Middle East Unit Test Study Guide

The Middle East unit test will consist of a combination of matching, multiple choice, and short answer.

Here is a list of what you should know for the Middle East unit test.  You can click on the links to find the PowerPoints or other materials that will help you answer the questions.  If you need help, you can make an appointment to meet with me during a free period or before/after school.  You can also e-mail me with questions.

1. Introduction to the Middle East
-Where are Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates?
-What is the difference between Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Easterners?
-Which countries in the Middle East do not have a population that is mostly Arab?
-Which country in the Middle East does not have a population that is mostly Muslim?
-Why do we call it the Middle East?
-Why is the term "Middle East" Eurocentric?
-What other region is often studied with the Middle East and why?
-Why can't people live in many parts of the Middle East?
-What is a sheik?
-What is a mosque?

2. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity
-Why are they all called Abrahmic religions?
-When and how did they originate?
-What god and prophets does each religion believe in?
-What are other similarities and differences?

-What are the Five Pillars of Islam?  (You need to know what they are, not their Arabic names).  What are similar components of Judaism and Christianity?
-What are the holy books of the three religions?
-What is the kabaa and why is it significant?
-What is the difference between Sunni and Shia?  Why is the difference important?
-Which countries have a majority of Shia Muslims?
-Is Al Qaeda Sunni or Shia?

3. Religious Extremism
-How are women treated in Saudi Arabia/Iran compared to Turkey?
-What does the Koran say about women?
-How does ultra-Orthodox Judaism compare to strict interpretations of Islam?
-What is terrorism?
-Why is it so hard to define terrorism?
-What causes terrorism? (1st period only)

4. History of the Middle East

-Why is the Middle East considered the birthplace of civilization?

-Who were the Hebrews and what was the diaspora?

-What were the major empires that controlled the Middle East?

-What were the Crusades?

-Who were the Wahhabis?

-What happened to the Middle East as a result of World War One?

-What is the PKK and what does it want?
-What were the major groups in Lebanon's Civil War and why did they start fighting?
-What does "United Arab Emirates" mean?  What are the two biggest emirates?
-Who are the Taliban?  (1st period only)


4. Economics in the Middle East
-What is life like in Dubai?  What are the pros and cons of its economic development?
-Why did Arab nations place an embargo on oil in 1973 and what effect did it have?
-How do events in the Middle East influence oil prices?
-Why does the Middle East have so much influence over the oil market?
-How did the Gulf War influence oil prices (both Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the US response)?


5. Iran
-What was the Iranian revolution and why was it important?
-What is Islamism and how is it different from Islam?
-What effects will Iranian nuclear weapons have? (5th period only)


6. Israel and Palestine
-Where are Israel and Palestine and what are the surrounding countries?
-What are Hamas and Fatah?
-What borders did Israel have at different points in time?
-What was the Balfour Declaration and why was it significant?
-How did Israel gain independence?
-What happened in the Six Day War and why is it significant?
-What happened in the Yom Kippur War and why is it significant?
-Why was Israel's peace treaty with Egypt important?
-What does "intifada" mean and what was the effect of the first intifada?
-Is peace in the Middle East possible?  What would a viable peace plan look like?