History
A series of protests, revolts, and coups that spread across the Middle East and North Africa starting in 2010 in Tunisia in response to poor economic and political conditions.
What is the Arab Spring?
Considered the longest river in Africa, it has defined society and civilization in Egypt and Sudan, and the river today remains an essential source of water and energy.
What is the Nile River?
Often celebrated in the second weekend of July, this Muslim holiday honors Abraham's sacrifice and is often celebrated by slaughtering a sheep, goat, or cow then sharing the meat with family and members of your community.
What is Eid al-Adha?
"How are you" in Arabic
What is "Kayf al-Hal/كيف الحال"?
What is Lebanon?
Originally a Turkish tribe, this empire eventually stretched from Eastern Europe, into the Middle East, and into North Africa.
What was the Ottoman Empire?
A salt lake between Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank. It is so salty, no aquatic organism can live in its waters, and its shores mark the lowest, land-based point on the Earth's surface.
What is the Dead Sea?
Located across North Africa, this ethnic group traces their ancestry back to the Neolithic Age and refer to themselves as free men or men of the land. Although historically religiously, politically, geographically, and linguistically diverse, the group today has formed a singular political movement in the hopes of cultural recognition in North Africa.
Who are the Amazigh?
A bakery, literally translates to "place of bread"
What is the meaning of "makhbiz/مخبز"?
This country currently finds itself amidst mass protests over fuel and food shortages and poverty and frustrations over delayed elections. The United Nations Secretary-General called on leaders of this nation to act quickly to restore stability and protestors to remain peaceful.
What is Libya?
A North African nation credited as being the first nation to recognize American independence and is the United States' oldest ally.
What is Morocco?
The largest city in Africa by population, and the 7th largest city in the world.
What is Cairo?
A political and ethnic group located in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. Although they have their roots in Islam, their beliefs incorporate all three of the main monotheistic religions and have been influenced by Greek and Hindu philosophy.
Who are the Druze?
An ice cream shop in Arabic
What is "maHil al-muthalijat/محل المثلجات"?
Set to be the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, the Blue Nile project has created tensions and controversy between these 3 nations due to concerns over water scarcity.
Who are Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia?
A dynasty of slave soldiers who ruled Egypt from 1250 to the Ottoman invasion in 1517, then they were made Ottoman governors and administrators for Egypt.
Who were the Mamluks?
This mountain range separates the Sahara Desert from the milder climates in Morocco and Algeria and have the highest peaks in North Africa.
What are the Atlas Mountains?
What is Gnawa music?
A Moroccan-slang term expressing extreme tiredness and exhaustion
What is the meaning of "madigdig/مدگدگ"?
Despite beginning the Arab Spring in 2010, Tunisia now finds itself in its worst political crisis since 2011 after this man dissolved Parliament last year to rule by decree and now will submit a new constitution for referendum on the 25th, which would give him broad powers over the Tunisian government.
Who is President Kais Saied?
Originally a tribal family from Saudi Arabia, they were awarded Iraq and Jordan in exchange for helping the British defeat the Ottomans, and although their rule fell in Iraq in 1958, this family continues to rule Jordan.
Who are the Hashemites?
Named after a flat plateau in the Sahara Desert, this country is so dry no rivers or above-ground water sources exist, meaning its residents must rely on underground water or dry steam beds known as wadis.
What is Libya?
This Islamic movement was founded by Ibn Abd al-Wahhab in the 18th century and helped legitimize Saudi rule in the Arabian peninsula. It promotes a literal and austere interpretation of the Quran, and despite controversy internationally and domestically, it remains the primary faith in Saudi Arabia.
What is Wahhabism?
"What's up" in Iraqi Arabic
What is "shaku maku/ شاكو ماكو"?
A Palestinian-American journalist killed on May 11th while reporting on an Israeli raid in Jenin, West Bank. The killing sparked outrage globally, and yesterday, the Palestinian Authority gave the United States government the bullet that killed her to conduct a forensics investigation after accusations that it was Israeli police who killed the journalist.
Who was Shireen Abu-Akleh?