Unit 7 Vocabulary

Front 1

Golan Heights

Back 1

Also called Al Jawlan, a hilly plateau overlooking the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.

Front 2

Wadis

Back 2

Riverbeds that remain dry except during the rainy seasons.

Front 3

Tigris River

Back 3

Today, one of the two of the most important rivers which supported several ancient river valley civilizations in an area called the Fertile Crescent.

Front 4

Euphrates River

Back 4

Today, one of the two of the most important rivers which supported several ancient river valley civilizations in an area called the Fertile Crescent.

Front 5

Jordan River

Back 5

Provides one of the most precious resources in the entire region—water.

Front 6

Dead Sea

Back 6

A landlocked salt lake. The Dead Sea is so salty that only bacteria can live in the waters.

Front 7

Rub al-Khali

Back 7

Also known as the Empty Quarter.

Front 8

Oasis

Back 8

An area in the desert where vegetation is found because water is available, usually from underground springs.

Front 9

Salt Flat

Back 9

So when winds evaporate the moisture in the soil, chemical salts remain.

Front 10

Drip Irrigation

Back 10

This system uses small pipes that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve water used for crops.

Front 11

Desalinization

Back 11

The removal of salt from ocean water, is done at technically sophisticated water treatment plants.

Front 12

Fossil Water

Back 12

Water pumped from underground aquifers.

Front 13

Crude Oil

Back 13

Petroleum that has not been processed.

Front 14

Refinery

Back 14

The job of a refinery is to convert the crude oil into useful products.

Front 15

Mecca

Back 15

These people are fulfilling the Islamic religious duty of hajj, which is a pilgrimage to the holiest city of Islam.

Front 16

Islam

Back 16

A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of its founder, Muhammad.

Front 17

Muhammad

Back 17

Muhammad lived part of his life in the city of Mecca.

Front 18

Mosque

Back 18

Five times a day, Muslims face toward the holy city of Mecca to pray. They may do this at a place of worship.

Front 19

Theocratic

Back 19

The governments of lands controlled by Muslims.

Front 20

OPEC

Back 20

The group is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Front 21

Western Wall

Back 21

Modern Jews come to pray at the holiest site in Jerusalem, a portion of the Second Temple.

Front 22

Dome of the Rock

Back 22

Houses the spot where Muslims believe their prophet Muhammad rose into heaven.

Front 23

Zionism

Back 23

Its goal was to reestablish a Jewish state in the Jewish homeland.

Front 24

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Back 24

As formed to regain the land of Israel for Palestinian Arabs.

Front 25

Kurds

Back 25

An ethnic group in Southwestern Asia, died from the chemical weapons attack.

Front 26

Mesopotamia

Back 26

the “land between the rivers."

Front 27

Sunni

Back 27

After the death of Muhammad, Muslims divided into two main branches, the Sunni is one of them.

Front 28

Shi’ite

Back 28

After the death of Muhammad, Muslims divided into two main branches, the Shi'ite is one of them.

Front 29

Taliban

Back 29

Was protecting Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan.

Front 30

Guest Workers

Back 30

Are largely unskilled laborers.

Front 31

Stateless Nation

Back 31

A nation of people without a land to legally occupy.

Front 32

Palestinians

Back 32

They are the Arabs and their descendants who lived or still live in the area formerly called the Palestine Mandate.

Front 33

West Bank

Back 33

Is a strip of land on the west side of the Jordan River.

Front 34

Gaza Strip

Back 34

Is a 139-square-mile plot of land along the Mediterranean Sea.

Front 35

Strategic Commodity

Back 35

A resource so important that nations will go to war to ensure its steady supply.

Front 36

Human Resources

Back 36

The skills and talents of their people.