Asia Minor, The Middle East, and North Africa (Review)

The Center of the World

Ch. 16-18

About Islam (Ch. 16-18)

Islam: to give up, submit to Allah, peace Quran: Other translations not considered Muhammad: the final prophet

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus: prophets

Islamic Laws: Sharia and Fiqh Sharia: Traditional Islamic Law (things like many

wives): Problematic in todays world Fiqh: Jurisprudence (the science of law) of Sharia:

how to interpret things that are not in there Fighting: ie) who should become soldiers

Three Sects

Sunni: the largest (number?)

Shia: the minor (Iran)

Sufism: mystical and direct meeting with Allah

The Five Pillars

Testimony, Prayer, Fasting (Ramadan)

Alms Giving, Pilgrimage (Hajj to Mecca)

Chapter 16 Eastern Mediterranean

Introduction

Very close to South Europe (Greece)

Culturally Connected: Ancient Greece + Rome, Ottoman Empire

Similar Climate: Mediterranean

British and French Mandates in the Region (1920s)

Palestine: Becoming their representative until ready

Balfour Declaration: Bringing Jews back home

Countries

Turkey: Asia (Asia Minor) or Europe (trying to join Eu)?

Strait of Bosporus and Dardanelles

Largest city: Istanbul, Capital: Ankara (hilly)

Minority persecution: Armenian Genocide (Ch. 18), Kurdish (one of largest minority with no country )

Cyprus: Greek + Turkish influence divided

Syria: ongoing conflict with IS

Israel vs. Palestine: three places (Golan, West Bank, Gaza strip)

Chapter 17 The Persian Gulf

or the Middle East

Persian Gulf and Desert Gulf: similar with Bay (larger) Desert: precipitation less than 250mm, hot or cold Arabian Peninsula: mostly Saudi Arabia Worlds Oil (OPEC) and Finance Center (UAE - Dubai)

Beginning of World Civilizations: Mesopotamia Headlining negative World Politics: terrorism, riots Culturally connected to North Africa: Islam, Arabic

(except Iran) Ongoing conflict with Israel (or US)

Burj Dubai Downtown Dubai

Hot and Cold Desert

Countries

Saudi Arabia: largest in ME, birthplace of Islam

Emirate: rule by prince

UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait

Iraq: US and IS + Mesopotamia

Iran: Tehran (capital city + largest city in ME), most strict Islamic nation in ME

Chapter 18 The Caucasus and Central Asia

General Definition Central Asia: the Stans

Landlocked: No Sea Stan: Persian for place, state Southern Permafrost region: Frozen land The Road to the World

The Silk Road: Worlds first major trade route Russias political influence, US military/oil influence, Chinas

economy and security ties

Central Asia

History Scythia (Eastern Iranian): 1BC Passing Grounds: Huns, Mongol Empire Bukharan Jews: Jewish people who lived in Central

Asia (the most isolated Jews)

Geography Caucasus Mountains (Georgia, Armenia): divides Asia,

Europe (Ural), and Middle East Caspian Sea: The largest lake (not freshwater), now

with oil and gas Mountains and Deserts: Tien Shan, Hindu Kush

Scythia Empire Iranian Influence

Right: Range of Central Asia Below: the Bukharan Jews

Today

Resource-Packed Region Continuing relationship with Russia, China connecting with

Xinjiang US coming to find an alternative region of oil Aral Sea: massive reduction from cotton farming

Countries

Kazakhstan: the largest Georgia: is Russian pronunciation Kyrgyzstan: Michelle teachers place Uzbekistan: John teachers birthplace Afghanistan: many ethnicities