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Unit 7 Notes

Mr. Allen World Geography Test over this on Thursday 3/12.

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Jordan River

Forms the natural boundary between Israel and Jordan.

It is considered to be one of the world's most sacred rivers; flows into the Dead Sea.

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Crude Oil

Another name for petroleum that has not been processed.

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Rub al-Khali Most famous desert

in the region, also known as the Empty Quarter.

One of the largest sand deserts in the world, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula

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Euphrates River The western of the

two great rivers that define Mesopotamia (the other being the Tigris) which flows from Anatolia.

River flows through parts of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

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Dead SeaA landlocked salt

lake between Israel and the West Bank to the west, and Jordan to the east.

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Salt flat

An area of desert in which the moisture has evaporated and salt chemicals remain.

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Drip irrigationa practice of

using small pipes that slowly drip water above ground to conserve water use for crops.

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RefineryA place where

crude oil is converted into products such as gasoline and heating oil.

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The Kurds

A group of people living in areas of Turkey,Iraq, and Iran for the past 1,000 years.

Has tried unsuccessfully to establish a nation since the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I

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MuhammadThe prophet who

is considered the founder of Islam; regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God.

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ZionismA movement

to create and support a Jewish homeland in Palestine

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Mecca Located in Saudi

Arabia, the holy city to which all Muslims hope to make a pilgrimage; it is the holiest city in Islam and plays an important role in the faith.

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Followers of Islam

religious duties of the followers of Islam prayer charity fasting

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'Five Pillars' of Islam

1. Shahadah - Islamic proclamation that "There is no true God except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

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'Five Pillars' of Islam

2. Prayer (Salat) - Prayer is performed five times a day. The first prayer is at dawn and the last at sunset.

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'Five Pillars' of Islam

3. Fasting (Saum) - The month of Ramadan is the month of fasting in Islam. It is an act of worship where the faithful follower denies his own needs and seeks Allah.

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'Five Pillars' of Islam

4. Charity (Zakat) - Charity given to the poor. It benefits the poor and it helps the giver by moving him towards more holiness and submission to Allah.

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'Five Pillars' of Islam

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) - This is the pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims, if they are able, are to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. It involves financial sacrifice and is an act of worship.

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OPEC Organization of

the Petroleum

Exporting

Countries; controlling

worldwide oil prices.

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Dome of the Rock Marks the spot where

Muslims believe Muhammad rose up to heaven.

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Western Wall

The holiest Jewish site in Jerusalem.

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Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

Formed to regain land currently under Israeli control for Palestinian Arabs.

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Taliban The Taliban gained

power in Afghanistan.

are suspected of supporting terrorists.

imposed strict rules on the behavior of people.

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Strategic commodity

a resource that is so valuable that nations will go to war to ensure its steady supply

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Human resources Human resources - name given to

the skills and talents of the people of a nation

Guest workers - name given to unskilled laborers who come from other countries to fill job vacancies

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Foreign Workers in SW Asia

Working Experiencemisunderstandings over customsliving in special districtsreceiving late wages or no wages

at all

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Stateless nation

a nation of people without land to legally occupy

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Palestinians Have considered themselves a

stateless nation since the nation of Israel was created.

Palestinians believe they should retain the right to return in any agreement to end conflicts with Israel over control of Jerusalem.

1948 Arab-Israeli war caused Palestinians to begin to flee what is now known as Israel

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West Bank

Name is given to the strip of land on the west side of the Jordan River.