Middle East Review Flashcards
What three climates are common on the Arabian Peninsula?
Desert, Steppe, Mediterranean
What are the two most important natural resources in West and Central Asia?
Water and oil
How did the Bedouins adapt to life in the Arabian Deserts?
Moved to water, wore light clothing and head coverings
What happened to the Aral Sea and why?
Almost shrunk because too much water was diverted
What is unique about the Rub’ al-Khali?
It is the worlds largest sand desert and no one lives there
What two rivers surround the fertile crescent/Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
How have the Zagros and Elburz Mountains affected life in Iran?
They serve as protective barriers and make communication with the Arabian Peninsula harder
What people group in Saudi Arabia mostly belong to?
Arabian/Arabic
What is the religion based around submission to Allah by following teachings in the Qur’an?
Islam
Who is the founder of Islam?
Muhammad
What is the difference between Sunni and Shia?
Disagree on who should be in control and how to interpret Islam
How has Islam influenced culture in the Middle East?
It influences government,clothing, and women’s rights
What kind of government does Saudi Arabia have?
Monarchy
What is OPEC?
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a group of countries that coordinate oil production
How has oil affected the economy of Iran and Iraq?
It has created lots of income
What is the main people group in Iraq?
Arabs
What is the main people group in Iran?
Persian
What did Saddam Hussein do as leader of Iraq?
Acted as a dictator, was very harsh, and was involved in invading Iran and Kuwait in the 1980s and 1990s
How did the Persian Gulf War affect Iraq?
Their economy weakened, there were many trade restrictions, and the lost the war
What is a theocracy?
A government ruled by religious leaders
How did 9/11 impact Iraq and other countries in the Middle East?
Their government was overthrown and the US invaded them
What is a Yurt?
A movable round house made of wool felt mats himg over a wood frame
How did the Silk Road affect Central Asia?
It increased trade and wealth for people involved, and it had cultural diffusion
What is the biggest ethnic group in Central Asia?
Turkic
What country in Central Asia is a theocracy?
Afghanistan
What is the most common crop in countries that rely on agriculture in Central Asia?
Cotton
Why did the U.S. go to war in Afghanistan?
9/11 leaders were located there, and they wouldn’t give up the terrorists
What three religions were born in Israel?
Judaism, Islam, Christianity
What is the most common religion in Israel?
Judaism
Why do people disagree over the Palestine Territories?
People do not agree on who should control the territory or Israel as a state.
What is Zionism?
The call for Jews to create a Jewish state in their original homeland.
What do countries in the Levant region have in common?
Similar religion, history, and population.
How did nearby Arab states respond to the re-creation of Israel in the 1940s?
They went to war
How have different religions impacted Jerusaleum?
It has created a compromise and made them work together
What two places make up Palestine today??
West Bank and Gaza Strip
