608.3 Changes in traditional patterns of agriculture, and manufacturing are essential to further development of African nations. Utilization of natural resources, agriculture and industrial development often conflict with environment issues. 609 - Relate geographic factors to the early history of the Middle East. The Middle East is a region in Southwest Asia, located at the cross-roads of three continents. North Africa is frequently included in this region.
Geographic factors help to identify the main physical regions of the Middle East.
The Middle East is a region of diverse climates, fertile coastlines and river valleys, mountains and large deserts. The Middle East has been a crossroads since ancient times. Goods and ideas have been carried back and forth between Asia, Europe and Africa. The blend of Middle Eastern cultures is the product of invasions, migrations, religious movements and widespread economic change. In many, but not all, periods of history, Muslims, Jews and Christians coexisted in relative peace.