food
The spice blend of thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac sprinkled on bread and salads is called what?
zaatar
The longest river in the Middle East.
the nile river
The Ottoman Empire was founded at the end of the 13th century in this modern-day country.
Turkey
This rhythmic group dance is performed at weddings in Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria
Dabke
This Middle Eastern city is holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Jerusalem, AL Quds
A flaky dessert soaked in syrup and layered with nuts, often enjoyed in Turkey and Lebanon.
baklava
This Middle Eastern country has no rivers at all, making it one of the driest in the world.
saudi arabia
This stone monument with the body of a lion and the head of a human guards the Pyramids of Giza.
The sphinx
This red-and-white checkered headscarf, common in Jordan, is called what?
shmagh
This Middle Eastern country’s flag features a cedar tree at its center.
Lebanon
his dish of eggplant mixed with tahini and lemon juice is often mistaken for hummus.
baba ghanoush
what country has the lowest point on earths surface
Jordan
The Arab-Israeli conflict of 1948 is often referred to by Palestinians as the “Nakba,” meaning this in English
the catastrophe
This Lebanese singer, famous for her songs of love and homeland, is considered a cultural icon of the Arab world.
fairuz
What Mosque is Al kaaba located in?
Masjid Al Haram al makki
In Lebanon and Syria, this rare delicacy is a lamb or beef dish finely minced and seasoned with bulgur and spices, often considered risky to prepare.
kibbeh niyyah
The Levant, historically referring to the “eastern Mediterranean,” includes modern countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and this island nation.
cyprus
This “land between two rivers” is often called the cradle of civilization.
the land of mesopotamia
This musical instrument, shaped like a pear and similar to a lute, is central to Arabic music.
oud
Which city in Palestine is known heavily for its delicious clementines
Jaffa
The term mansaf, Jordan’s national dish, refers not only to a lamb-and-rice platter but also to the Bedouin style of eating it: with the right hand, while standing, around a shared dish. What ingredient gives its yogurt sauce a distinct sourness?
jameed
The mountains of Zagros stretch mainly across these two Middle Eastern countries.
Iran, Iraq and/or turkey
he Arab Spring protests began in this country in December 2010
Tunisia
his Persian new year festival, celebrated at the spring equinox, is called what?
Nowruz
The Phoenician alphabet, developed in the Levant around 1050 BCE, is considered the ancestor of this major writing system.
the greek alphabet