Study guide review Geography and Culture

1. Describe the climate of SW Asia Hot and dry (arid)

2. Know the locations of the major countries and features of SW Asia Consult the map on the actual study guide

3. What 120 mile man made waterway connects the Mediterranean and Red Sea? The Suez canal

How does it help promote Trade? Ships don’t have to travel around Africa to reach the markets of SW Asia

4. What narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea? The Strait of Hormuz

5. What river is an important source of water for Israel, Jordan and Syria? The Jordan River

6. What are the major water problems in SW Asia? Scarcity of water and pollution

7. What is desalination? The removal of salt

7. Which countries do this? Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iraq and Israel are the main countries

7. Which countries plants have been most damaged by war? Iraq’s water treatment plants have been most damaged

8. What is the most important economic resource in SW Asia? Oil

8. Which country has the most of this resource? Saudi Arabia and Iraq have the largest reserves

9. What are the two problems with oil production in SW Asia? Pollution from spills and unequal distribution

10. What are the three main religions in SW Asia? Judaism, Christianity, Islam

11. What does monotheism mean? Belief in one God

12. Who is considered the patriarch or father figure of all three religions of the middle east? Abraham

13. What is the difference in a religious group and an ethnic group? A Religious Group follows a strict set of beliefs An ethnic group is based on common culture

14. What is the majority ethnic group in SW Asia? Arabs

15. Which country is SW Asia has a population made up of ethnic Persians? Iran

16. What are the two major groups in Islam and why did they split? A disagreement about who would Islam after Muhammad's death

16. Which branch of Islam is the majority? Sunni Muslims 85% (Shia Muslims 15%)

17. Where do the Kurds live? Mostly in the mountains of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and several other countries

17. Is being a Kurd part of an ethnic group or a religion? An Ethnic group (Arabs, Persians, Jews )

18. What is the religion of Israel? Judaism

18. What is the most important city? Jerusalem

18. What groups claim this city as a holy site? All three…Jews, Christians, Muslims

19. What are the main Holy texts in the three religions? Jews-The torah Muslims (Islam)-The Koran Christians-The Bible

What country’s water treatment plants have been most damaged by war? Iraq