Quiz 1

Question 1

622 CE

Answer 1

Hijra
–> Muhammed and his followers migrate from Mecca to Medina

Question 2

1258 CE

Answer 2

Mongols invade Baghdad, ending the Abbasid Empire

Question 3

1798 CE

Answer 3

Napolean’s invasion of Egypt
—> Introduction of modern European influence in MENA

Question 4

1916 CE

Answer 4

Sykes-Picot Agreement
—> Britain and France secretly divide Ottoman territories

Question 5

1948 CE

Answer 5

Creation of the state of Isreal and first Arab-Isreali war; Palestianian displacement (Nakba)

Question 6

Common Elements across MENA

Answer 6

1. Geographical
2. Linguistically predominantly Arabic
3. Culturual/Religious (Islam, birthplace of monotheistic religions)
4. Political
5. Demographic (young pop.)
6. Socioeconomic: poverty, urbanization, wealth disparity
7. Ecological (oil, water scarcity)
8. Militarization: arms sales, ongoing conflicts

Question 7

Islam Definition

Answer 7

Submission to God

Question 8

How did Islam spread?

Answer 8

• Conquest, poilitical instability aided expansion
• Tolerance: early islamic rule permitted religious diversity
• Trade/Learning: islamic law, scholarship, trade networks

Question 9

Branches of Islam and their differences

Answer 9

1. Sunni: majority sect, believes leadership should be based on consensus (caliphate system)
2. Shia: minority sect, believes leadership should descend from Muhammead’s family (Imamate)

Question 10

Nature of Islamic Civilization (4 things)

Answer 10

1. Shari’a (Islamic law): basis of governance
2. Community-focused: concept of Umma (Islamic community)
3. Jihad: personal/spiritual struggle or military conquest
4. Umayyad Dynasty: Expanded Islam in Europe, connecting it to the west

Question 11

Ottoman empire

Answer 11

Multiethnic empire ruling MENA until it’s decline after WWI
—> loss of territories due to European intervention/nationalism

Question 12

European Justifications for colonialism in MENA

Answer 12

1. Economic exploitation
2. Spreading Christianity/protecting Christian minorities
3. National prestige/imperial rivalry
4. “White Man’s Burden” (civilizing mission
5. Addressing “instability” (often a pretext for control)

Question 13

Effects of European colonialism

Answer 13

1. Political centralization, infrastructure and education (state-building)
2. Resource extraction/economic burden on economies
3. Long-term anti-Western sentiment in MENA

Question 14

4 Types of European Colonial Control and examples for each

Answer 14

1. Part of Home Country: Algeria (french colony)
2. Protectorates: colonizer controls foreign policy, but local rulers remain (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia)
3. Mandates: League of Nations grants European powers “guidance” over regions (Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria)
4. Independent States: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey

Question 15

What is the difference between a nation/state?

Answer 15

1. Nation is a social construct, or imagined community rather than a natural entity
2. Defined a state as having a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a given territory.

Question 16

Three patterns of Arab Nationalist Uprisings

Answer 16

1. Egypt: Early uprisings (Wafd Party) led to formal indepdence (1922) | Continued British military presence until regime change
2. Morocco: Peaceful nationalist movement centered around the monarchy
   —-> Achieved independence post-WWII (1966)
3. Algeria: Violent war for independence (1954-1962) | Brutal conflict w French

Question 17

European Colonial Control

Answer 17

End of Ottoman Empire led to direct European rule. Colonial administration shaped modern state structures in MENA