Colonialism & Borders
The empire that controlled most of the Middle East before WWI
Ottoman Empire
Palestinian political organization founded in 1964 to represent Palestinians internationally
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
Queen of Jordan who is internationally known for her advocacy in education, women’s rights, and global development
Queen Rania
Major waterway generates billions in revenue for Egypt by connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea
Suez Canal
U.S. state that was central to the “Vote Uncommitted” campaign during the 2024 Democratic primaries
Michigan
The European country that colonized Libya
Italy
The name of the dynasty of the Shah who was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution of 1979
Pahlavi Dynasty
Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Narrow waterway between Oman and Iran that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, which Iran has effectively closed during the 2026 Iran War
Strait of Hormuz
City in California known for its large Armenian-American population
Glendale
1917 declaration supporting a Jewish homeland in Palestine
Balfour Declaration
The country where the Arab Spring is thought to have begun, sparked by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi
Tunisia
Iranian cleric who is currently serving as the 3rd Supreme Leader of Iran since 8 March 2026, following the assassination of Ali Khamenei
Mojtaba Khamenei
The name of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plan aimed at reducing dependence on oil
Vision 2030
Area of New York City known for its large Yemeni-American community and Yemeni-owned bodegas ("Little Yemen")
The Bronx
Secret 1916 agreement divided Ottoman Arab lands between Britain and France
Sykes-Picot Agreement
Egyptian military leader who led the 2013 coup that removed President Mohamed Morsi and later became president himself
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
The current king of Morocco who is a member of the Alawi dynasty and has reigned since 1999
Mohammed VI (Sidi Mohammed bin Hassan al-Alawi)
Major Ethiopian infrastructure project on the Blue Nile which has been a source of diplomatic tension with Egypt due to fears of reduced downstream water flow
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
The name of the 2001 U.S. law passed after 9/11 that expanded surveillance powers, allowing federal agencies to monitor phone calls, emails, and mosque activity
USA PATRIOT Act
Turkish province that was once part of French-controlled Syria before being annexed by Turkey in 1939
Hatay Province
The 2019 protest movement in Lebanon calling for the removal of the political elite, triggered by the government's announcement of new austerity taxes, including $0.20 daily fee on WhatsApp voice calls
17 October Revolution (Thawra)
Algerian revolutionary leader became the country’s first president after independence from France in 1962
Ahmed Ben Bella
The name of the Afghan central bank whose billions in foreign reserves held in the New York Federal Reserve were blocked by the U.S. to prevent Taliban access, following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021
Da Afghanistan Bank
U.S. airport screening practice after 9/11 subjected many MENA and Muslim Americans to repeated secondary screenings, often labeled as “random,” even for frequent travelers
Secondary Security Screening Selection (SSSS)