Final Exam Middle East

Middle East

A title given by Europe for the region that hosted trade routes between Europe and Asia and provided warm water ports.

European countries involved in Middle East separation

Britain, Russia, and France.

Sykes-Picot Agreement

Post-World War 1 treaties to divide the Ottoman Empire into spheres of influence.

Long-term effects of European borders in the Middle East

Created a lack of legitimacy between nations' populations and conflicts between cultural groups.

Imperialism

The extension of a nation's power through diplomacy or military force.

Modernization

Advancing in technology, medicine, and ways of life.

Westernization

The push for 'modernization' with European culture and ways of life.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

A leader who led an independent movement in the Middle East.

Important resource for Western interests in the Middle East

Oil.

Reasons for Middle Eastern resistance to Westernization

Belief that they could modernize with their own practices and culture.

Kurds

A stateless nation that has been marginalized and discriminated against for their culture.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The leader of Turkey known for leading top-down modernization reforms.

Leader known for modernization reforms in the Middle East

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Non-alignment

Maintaining independence of policy and positive neutrality amid U.S.-Soviet rivalry.

Effects on Middle Eastern countries after WW2

Countries were split up and borders were redrawn by European nations.

Supporters of the Shah in Iran

Western powers, primarily the U.S.

Bandung Conference

Held in Indonesia, marked the beginning of anti-colonial movements.

Specific ethnic group living in several Middle Eastern countries

Kurds.

New dominant powers in the Middle East post WW2

U.S. and Soviet Union.

Neo-imperialism

Economically influenced imperialism.

Movement resisting colonial influence

Non-alignment movement.

Cultural push for modernization in the Middle East

Westernization.

Who supported the Shah in Iran

U.S.

Most common religion in the Middle East

Islam.

Zoroastrianism

One of the oldest religions, the pre-Islamic religion of Persia, introduced concepts like heaven, hell, and final judgment.

Abrahamic religions

The religions that trace their origin to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism

The oldest of the Abrahamic religions.

Christianity

A religion that emerged from Judaism.

Islam

Founded in the 7th century, tracing its roots to the first prophet Abraham.

Yezidism

A faith that blends Zoroastrian and Abrahamic elements, celebrated with music, dance, and offerings.

Baha’i Faith

Originating in 19th-century Iran, emphasizes unity and peace among religions and peoples.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five practices all Muslims are expected to follow: prayer, charity, fasting, scripture, and moral conduct.

Sunni

A branch of Islam that believes the next leader is elected.

Shi’i

A branch of Islam that believes the next leader will be through succession.

Isma’ili

A group within Shi’ism that recognizes a living Imam.

Twelvers

Followers of Shi’i Islam who believe in 12 Imams; the last was Muntazar, who went into occultation in 874.

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement in Judaism.

Sufism

The mystical tradition of Islam focusing on inner spirituality and personal connection with God.

Rumi

A key figure in global Sufi literature.

Shari’a law

The law and moral conduct derived from the Qur’an, governing laws, marriage, and traditions.

Abraham

A prophet important in all three Abrahamic religions.

Tawhid

The concept of the unitary and singular nature of one God.

Drews

A community that values women and has a high social status, began in the early 11th century.

Reincarnation

The belief in rebirth, sometimes associated with certain mystical traditions.

Prophet Muhammad

Founder of Islam; began the Islamic expansion from Medina after 622 CE.

Medina

City in the Arabian Peninsula that became the base of the early Muslim community and launch point for expansion.

Mecca

Sacred city in Arabia; initially opposed Islam but later central to Islamic faith.

Rashidun Caliphate

The first four caliphs after Muhammad—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—who led the rapid early expansion.

Abu Bakr

First Rashidun caliph who united Arabian Islamic rule and expanded the empire beyond Arabia peninsula.

Umar

Second Rashidun caliph who expanded Islamic territory into Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Iran, and beyond.

Uthman

Third Rashidun caliph who oversaw the compilation of the Quran into a single standard version and expanded into further regions.

Ali

Fourth Rashidun caliph; his reign saw internal conflicts that weakened the empire.

Caliph

A political-religious leader of the Muslim community and state after Muhammad.

Quran

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the revealed word of God.

Quran compilation

The process under Uthman to produce one standard text of the Quran for uniform reading.

Muawiya

Leader who established the Umayyad Caliphate and continued expansion after the Rashidun period.

Umayyad Caliphate

Dynasty that followed the Rashidun, expanding Islamic rule across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

Kufa

Early Islamic city in Iraq; important center for mosques and learning.

Basra

Early Islamic city in Iraq; important center for commerce and culture.

Egypt

Region and province reached by Islamic expansion; key for trade and administration via the Nile.

Syria

Territory extending Islamic rule west of Mesopotamia; a major area of expansion.

Iraq

Region that came under early Islamic control during expansion; a core area for administration.

Iran

Region within the expanding Islamic empire; became part of the broader territorial expansion.

Arabic language

Semitic language that spread with Islam and became dominant in administration and culture.

Aramaic language

Semitic language spoken in parts of the Near East; used as a lingua franca in certain periods.

Kaaba

Sacred Meccan site; in pre-Islamic times associated with poetry, later central to Islam.

Rosetta Stone

Ancient artifact that helped scholars decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs and study languages.

Dirham

Currency used in Islamic regions and empires.

Sharia

Islamic law derived from the Quran and Hadith, guiding personal and communal conduct.