems
• Mediterranean (subtropical dry summer)
• Subtropical Desert
• Continental Steppe
• The Fertile Crescent

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The Climate Systems of the Middle East
Mediterranean Climate (Subtropical dry summer)

• mild, moist winters dry sunny summers
• vegetation scrub evergreen tree grasses
• Human use fruit, olives, wheat and grapes
  often irrigated

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The Climate Systems of the Middle East
Subtropical Desert

• hot, scarcely any rain
• vegetation desert shrubs, scrub tree and grasses
• little human use unless irrigated

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The Climate Systems of the Middle East
Continental Steppe

• very hot summers very cold winters, light
  rainfall
• vegetation grasses, shrubs, trees along streams
• Human use grazing, grains

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The Fertile Crescent
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Summary

• Physical and Political Geography of the ME
• Importance for understanding the Bible

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Where to get more information

• Encyclopedia (especially New Catholic)
• Library religion, art, history, geography
• Textbook
• Internet sites