NASWACA Flashcards
mountains
Atlas Mtns, Zagros Mtns, Hindu Kush
Mt. Ismail Samani, Mt. Ararat, Mt. Sinai
l,NASWACA
North Africa, SW Asia, Central Asia
largest pop - Egypt
smallest pop - Qatar
largest area - Kazakhstan
smallest area - Bahrain
deserts
Saharan Desert
seas
Dead Sea
Red Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Aral Sea
Arabian Sea
Mediterranean Sea
rivers
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Nile River
oceans
Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Language
Predom: Arabic
Religion
Predom: Islam 3 major monotheistic: Islam, Judaism, Christianity
special features
Anatolia Peninsula
Arabian Pen
Persian Gulf
Strait of Hormuz
Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Aden
resources
world leader in production of oil (UAE, United Emirates, Saudi Arabia, US all want this oil)
Atlas Mountains
western North Africa
Zagros Mountains
separates SW Asia from Central Asia
separates Iraq and Iran
Hindu Kush
Separates NASWACA from South Asia
Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia -> Med. Sea
Formed by Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
extremely fertile cuz of the abundant water resources nearby
Mt. Ararat
Zagros Mtns, Turkey
Biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark
Mt. Ismail Samani
in Hindu Kush
Tallest peak at 24,590ft
Higher than Blanc
Mt. Sinai
Southern Sinai Peninsula, between Israel & Egypt
Biblical spot where Moses received the 10 Commandments
Arabian Peninsula
Biggest peninsula in this region
in Saudi Arabia
Persian Gulf
Borders Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
b/w Iran & Saudi Arabia
Tigris River
Above Euphrates River
Seas also in Europe/Russia
Caspian - Russia Black & Med - Europe
Strait of Hormuz
connects Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman
Black Sea
separates Europe and Asia
Mediterranean Sea
separates North Africa & Europe
Pastoralism
the raising & grazing of livestock (oxen, goats, camels)
in steppe climate, which supports short grasses for for livestock
morality based and inherited values; not a religion - a lifestyle
patriarch; father passes on seat by either bloodline or marriage; manhood trials
attach rules of their community to their livestock
cuneiform
Sumerian writing system using wedge-shaped symbols written on wet clay tablets that were then baked to harden them
used to record taxes, transactions, birth & death records
more than 5k old - world’s oldest
kum
dunes in deserts of Central Asia
Garagum (Kara Kum), or black sand desert, in Turkmenistan
Qizilqum (Kyzl Kum), or red sand desert, in Uzbekistan
mosque
in Islam, a house of public worship
Ex: Taj Mahal
qanat
underground canal used in water systems of ancient Persians
realized irrigation water would evaporate in surface canals, so constructed these to carry water from the mtns across the desert to farmlands
Giza to Egypt pyramids
important for drinking water and religion
ziggurat
large step-like temple of mud brick built in ancient Mesopotamia (Sumerians)
hollow inside
if outside city, tomb; if inside city, center of city
keeper of the grain = first priest, second only to king; prayed for more; grain kept in silo inside
stairway to heaven
phosphate
natural mineral containing chemical compounds often used in fertilizer
Morocco ranks 3rd in world in production of this
bedouin
member of the nomadic desert ppls of North Africa and SW Asia
mainly in Arabian Pen & Egypt
goats, camel, oxen
related to Pastoralism
mainly herders, merchants, & thieves
wadi
in North Africa & SW Asia
in the desert, a streambed that is dry except during a heavy rain
created by runoff from infrequent rainstorms; irregular rainstorms → flash flooding → wadis fill with so much sediment that they can rapidly become mud flows
sometimes planned, manmade; to protect citizens and crops
hieroglyphics
Egyptian writing system using pictures & symbols to represent words or sounds
prophet
person believed to be a messenger from God
Abraham, Jesus, Mohammad
infrastructure
the basic urban necessities like streets & utilities
big cities have grown too fast to supply enough jobs & housing to improve this → poverty, traffic, pollution
Istanbul
in Turkey
used to be called Constantinople until 1453, when the Ottoman Turks overthrew the Byzantine Empire
used to be called Byzantium
Islam
- 434k
origin: Makkah, Arabian Pen
current pop: 1.57 bill
holy text: Koran (Quran)
monotheistic
the faith of submission; Muslim = one who submits; admit you r but a small human & that God is great
no Pope - regional control
Muslims actually very peaceful; terrorists/extremists NOT muslims
no separation between church & state; laws based on religion
5 Pillars of Islam
- Faith
- Prayer
- Alms
- Fasting
- Haji
faith pillar
“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet.”
prayer pillar
5x daily facing Makkah
act of respect
when 1st written, didn’t know Earth = sphere
Muhammad
grew up in Makkah, knew trade routes, organized festivals
grew older & more cynical
reset Makkah cuz God
618, quit job & meditated for 3 days; revelation: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his [last] prophet.”
went back to tell everyone, found them fighting near Kabba; threw temper tantrum; told them to follow only Allah → tribal leaders scared of losing power & threw him out
got poor ppl outside to follow him, overthrew them
622, victory @ Makkah
632, died, by which pt almost all of Arabian Peninsula = Muslim
alms pillar
if you donate, etc. you are selfless
but, must be true: no benefit whatsoever to you
fasting pillar
giving up something
showing your spirit > desire, faith > flesh
Ex: Ramadan: sun up to sun down, no eating
Haji pillar
journey to Makkah @ least once in you life (suggestion)
circumambulation around Kabba
Malcolm X
Malcolm X
civil rights leader who thought blacks should be separated from whites & didnt’ like Am’s
went on Haji & saw everybody together → changed him. began to think like Martin Luther King Jr.
therefore evicted, kicked out, & later assassinated
Kaaba
Caaba
House of God
black stone in center of mosque in Makkah/Mecca, Saudi Arabia
center of circumambulations during haji; Muslims face this during prayer
haram around it which only Muslims may enter
scientists say meteorite; Muslims say thrown by God to Adam for him to build an altar
later rebuilt & cleansed by Abraham & the descendants of Noah
circumambulation
circumambulate the Kaaba seven times, in a counter-clockwise direction. The circling is believed to demonstrate the unity of the believers in the worship of the One God, as they move in harmony together around the Kaaba, while supplicating to Allah
proof of Abraham’s existence
Altar of Ibram dates back 4,000 years ago, correct age
cuneiform - show the patriarch Abr lived & worked in Ur 2000-1800b.c.e.
left for some reason
took clan w/ him (abt 100, double by the time arrived); could defend themselves
arrived in Israel although had to fight for his place; natives thought was invasion; still fighting about it today
set up kingdom
Ur
Mesopotamia
oldest major city in world
Israel
Canen
the Promise Land
Judah
Abraham
became father w/ Sarah (altho = barren) → offered handmaiden as sub
had Ishmael (handmaiden) - Arab & Jew/Hebrew; raised as a prince, taught everything
when Ishmael was 13 however, Sarah had Isaac
Isaac - Jewish
Abr prayed, God told him to send Ishmael & mother away; still cared for Ishmael tho, so brought them to Makkah & made an altar for Ishmael; meanwhile, God also told him to clean up the Kabba
Ishish = many kids
Isaac & ishish both became very powerful; last time of peace together = Abe’s funeral
Arabs & Israelis still fighting to this day
Sunni
now, majority of 70/30
believed most capable to rule should rule
Shia
believed only blood relatives of Muhammad can rule
today, only Iraq & Iran
most recent Shia dictator Sudam Hussein had brutal war against Iran (Shia)
Charles the Hammer
managed to stop them cold 732 CE Battle of Turs; watershed event
went to Pope & asked to make his son the next Franc king → Charles the Great; most well-known, brought back edu, free trade, etc. but only short term
Christianity
2k+
origin: Jerusalem, Mediterranean
current pop: 2.34 bill
holy text: Bible
monotheistic (Holy Trinity)
Jesus = Jew, connection b/w Abr. & Jesus
capital of Israel today - Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Christianity
has Solomon’s Temple, Palestinians lived there since beginning of civilization
Old Jerusalem - “Holy Mile” (square mile) - the path taken by Jesus to the place of his crucifixion
Jesus of Nazareth crucified
Islam
where Muh rose to heaven (Dome of the Rock)
Ishmael to be sacrificed
Judaism
believed God gave it to them as permanent homeland
Solomon’s Temple built there - now only Western Wall (Wailing Wall) left
Fortress of David
Isaac to be sacrificed
Judaism
4k recorded, 6-10k legend
origins: Jerusalem, Ur, Canaan
current pop: 14.8 mill
holy text: Torah
monotheistic
Wailing Wall for conservative Jews, regulars just pray, tourists stand back & respect
part of Solomon’s temple
temple, Old Testament covenant w/ Abr
Dome of Rock
Jerusalem
where Abr sacrificed - rep’d blind loyalty
a mosque built on the holy place where Muh rose to heaven
physical and cultural factors that connect NASWACA
petroleum
climate (dry, hot
land use - nomadic herding (goats, oxen, camels)
religion
language
Schism
after Muh died, began to fall apart
Shia vs. Sunni
Umayyad Empire
750 AD
expansion: forceful, fast; crossed Pyrenees Mtns to early Francs, to Middle East, SW Asia, some N Afr, Europe (Iberia)
@ that time, Francs weak; hired Charles the Hammer
strongest after fall of Rome; Dark Ages
2 of the 4 major Islamic caliphates established after Muhammad’s death
Abbasid Empire
700AD-1453
expanded from the Med to Middle East, SW Asia, & a small portion of North Africa
Ottoman Empire
1600 AD
expanded from Med to Middle East & around the Black Sea
current events
1945, Russians & Am’s found Hitlers dead body & info abt concentration camps
guilty about Holocaust (not doing anything, not realizing), so 1948 created Israel, made for Jews
next morning 5 Arab nations invaded; Jews won
Palestinians wanted statehood as well, but didn’t want to apply. felt the land was theirs already.
Palestine & Israel conflict still ongoing
Rosetta stone
in hieroglyphics, Aramaic (Israel), & Greek - allowed hieroglyphics to be translated
even modern Egyptians @ the time couldn’t read Egypitan; mainly Arabic (from Islam) & English (from British)
why do many of the ppl in oil-rich nations live in poverty?
The profits are not shared with the public, who must pay high taxes in order to pay for oil-extraction.
Terrorists from the area target US b/c they are angry that they are paying the taxes to produce the oil for the US
why has natural vegetation declined in many grassy areas of NASWACA?
more ppl - human/land use
climate change - desertification
water evap rates exceed rainfall; humans use most of the water
Golan Heights
was in Syria - now owned by Israel (1967 Arab-Israeli War)
valuable cuz of large water supply
population
coastlines & rivers
80% of pop around Nile R. cuz rest of country = dry
also around Black & Med Seas
conflict today
natural resources - water, petroleum
Israel still exists
land/political boundaries
religion
Iran - pursued nuclear tech that was denied cuz today, those who have nuclear can’t grow, those who want it can use for power but not weaponry - minimization
Dead Sea Scrolls
found in caves on exposed banks of Dead Sea
basically rejected gospels
ppl who wrote controversial gospels hid in them
Gospel of Thomas - God is everywhere (not good for institutionalized church)
Gospel of Mary Magdalen - hinted that Jesus & Mags could’ve been more than just friends; very controversial
Dead Sea
b/w Israel/Palestine & Jordan
nothing can live in it cuz of how dense the salt is
as it shrinks, the banks have exposed natural caves
Egypt
part of Middle East
Maghreb
west of Egypt; “the West”
16 countries total, including Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
Quran
an Islamic sacred book
believed to be the word of God
only holy when in Arabic
Nile River
mouth in Egypt
longest river in world
Sahara Desert
North Africa
once very fertile in last ice age
Anatolia Peninsula
Turkey
Gulf of Oman
connects Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea
Gulf of Aden
connects Red Sea & Arabian Sea
climate
predominant: steppe or desert
vegetation
predominant: desert scrub & desert waste
export
primary export - petroleum
exporter - Saudi Arabia
customer - US
nomadic herding animals
goats, camels, oxen
can withstand harsh desert climates & need little water to survive
Mesopotamia
east of Med Sea & west of Zagros Mtns
Red Sea
sep’s Egypt & Saudi Arabia
Aral Sea
b/w Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan
used to be one of the 4 largest lakes in the world but steadily shrinking
Sinai Peninsula
sep’s Med Sea & Red Sea
