Southwest Asia study Guide

Question 1

Oasis

Answer 1

Desert area with underground water that allows plants to grow throughout the year

Question 2

Alluvial Plain

Answer 2

area of fertile soil created by sediment deposited during floods

Question 3

Wadis

Answer 3

Dry steam beds that can quickly fill with water if it rains

Question 4

Semiarid

Answer 4

Somewhat dry areas

Question 5

cuneiform

Answer 5

Early form of writing in Mesopotamia

Question 6

Polytheism

Answer 6

Worship of many gods/goddesses

Question 7

Monotheism

Answer 7

The belief in one God

Question 8

Bedouins

Answer 8

Nomads

Question 9

Hydropolitics

Answer 9

Politics related to water usage and access

Question 10

Fossil Water

Answer 10

The water that fell thousands of years ago which is now trapped between rock

Question 11

Why have Mountain passes, like the Khyber pass, been important?

Answer 11

They have been used for as a route for trade and invading armies

Question 12

Why is the red sea one of the world’s busiest waterways?

Answer 12

It connects to the Mediterranean Sea

Question 13

What is the unique feature of the Dead Sea

Answer 13

It is the worlds lowest body of water

Question 14

What are the most important rivers in the region and why?

Answer 14

Tigris and Euphrates- they form an alluvial plain

Question 15

What is the largest desert in the region?

Answer 15

Arabian Desert

Question 16

What was the agricultural revolution and what did it lead to?

Answer 16

Change from hunter gatherer to practicing agriculture. It led to a more settled lifestyle with villages appearing and more people working outside farming

Question 17

Why is southwest. Asia considered the cradle region?

Answer 17

Three of the worlds religions originated there

Question 18

Holy book of Judaism

Answer 18

Tanaka/Torah/Hebrew bible/old estaent

Question 19

Holy book of Christianity

Answer 19

Holy Bible

Question 20

Holy book of Islam

Answer 20

Quran

Question 21

Place of worship for Judaism

Answer 21

Synagogue/temple

Question 22

Place of worship for christianity

Answer 22

Church

Question 23

Place of worship for islam

Answer 23

Mosque

Question 24

Judaism beliefs

Answer 24

Monotheistic/ 10 Commandments

Question 25

Christianity beliefs

Answer 25

Monotheistic/god loves all people even sinners/ put your trust in god and all will be forgiven

Question 26

Islam beliefs

Answer 26

Monotheistic/perform 5 duties or pillars of islam 1-promising faith to God 2-pray 5 times a day 3-fasting during the month of Ramadan 4-helping the poor 5 -make a pilgrimage to Makkah/Mecca

Question 28

How did islam spread?

Answer 28

Through military conquests, scholars, pilgrims, and traders

Question 29

What was the Islamic golden age?

Answer 29

When great works of architecture and learning centers arose, as well as many advances in math and science

Question 30

What led to the fragmenting the Islamic world?

Answer 30

Mongols from Central Asia conquer parts of Persia and Mesopotamia

Question 31

What event led to growing support for a Jewish homeland and what was created because of this?

Answer 31

The Holocaust- Israel

Question 32

What other group has seen ethnic conflict in the region and wants to gain their own country?

Answer 32

Kurds

Question 33

Which countries of the region are experiencing a population boom and why?

Answer 33

Some oil rich countries around the Persian Gulf due to fast growing economies

Question 34

Some countries in the region have complex ethnic and linguistic makeups - what challenge does this present?

Answer 34

It is a challenge to national unity since many identify with their ethnic group more than the country they live in

Question 35

What are the 2 main differences between Sunni and the Shia?

Answer 35

Where they live and how they think the Muslim faith should be governed

Question 36

What 2 areas have close ties in the region and what are 2 examples?

Answer 36

Religion and Art/architecture and literature

Question 37

What has been an issue with the growing wealth in the region for some Muslims?

Answer 37

Exposure to Western ways and ideas

Question 38

What conflict has been an ongoing and current issue in Israel?

Answer 38

Arab- Israeli conflict over the Gaza Strip and west Bank

Question 39

What 2 issues have led to hydro politics?

Answer 39

Scarcity of fresh water and growing demand due to increasing population

Question 40

What is the major issues with the desalinization/desalination process?

Answer 40

It is very expensive

Question 41

Covenant

Answer 41

Agreement

Question 42

Prophet

Answer 42

Messenger of God