Geography I
Name the two most prominent rivers that start in Turkey and empty into the Persian Gulf.
Euphrates River & Tigris River
What seas are located on either side of Saudi Arabia?
the Red Sea (western side) and the Persian Gulf (eastern side)
Where have the major cities developed in the Middle East?
near rivers (access to fresh water for living and irrigation for farming) or the sea coast (easy access to shipping for trade)
What is the holy book of Judaism?
Torah
What time of year is it for Muslims when they fast (do not eat) from sun up to sun set?
Ramadan
True/False Abraham is only important to Judaism and Christianity.
FALSE - Abraham is important to all three monotheistic religions that started in the Middle East - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Name the major ethnic group living in Iran? What language to they mainly speak?
Persians; Farsi (a dialect of the Persian language)
What is the name of the sea that borders Israel to the west?
the Mediterranean Sea
What is the name of the strait that connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea?
the Strait of Hormuz
Most areas of the Middle East are deserts. How has this impacted farming and how people use water?
people use irrigation to grow crops and to provide basic water needs for living
What is the name of the place where Jews worship? What is the name of their worship leader/teacher?
Synagogue and Rabbi
The majority of Persians (the people of Iran) practice which type of Islam, Shia or Sunni?
Shia
**Although 85% of all Muslims practice Sunni Islam. The 15% of remaining Muslims practice Shia Islam and are mostly located in Iran, and then Iraq.**
True/False Christianity is older than Islam.
TRUE
The order of the founding of all three monotheistic religions that started the in the Middle East is - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Which ethnic group has no country of its own but has been able to peacefully live in northern Iraq since 1990? What language do they speak?
the Kurds; they speak Kurdish (a language related to Persian)
What country is between Afghanistan and Iraq?
Iran
What river forms the border between Israel and Jordan?
the Jordan River
What is an oasis region and why are people able to live there?
it has an underground water source
True/False Judaism is the oldest of the three monotheistic religions started in the Middle East.
TRUE
What is the name of the holy book of Islam and what is the name of their religious leader?
the Qur'an and an Imam
True/False Jerusalem is sacred to all three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam).
TRUE
What is the largest ethnic group living in the Middle East? What language do they speak?
Arabs; they speak the Arabic language
Name the two Palestinian territories in Israel?
Gaza Strip and West Bank
What country is directly southeast of Turkey?
Syria
What is the main reason the countries of Southwest Asia are unable to solve their water pollution problems?
the countries cannot get along; too many political disputes
What two things did the Covenant between God and Abraham grant the Jews?
1. the land of Israel (formerly Canaan) - they Jews believe God gave them the land
2. the Jews became God's "chosen people"
What are the Five Pillars of Faith for a Muslim?
Faith, Prayer, Fasting (Ramadan), Charity, the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
True/False It is important for Christians to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. This pilgrimage is known as the Hajj.
FALSE - The Hajj is important for all Muslims (not Christians) to make at least once in their life, if they can afford it.
What is the difference between an ethnic group and a religious group?
An ethnic group = common culture & race, but may have different religions
A religious group = worship the same god
**You can change your religion, but not your ethnic group (born into your ethnic group)**
What is the large body of water that the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf empties into? It is also south of Saudi Arabia.
the Arabian Sea
What two seas does the Suez Canal connect?
the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea
What is desalination?
the process of taking the salt out of sea water, making it possible for people to drink and use for crop irrigation
True/False Judaism was founded in Southwest Asia and also considers Jerusalem a sacred city.
TRUE - Jerusalem is considered a sacred city to all three religions of the monotheistic religions that originated in the Middle East - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
How do you say the word God in Arabic?
Allah
True/False Christians mainly worship on Fridays.
FALSE - Christians mainly worship on Sundays, while Muslims worship on Fridays and Jews from sunset on Fridays to sunset on Saturdays.
True/False A person can change their ethnic group, but not their religion.
FALSE - You are born into your ethnic group. An ethnic group shares the same language and culture, but NOT always the same religion. You can be in the same ethnic group and practice different religions.
**You can change your religion, but NOT your ethnic group.**