In this lesson, students will explore the roles of oil and water in the Middle East, especially in Iraq. Students will use maps to look at the distribution of oil in the Middle East and discuss what it means for the different countries in the region. They will also examine how water has influenced the region historically (in the "fertile crescent" region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) and politically (for example, how Iraq's access to water is limited to one small part of its border). Finally, they will study specific aspects of Iraq's struggles with water, using satellite imagery to understand and illustrate the problem.

Geography, geology

Standard 1: "How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective"
Standard 11: "The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface"

Two to three hours

• Computer with Internet access
• Blank Xpeditions outline maps of the Middle East region, one for each student
• Writing and drawing materials

Students will

• study maps of Iraq and the Middle East to learn the basic geography of the region;
• analyze the role played by the distribution of oil and water in the Middle East, and how this sometimes contributes to conflicts in the region;
• create maps showing all the major sources of water in the Middle East and including other geographic names and features;
• read about conflicts in the Middle East region caused by water and answer questions; and
• study satellite imagery of Iraq and study specific aspects of the conflicts it faces relating to water.

Most people think of oil as the central resource that shapes the Middle East. Why is this so? Ask students to look at National Geographic's Middle East: Natural Resources map and consider the variable crude oil reserves of the different countries. Which countries appear to have the most oil? The least? Might this explain why we hear more in the media about some countries in this region than others?

Now ask students to look at the same map and to think about water while they consider the following quotes, taken from National Geographic News articles they will be reading later in the lesson:

"Many of the wars of this [20th] century were about oil, but the wars of the next century will be about water." –Former World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin

"The next war in the Near East will not be about politics, but over water." -Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Using the Iraq map and the Middle East: Natural Resources map, point out to students that two of the most important ancient civilizations, Egypt and Mesopotamia, developed in areas where water was plentiful. Why do students think this is the case?

Why do students think water is so important? Have them form small groups and brainstorm about this question, writing down their ideas.

Give each student a copy of the basic Xpeditions outline map of the Middle East, with the borders on. In their small groups, ask them to use the maps on the Iraq Web site to fill in the names of countries and major cities on their individual maps, and to do the same for the following bodies of water in the region:

• Persian Gulf
• Red Sea
• Gulf of Aden
• Mediterranean Sea
• Caspian Sea
• Dead Sea
• Gulf of Aqaba
• Tigris (Dijlah) River
• Euphrates (Al Furat) River
• Jordan River
• Nile River
• Sea of Galilee
• Gulf of Suez

Ask students to read the following articles about water in the Middle East, and answer the questions that follow (they can work alone, in pairs, or in small groups):

National Geographic News: Water and Peace in the Middle East
National Geographic News: Protests Grow Over Plan for More Turkish Dams

[Note: Be sure to point out to students that these articles were written in 2000, but that while some of the region''s leaders have changed, the issues remain the same.]

• Briefly describe why water is a source of conflict, according to these articles.
• Which countries are making plans to somehow change the natural flow or distribution of water? Which countries object to these plans, and why?
• How does one country's control of a water source impact another country?
• Why is the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP) particularly controversial? Why is Turkey so determined to continue despite so much opposition?
• How have these issues developed since these articles were written in 2000? (Further research required.)

Bring the class back together and ask students if what they learned about the importance of water bore out the ideas they brainstormed earlier in the lesson. Were there any surprises? What else would students like to explore based on what they have learned in this lesson?

Ask students to form four groups and explore the USGS: Earthshots page about Iraq. Then, ask each group to take one of the following sections from the page and study it in detail, creating their own maps based on USGS satellite imagery:

• Irrigating in Mesopotamia
• Draining marshes in Iraq
• Trenching along the border; the use of water for military purposes [Note: There is less information about this particular topic, so it will require more research; you may want to assign it to more ambitious students or eliminate it altogether if time is limited.]
• [Oil] spilling and burning in Kuwait

Have students explore other resources to learn more about their topic, such as these:

UN Food and Agriculture Office: AQUASTAT—Iraq
Waternet: Water and Conflict

Students should, at minimum, consider geography, politics, and the consequences (real or potential) to the people living in the region.

Have each group present what they have learned to the class.

• Have students explore the Web or the library to find out what has happened to Turkey's plans to build dams. Which other countries have become involved in the controversy?
  
  
• Have students use the USGS: Earthshots site to find other parts of the world that are dealing with issues of drought and flooding. Try to find regions where water has also become a political issue.

National Geographic: Xpeditions ActivityAral Sea
UN Food & Water Office: Aquastat-- Iraq
Waternet: Water & Conflict