Middle East Comprehensive Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the religions, geography, and political history of the Middle East based on the lecture notes.

Abrahamic Religions

The three major monotheistic religions that trace their origins to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Abraham

A prophet and important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, considered the “father” of the Abrahamic faiths.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Allah

The Arabic word for God, used by Muslims.

Muhammad

The founder and final prophet of Islam according to Muslims, believed to have received God’s revelations.

Islam

The religion practiced by Muslims.

Muslim

A follower of the religion of Islam.

Shahada

The declaration of faith; its purpose is to show belief in one God and Muhammad as prophet.

Salat

The practice of praying $5$ times daily for worship and connection with God.

Zakat

Charity to the poor intended to help others and support the community.

Sawm

Fasting during Ramadan for self-discipline and spiritual reflection.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca, performed as a religious duty and to promote unity among Muslims.

Ramadan

The holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection in Islam.

Qur'an

The Holy Book of Islam believed to contain God’s revelations to Muhammad.

Mosque

The Muslim place of worship.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam, which Muslims face while praying.

Kaaba

A sacred cube-shaped structure in Mecca toward which Muslims pray.

Jerusalem

A holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam, which believes leaders should be chosen by the Muslim community.

Shi’ite (Shi’a)

The second-largest branch of Islam, which believes leadership should stay within Muhammad’s family.

Sharia Law

Islamic law based on the Qur’an and Islamic teachings.

Tehran

The capital city of Iran.

Baghdad

The capital city of Iraq.

Riyadh

The capital city of Saudi Arabia.

Damascus

The capital city of Syria.

Amman

The capital city of Jordan.

Beirut

The capital city of Lebanon.

Cairo

The capital city of Egypt.

Ankara

The capital city of Turkey.

Kabul

The capital city of Afghanistan.

Suez Canal

An important man-made waterway in the Middle East.

Partition

The division of land into separate parts.

Zionism

A political movement supporting the creation and protection of a Jewish homeland in Israel/Palestine.

Mandate

Territory controlled by another nation under international agreement after WWI.

Secular

Not connected to religion.

Secularism

The belief that the government should stay separate from religion.

Sectarian Conflict

Conflict between religious groups, especially Sunni and Shi’a Muslims.

Jihad

An Arabic term meaning “struggle,” referring to either a spiritual or armed struggle.

Fundamentalist

A person who strongly follows traditional religious beliefs.

Islamist

A person or group seeking a government based on Islamic principles; distinct from the general term Muslim.

Caliph

An Islamic political and religious leader.

Revolution

The forceful overthrow of a government.

Civil War

A war between groups within the same country.

Sykes–Picot Agreement

A secret agreement between Britain and France during WWI dividing Ottoman territory in the Middle East.

Balfour Declaration

A statement where Britain expressed support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Hussein-McMahon Correspondence

Communication in which Britain suggested Arabs would gain independence after WWI.

West Bank and Gaza

Territories claimed by Palestinians for a future state and major areas of conflict with Israel.

Intifada

Palestinian uprisings against Israeli control during the late $1980s$ and early $2000s$.

Abraham Accords

Agreements intended to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries to improve diplomacy and economic cooperation.

3 Rivers of Rage

Roots of $9/11$ including U.S. support for Israel, Western intervention in the Middle East, and support for authoritarian governments/oil politics.

Ruhollah Khomeini

The religious leader who led the Iranian Revolution in $1979$.

Theocracy

The form of government in Iran where religious leaders hold major political power.

Arab Spring

A series of protests and uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa beginning in $2010$ demanding democracy.

ISIS

An extremist militant group that attempted to create a caliphate based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law through violence.

Bashar al-Assad

The President of Syria whose government repression of Arab Spring protests led to the Syrian Civil War.