Middle East Geography/History

What is the primary difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims?

• They disagree over who will be Muhammad's successor
• They disagree over whether or not to be monotheistic 
• They disagree who should lead, Kurds or Arabs
• They each follow a different holy text

What do all three major religions in the Middle East have in common?

• They all use the Holy Bible as their religious text
• They each observe Ramadan
• They are each monotheistic
• They were all founded at the same time

!Today, in the Middle East there are many conflicts that stem from where the borders of countries are drawn.  Many boundaries either include groups that have historically opposed each other or split groups with commonalities into different countries.  This problem is largely a consequence of what?

• Treaties that came after WWII
• The natural distribution of resources in the region
• The way Europe divided the region after the fall of the Ottoman Empire
• Interference from North America and East Asia as they battled for control of the region

!During and after WWII many surviving Jews were looking for somewhere to relocate and find a new life.  Many decided to immigrate to Palestine and the land of their religious connection. Eventually, this immigration, along with Zionist conflicts with England led to which major world event?

• The beginning of the Holocaust
• The creation of the state of Israel
• The dropping of the atomic bomb
• The breakup of the Ottoman Empire

!"If the Arabs put down their weapons today there would be no more violence.  If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel."
What does this quote imply?

• The conflict centers around land and religion
• The Jews are to blame for the conflict in the Middle East
• Jews and Arabs are only part of the problem
• If there were no weapons there would be no conflict

!Which answer most accurately completes the sentence?
"In SW Asia, land and religion are major sources of __________."

• aid
• water
• conflict
• agreement

!Which statement best describes the Persian Gulf Conflict of 1990-1991?

• The United States defended Kuwait against invasion from Iraq
• Iraq and Afghanistan combined forces against Russia
• The United States sent troops to Afghanistan to fight Al-Qaeda
• Iraq and Iran were battling for control of OPEC

!In regards to the U.S. military, Afghanistan and Iraq are both similar in that both...

• have both been completely conquered by the United States
• have experienced a high presence of U.S. military forces
• offer full support to the United States military, which no other country does
• assist the U.S. military when they invade places like Iran and Kuwait

!Which statement best describes how the Middle East's vast supply of oil has affected the history of the region since the 1950s

• It has lowered the standard of living in the region
• It has encouraged the growth of democracy in the region
• It has slowed down the process of industrialization in the region
• It has encouraged foreigners to compete for influence in the region

!Which statement best describes developments in the Middle East since WWII?

• Manufacturing has become the region's main economic activity
• Religion has played a major role in creating conflicts in the region
• Most citizens in the region have come to enjoy a high standard of living
• A majority of countries in the region have adopted constitutions that guarantee equal rights for all citizens