Middle East Quiz

Define Modernization, Secularization, and Westernization

Modernization: Transformation from traditional/rural society to secular, urban, and industrial.

Secularization: Process where religion loses social and cultural significance.

Westernization: Adopting or being influenced by the systems (cultural, economic, political) of W. Europe

Who was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and what was his primary goal?

Founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey (1923–1938). His goal was to implement reforms to modernize, secularize, and westernize Turkey.

List Atatürk’s Political, Social, and Economic reforms.

Political: Removed Islam as state religion; adopted European-style laws for a new Constitution.

Social: Enforced European attire (banned Fez and Islamic headdresses in gov’t buildings); granted women equality/voting rights; removed religious teaching from public schools.

Economic: Pursued industrialization (national railroad); redistributed land to peasants; provided agricultural education.

Identify Atatürk’s point of view on women’s roles in society.

He believed women must contribute to society's prosperity equally with men. He stated a society is "paralyzed" if one part acts while the other lies idle.

According to Atatürk, what must both men and women master for society to succeed?

Science and technology.

What five revolutions/changes were depicted in the Turkish Revolution propaganda poster?

1. Victory against Greek occupation,

2. The Hat Revolution,

3. Abolition of religious cults,

4. Alphabet Revolution,

5. Turkish civil code

Describe the shift in Ottoman power structure in the 17th century.

It shifted from centralized control by warrior-sultans to a civilian bureaucracy (viziers) and provincial officials gaining more political control.

What is the "fractal intricacy" of the Ottoman Empire?

In the 16th century, it was an "awesomely well-functioning machine" where everything was connected. Later, this became a liability because trouble in one sphere caused trouble everywhere else.

Define Genocide based on the roots of the word.

Geno (race/type of people) + Cide (killing) = The act of killing off a specific group of people.

What were the four CAUSES and four EFFECTS of the Armenian Genocide?

Causes:

1. Armenians gained business influence,

2. Ottoman defeat at Sarıkamış,

3. Fear of Armenian independence,

4. Talaat Pasha’s leadership.

Effects:

1. Deportations ordered,

2. Resentment from Muslim Ottomans,

3. Armenians blamed for treachery,

4. Genocide policies implemented

Describe the 1916 first-hand account of the deportations.

A Turkish officer saw 120 men taken and killed at Ghumush-Khana. Thousands of unburied bodies lined the roads. One batch of Armenians was shot by a band of "Shotas" and thrown into the Euphrates River.

What is a Theocracy and who was its main advocate in Iran?

A government whose laws are based on religious principles. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the advocate and first Supreme Leader.

Compare the Qajar Dynasty and the Pahlavi Dynasty (Reza Shah).

Qajar: Weak central gov, foreign influence (Britain/Russia), economic instability.

Reza Shah (Pahlavi): Military leader, focused on modernization, centralization, and reducing religious power.

What was the 1953 August Coup?

The American CIA and British intelligence helped restore Mohammad Reza Shah to power after Prime Minister Mossadeq tried to nationalize oil. The Shah then became increasingly dictatorial.

What was the "White Revolution" and why did it fail to please everyone?

The Shah’s reforms (Westernization, women's rights, education).

Problems: Increased social inequality, religious leaders (Khomeini) were opposed, and political repression (SAVAK) fueled resentment.

What was Jalal-al-e Ahmad’s "Plagued by the West" argument?

He argued Iranians were becoming "pseudo-Westerners," alienated from their own culture, clothing, and solutions.

Why did Khomeini believe monarchy was "fundamentally opposed" to Islam?

He stated the title "King of Kings" is hated by God and that the notion of monarchy contradicts Islamic principles.