Unit: The Rise and Spread of Islam
Lesson Title:
Introduction to Islam and Geography of Arabia
(See textbook pages 54-56)
What do we know about Islam?
Islam arose on the Arabian Peninsula in
the early 600s A.D.
Studying the geography of the Arabian region will
help us understand Islam and how it spread to
other parts of the world.
Arabia is mostly a
desert land.
The Arabian desert
Temperatures become scorching hot.
Water is scarce and difficult to find.
The Arabian Peninsula lies at the intersection of 3
continents - Africa, Europe and Asia. Trade routes
connecting the continents passed through it.
Arabia was in a “crossroads” location.
Trade routes for goods like spices, silk and gold
brought many different groups of people
through Arabia--and their ideas. The trade
routes also helped to spread Islam.
At oases there was plenty of water and date palm trees
for food and grass for the camels. These spots became
centers of trade and towns in Arabia.
In class reading assignment
Read “Physical Features”
and “Desert Climate”
on page 56.
Answer this question:
List 3-4 different landforms that made up
Arabia.
Let’s check our answers:
Land forms of Arabia:
• Desert (covers ¾ of the Arabian Peninsula)
• Oases (sources of water and vegetation
that would become towns)
• Mountains
• Marshes
• Coasts
Right Side Notebook Activity
Map Challenge
Use the atlas on pages R34 –R37 to locate, label and
color the list of geographical features and locations
from the directions handout, onto the blank map.
(Trim the map and glue it into your notebook)