GHY 1020 Exam 2 Study Guide

For Misty Mayfield's GHY 1020 (People and Places Globally) class

What is meant by the “Islamic world”?

A region where Islam is the dominant religion, especially in Southwest Asia and North Africa (~93% Muslim).

What are the two main branches of Islam?

Sunni (~75%) and Shia (~25%).

Where are most Shia Muslims located?

Iran and Iraq.

How do religious divisions affect the region?

They create instability and conflict.

What is a major gender issue in the region?

Gender inequality tied to cultural and religious interpretations.

What factors contribute to conflict in Southwest Asia/North Africa?

Religion, wealth gaps, oil/resources, water scarcity, and outside influence.

What creates the wealth gap in the region?

Uneven distribution of oil and natural resources.

What type of government does Iran have?

Theocracy (run by religious leaders).

What major event established Iran’s current government?

1979 Islamic Revolution.

Who leads Iran’s religious government?

Ayatollahs.

What was the 2015 nuclear deal?

JCPOA—agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

What happened to the nuclear deal in 2018?

The U.S. withdrew and reinstated sanctions.

What was the U.S. involvement in Iraq (2003–2011)?

War to remove Saddam Hussein and eliminate suspected WMDs.

What is ISIS?

A terrorist group aiming to create a caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

What conditions helped ISIS rise?

Instability from the Iraq War and Syrian Civil War.

What type of conflict is the Syrian Civil War?

A proxy war.

Who supports the Syrian government?

Iran and Russia.

Who supports rebel groups in Syria?

The United States.

What did the 1947 UN partition plan propose?

Creation of a Jewish state (Israel) and an Arab Muslim state (Palestine).

Why did conflict begin after the partition plan?

Palestinians and surrounding Arab nations rejected it.

What are the two main Palestinian territories?

West Bank and Gaza Strip.

What groups control these territories?

Fatah (West Bank) and Hamas (Gaza Strip).

What are key ongoing issues in the conflict?

Territory, religion, settlements, and security barriers.

What triggered the 2023 Israel-Hamas war?

Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

What was Israel’s response?

Military invasion of the Gaza Strip.

What was the Arab Spring?

A series of pro-democracy protests across the region.

What issues sparked the Arab Spring?

Corruption, lack of freedoms, and economic struggles.

What does “Women, Life, Freedom” refer to?

Protests in Iran advocating for women’s rights and freedoms.

What is fragmentation in Europe?

Division into many small countries with different cultures, languages, and identities.

What is the West/East divide in Europe?

Economic, political, and cultural differences between Western and Eastern Europe.

What historical feature symbolized this divide?

The Iron Curtain.

How did Western and Eastern Europe differ during the Cold War?

West = wealthier, democratic; East = Soviet-controlled, less developed.

What is the European Union (EU)?

A political and economic union of 27 European countries.

What was the original goal of the EU?

Economic cooperation to prevent future wars.

What were early steps toward EU formation?

Coal and steel cooperation → common market → EU (1992).

What are the four major landform regions of Europe?

Western Highlands, North European Plain, Central Uplands, Alpine Mountain System.

What characterizes the Western Highlands?

Old mountains, fjords, and glacial features.

What is the North European Plain known for?

Flat land, agriculture, dense population, and industry.

What is the Central Uplands known for?

Hills, moderate elevation, and natural resources.

What defines the Alpine Mountain System?

High mountains like the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians.

What tectonic plates influence southern Europe?

African Plate and Eurasian Plate.

How did industrialization impact Europe’s environment?

Pollution and resource depletion.

What was a major environmental issue in Eastern Europe after the Soviet era?

Severe pollution from rapid industrialization.

What are key climate change impacts in Europe?

Glacial retreat, rising sea levels, heat waves, water shortages.

What is happening to Europe’s population growth?

Slow or negative growth.

What demographic issue does this create?

Aging population and shrinking workforce.

Why is Europe culturally diverse?

History of colonialism and globalization.

What is secularization?

Declining influence of religion in society.

What is “Fortress Europe”?

Strict external borders with more open internal movement.

What is the Schengen Agreement?

Allows passport-free travel between many European countries.

What are push factors for migration?

War, poverty, lack of opportunity.

What are pull factors for migration?

Jobs, safety, better living conditions.

When did World War II end?

1945.

What was the Cold War?

Political tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union (1945–1991).

How did the Cold War affect Europe?

Divided it into Western (U.S.-aligned) and Eastern (Soviet-controlled) regions.

What is Brexit?

The United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

What does Brexit reflect?

Rising nationalism and skepticism of regional integration.

What is the Western European Industrial Core?

Highly developed economic region with strong industry and infrastructure.

What is the agricultural periphery?

Less developed regions focused more on farming.

What is a green roof?

Vegetation on rooftops that reduces heat and improves insulation.

What was the Kyoto Protocol?

1997 agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the Paris Agreement?

2015 global climate agreement to limit warming.