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168 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Which part of the world is known as the "Cradle of Civilization"?
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Mesopotamia (the Middle East)
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What are the world's three major religions?
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Christianity, Judaism, & Islam
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Who is the founder of Islam?
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Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah (Mohammed)
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What is the name of Islam's sacred book?
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the Qu'ran (Koran)
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What are the five "Pillars of Islam"?
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Reciting the Shahadah, fasting, praying (five times each day), giving, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca
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What is the Shahadah?
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the Islamic confession of faith ("There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.") - Not true by the way
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What is the Hajj?
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An Islamic tradition of a pilgrimage (Journey) to Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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What is Zakat?
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Giving to the poor and needy
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What is Jihad?
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the Islamic belief in "Holy War"
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What is the name of the harsh Islamic law code?
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Shariah law
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The land of the Middle East is ___ & ____.
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Arid & Hot
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What is the source of most of the Middle East's income?
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Oil
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What is the largest and characteristically more passive Islamic sect (group)?
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the Sunni
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Which Islamic sect is usually more radical and anti-western?
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Shia
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What is the most commonly spoken language in the Middle East?
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Arabic
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What is the capital of Turkey?
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Ankara
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What is the largest and most important city in Turkey?
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Istanbul
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What were the two other names for the city of Istanbul?
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Constantinople & Byzantium
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the Bosporus and the Dardanelles separate the Mediterranean from the _____ Sea.
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Black Sea
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What is the name of the strait on which the city of Istanbul is located?
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the Bosporus
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What is the name of the large, ornate church in Istanbul?
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the Hagia (Hi - ya) Sophia
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Which tribe of people lived in Turkey in Biblical times?
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the Hittites
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The Byzantine Empire was the eastern part of _______ Empire.
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Roman
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Where did the Apostle Paul take most of his missionary journeys?
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Turkey and Greece
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Which Middle Eastern country is in Europe and Asia?
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Turkey
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What is the largest mountain in Turkey?
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Mount Ararat
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What is the significance of the Mountains of Ararat?
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It is where Noah's Ark landed
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Who is the founder of modern Turkey? He banned the full-face veil, gave women the right to vote, and introduced the Turkish alphabet.
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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
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Which kind of ships are built in Turkey?
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Mega-yachts
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Which language is spoken in Turkey?
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Turkish
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What is the capital of Syria?
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Damascus
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Which Middle Eastern city is the oldest inhabited city on Earth?
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Damascus
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What is the largest and most important building in Damascus?
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the Great Mosque
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What do Muslims call their places of worship?
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Mosques
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Which desert covers parts of Iraq, Syria, Jordan, & Saudi Arabia?
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the Syrian Desert
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Where do most Syrians live?
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In the Euphrates River Valley
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After World War I, which European nation controlled Syria and Lebanon?
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France
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What is the name of the contested mountains on the border between Israel and Syria?
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the Golan Heights
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What is the capital of Jordan?
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Amman
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In which modern-day country did the Ammonites of the Bible live?
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Jordan
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This city in Jordan is famous for its buildings that are carved from rock.
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Petra
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After World War I, which three Middle Eastern territories were controlled by the United Kingdom?
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Jordan, Palestine, & Iraq
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What is the capital of Lebanon?
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Beirut (Bay-root)
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What was Lebanon called in ancient times?
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Phoenicia
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Who were the "Purple People"?
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the Phoenicians
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What were the Phoenicians famous for in antiquity?
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Purple dye & Building ships (Cedars of Lebanon)
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Which Middle Eastern nation is called the "Switzerland of the East"?
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Lebanon
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What is the name of the Shia Muslim military group and political party that is based in Lebanon?
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Hezbollah
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What is the capital of Israel?
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Jerusalem
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What is the largest city in Israel?
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Jerusalem
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What image is on the Israeli flag?
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the Star of David
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Which building currently sits atop the Temple Mount?
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a Mosque called the "Dome of the Rock"
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Why is Jerusalem sacred to Christians?
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It is where Jesus was crucified, buried, and where he ascended into heaven from.
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Why is the city of Jerusalem sacred to Muslims?
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They believe Mohammed ascended to heaven from the Temple Mount.
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Jews gather to pray at this, the western part of the Temple Mount.
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the "Wailing Wall"
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What is the name of the Israeli sea that is considered the saltiest sea on Earth?
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the Dead Sea
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What is the most important river in Israel? Jesus was baptized in it.
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the Jordan River
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All of Israel's coastline is on the ________ Sea.
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Mediterranean
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What is the name of Israel's "city that never sleeps"?
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Tel Aviv
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What is the name of the holy book of Judaism?
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the Torah
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What is the Torah?
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the 1st Five Books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy
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What language is spoken by many Jews?
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Hebrew
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What do Arabs call the land of Israel?
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Palestine
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Which parts of Israel have been partitioned for settlement by Palestinians?
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the Gaza Strip & the West Bank
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What is the P.L.O.?
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the Palestinian Liberation Organization: they seek the end of Israel and the reinstitution of Palestine.
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Who was the leader of the PLO who fought against Israel from 1959 until his death in 2004?
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Yasser Arafat
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In what year did Israel, with the help of the UK and the USA become a country?
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1948
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What is anti-Semitism?
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Prejudice / hatred against Jews
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What do historians call the spread of Jews throughout the world?
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the Diaspora
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What was the name of the movement to create Israel, the Jewish homeland?
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Zionism
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Who is the greatest supporter of Israel?
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the United States
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During which conflict did the Israeli Army defeat Egypt, Syria, & Jordan by launching a daring preemptive strike?
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the Six-Day War (1967)
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Which Middle Eastern nation is nearly self-sufficient on food production?
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Israel
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This Middle Eastern nation invests heavily in technology; foreign companies include Microsoft & IBM.
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Israel
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Which Middle Eastern country has a profitable diamond trade?
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Israel
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What are the Greek inhabitants of Cyprus called?
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Cypriots
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Describe the geography of Cyprus.
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An island with two parallel mountain ranges and a valley in between
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What is the capital of Cyprus?
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Nicosia
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18% of the inhabitants of Cyprus are __________.
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Turks
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Which two industries have brought wealth to the nation of Cyprus?
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Tourism & Oil
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What is the only nation in the Middle East that uses Euros?
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Cyprus
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Which country is called the "Land of Two Holy Mosques"?
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Saudi Arabia
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What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
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Riyadh
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How many Arabic nations border Saudi Arabia?
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Eight (8)
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Which three bodies of water surround Saudi Arabia on three sides?
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the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf
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Which body of water separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt?
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the Red Sea
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What covers most of the land of Saudi Arabia?
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the Arabian Desert
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Which body of water separates Saudi Arabia from the Indian Ocean?
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the Arabian Sea
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Which body of Water separates Saudi Arabia from Iran?
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the Persian Gulf
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What to Arabic people call the Arabian Desert?
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the Rub' al-Khali (Roob ahl-kahlee)
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What is the name of the tribes that inhabit the Arabian Desert and raise camels?
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Bedouins
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Who was the most important king of modern Saudi Arabian history?
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Ibn Saud (King: 1902-1953)
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Which Middle Eastern nation has been allies with the United States since 1931?
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Saudi Arabia
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Which Middle Eastern nation is the leading exporter of oil in the world?
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Saudi Arabia
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What is the most holy site in the Muslim world?
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Mecca
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What is the name of the cube-shaped building that is the focal-point of Muslim prayer and pilgrimage?
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the Kaaba
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What is the second-most holy city in the Islamic world?
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Medina
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Where are Mecca and Medina?
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Saudi Arabia
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What provides 90% of Saudi Arabia's income?
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Oil
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What is the capital of Yemen?
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Sana'a
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Although this Middle Eastern nation is about the size of California, it is one of the poorest nations in the region.
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Yemen
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What is the capital of Oman?
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Muscat
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Which is more populated: Yemen or Oman?
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Yemen (23 million) [Oman - 2.3 million]
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Which European nation colonized Oman from 1508-1648?
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Portugal
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Which strait separates the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea?
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the Strait of Hormuz
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How do you pronounce "Qatar"?
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"Cutter"
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What is the capital of Qatar?
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Doha
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What is the U.A.E.?
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the United Arab Emirates
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What is the capital of the U.A.E.?
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Abu Dhabi
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What is the largest and richest city in the U.A.E.?
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Dubai (Doo-bye)
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Where would you find the "Palms Islands" and the tallest skyscraper in the world?
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Dubai, U.A.E.
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At 2,717 feet tall, this skyscraper in Dubai is the tallest in the world.
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the Burj Khalifa (Burj Dubai)
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How many emirates are there in the U.A.E.?
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Seven (7)
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What is OPEC?
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the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Org. that controls gas prices)
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What is the capital of Bahrain?
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Manama
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What connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia?
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the King Faud Causeway (Bridge)
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Which Middle Eastern nation is known for pearling?
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Bahrain
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What is the name of the island nation in the Persian Gulf?
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Bahrain
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What is the capital of Kuwait?
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Kuwait City
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Kuwait gained independence from the _________ in 1961.
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the United Kingdom
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Who was the president of the USA during the Gulf War?
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George H.W. Bush
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Why did the US fight the Gulf War (1990-1991)?
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Iraq invaded the nation of Kuwait.
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Who was the Iraqi president that invaded Kuwait and was defeated in the Persian Gulf War?
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Saddam Hussein
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What political party gained power in Iraq during a coup led by Saddam Hussein in 1968?
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the Ba'ath Party
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What is type of ideology is held by the Ba'ath Party?
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Arab socialism
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What was the bloodiest war in the Middle East during the 1980's (1980-1988)?
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the Iran-Iraq War
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Who was the leader of Iraq / Iran during the Iran-Iraq War?
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Saddam Hussein (Iraq) / Ruhollah Khomeini (Iran)
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How many were killed during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)?
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Over one million (1,000,000+)
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What was "Operation Desert Shield"?
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During Persian Gulf War, buildup of American & coalition forces in Saudi Arabia to defend against Iraqi Amry
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What was "Operation Desert Storm"?
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Invasion of Kuwait by Coalition Forces (US & allies) to drive out Iraqi Amry
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Who won the Persian Gulf War?
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the Coalition (USA & allies)
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Where does 95% of Kuwait's income come from?
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Oil
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What area is known as the "Fertile Crescent"?
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Mesopotamia (land between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers), Iraq
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What is the capital of Iraq?
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Baghdad
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Baghdad is located only 55 miles north of the ruins of the city of _______.
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Babylon
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When did the US invade Iraq and capture Baghdad?
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2003
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What was the US tactic of bombing Baghdad into submission called?
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"Shock and Awe"
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What happened to Saddam Hussein after he was captured in 2003?
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He was hanged
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The city of Baghdad is located on which river?
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the Tigris River
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Which city on the Tigris is the most important port in Iraq?
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Basra
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The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers empty into the...
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Persian Gulf
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When did the Ba'ath Party seize power in Iraq?
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1963
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How long was Saddam Hussein in power in Iraq?
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Twenty-four years / from 1979-2003
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What is the name of the minority group that lives in eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, and western Iran?
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the Kurds
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Whose army killed as many as 200,000 Kurds?
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Saddam Hussein's
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How many American soldiers have been killed in Iraq since 2003?
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About 5,000
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What is the capital of Iran?
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Tehran
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What was the land of Iran known as from ancient times until 1935?
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Persia
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Which book of the Bible takes place entirely within Persia (Iran)? It's also where the Wise Men came from.
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Esther
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When was the Islamic Revolution in Iran?
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1979
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Who was ousted from Iran in the 1979 revolution?
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the Shah of Iran
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Who led the Islamic Revolution of 1979?
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Ruhollah Khomeini (the Ayatollah Khomeini)
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Which country held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days?
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Iran
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Who was president of the USA during the Iranian hostage crisis? Who ended it?
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Jimmy Carter / Ronald Reagan
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Who is the current president of Iran?
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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Which terrorist organization is funded by the Iranian government?
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Hezbollah
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What is Mahmoud Ahmadenijad known for?
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Threatening Israel / Antisemitism
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What is the capital of Armenia?
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Yerevan
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What are the three Middle Eastern nations in the Caucus Mountains below Russia?
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Armenia, Georgia, & Azerbaijan
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Which nation was the first in the world to officially adopt Christianity?
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Armenia
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Which Muslim country has attacked Armenia and caused war between the two countries?
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Azerbaijan
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Over 500,000 people were killed in 1988 when an earthquake struck this poor country.
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Armenia
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What language is spoken in Azerbaijan (and Iran)?
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Persian
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What is the largest lake in the world?
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the Caspian Sea
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What is the name of Azerbaijan's capital city on the coast of the Caspian Sea?
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Baku (Bah-koo)
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The people in which country are mostly Shi'a Muslim Turks?
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Azerbaijan
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Georgia is on the _______ Sea. - Azerbaijan is on the _______ Sea- Armenia is _____________.
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1. Black Sea 2. Caspian Sea 3. Landlocked
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The Caucus Mountains are known for being rich in...
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Oil
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