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193 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What mountain range separates Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from Russia?
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The Caucasus Mountain range
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What are the majority religious beliefs in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan?
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Georgia and Armenia are predominately Christian countries while Azerbaijan is a Muslim country.
All of these were once Soviet Republics. |
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Which out of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are close to water and which are land locked?
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Armenia and Azerbaijan are land locked although Azerbaijan borders the Caspian sea
Georgia is 310 km of the black sea |
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What two countries does Armenia not get along with? Why?
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Turkey and Azerbaijan because they completely block and surround Armenia.
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What was the Armenian genocide?
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The Ottoman empire killed millions of Armenian people just after WWI
Turkey still does not acknowledged the occurrence. |
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What is so great about Azerbaijan?
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The are the front runners of the oil and gas industry. By 2010 their oil revenues will double their GDP.
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What was the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (1988-1994)
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Source off conflict:The Armenian enclave in southwestern Azerbaijan.
Sides: The predominantly ethnic Armenians off Nagorno-Karabakh backed by Armenia against Azerbaijan. |
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What is the Georgian Conflict?
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Ethnic minorities in Georgia including the Ossetians and the Abkhaz demanded fuller recognition.
Georgia used military response in order to handle it but Russia intervened when they saw that they were going to attack pro Russian territory. USA was not pleased with Russia. |
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What is the geographical (climate) elements of the Middle East and North Africa?
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Mountain ranges and large bodies of water impact temperature variation, and desert regions are especially susceptible to dramatic temperature variation.
¾ of the region is desert including Sahara, the world’s largest desert. Coastal areas see rainfall between 15-40 inches per year |
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What were the Ancient Empires of North Africa/Middle East?
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Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
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What religions emerged out of Middle East and North Africa?
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Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
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What does Islam mean?
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Submission, it is based off the teachings of the Qu'ran and Sunna.
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What are the five pillars of Islam?
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Belief: to testify, in Arabic, that "There is no god but God and that Muhammad is His messenger."
Worship: to worship God five times a day Fasting: to abstain from food and drink, as well as smoking and sex, between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar. Almsgiving: to give alms to the poor. Muslims are supposed to donate a fixed amount of their property to charity every year. Pilgrimage: to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able |
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What are the belief differences between the Shia's and the Sunnis?
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Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr, a close companion of the Prophet as the next caliph (leader) of the Muslims and he was duly appointed.
Shia Muslims believe that the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali, was chosen by the God to be his successor. |
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What is the Sharia Court?
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Sharia is the body of Islamic religious law which is a legal and social code for Muslims to live by. Most regional countries maintain a
hybrid system of secular courts and religious courts. Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen maintain religious courts for most or all aspects of jurisprudence, and religious police enforce public compliance. |
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What is the poorest country of this region?
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Yemen has a GDP per capita of $2,400
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What was one of the longest, strongest and largest ancient empires?
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The Ottoman Empire. It was an empire inspired and sustained by Islam, and Islamic institutions.
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What is the Millet system?
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gave minority communities a limited amount of power to regulate their own affairs.
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What is special about Saudi Arabia?
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Saudi Arabia’s official religion, and all Saudis are required by law to be Muslims. The government prohibits the public practice of any religions other than Islam and restricts the
religious practices of both the Shiite and Sufi Muslim minority sects. Although the government recognizes the right of non-Muslims to worship in private, it does not always respect this right in practice. |
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What is the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
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The division of the former British
mandate of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel following the end of World War II have been at the core of Middle Eastern conflicts for the past half century. |
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What is Intifada?
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The violent uprising of Palestinians against the rule of Israel in occupied territories.
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What are the different Eco systems if Sub Saharan Africa?
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• Rain forest
– 2nd largest in the world – Plant & animal diversity • Forests – 20% of Africa – Deforestation • Grassland – 40% of Africa – Savanna • Desert – 38% of Africa |
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What is the most populous city in Africa?
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Lagos, Nigeria
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When did Africa become independent?
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1950's, Ghana was the first to become independent in 1957
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By 1914 who was mostly in control of Africa?
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Europe
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What is Apartheid?
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Policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in South Africa,
involving political,legal and economic discrimination against nonwhites. |
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When was the end of Apartheid?
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1994: South Africa held its first election allowing blacks to vote.
• Nelson Mandela became the first black president. |
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Who owns 2/3rds of the Diamond trade?
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De Beers
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What are blood (conflict) diamonds?
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A "diamond that originates from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those
governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.” UN. |
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Who is the leading oil producer in Africa?
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Nigeria economic powerhouse of West Africa, contributing nearly 50% of regional GDP. Nigeria is a member of Opec and is the world's 8th largest exporter of oil.
• Yet more than half of its people live in poverty. |
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What two continents is Russia located?
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North Asia and the part west of the Urals is considered part of Europe.
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What US city,state is the same latitude of Moscow?
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Juneau, Alsaka
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What is special about Russia's border?
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It's the worlds longest border. It borders with 15 countries.
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Russia hold the greatest what in the world?
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Russia holds the greatest reserves of mineral resources of any country in the world.
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What is an exclave?
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a strip of land that belongs to a political entity (like a country or a region) but that is not connected to it by land (excluding islands).The strip of land is surrounded by other political entities.
It can be an enclave also the distinction between an exclave and an enclave is that an exclave is not contiguous with its controlling country but it is not necessarily surrounded by a foriegn territory, Kaliningrad is surrounded not by one state, but by two: Lithuania and Poland. |
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What is an enclave?
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An enclave is only defined by being completely surrounded by one other country.
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How does Russia rank for population in the world?
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9th most populous country in the world.
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What are the different ethnic groups in Russia?
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– Russian 79.8%
– Tatar 3.8% – Ukrainian 2% |
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What are the religions in Russia?
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Mostly Russian Orthodox, minority Muslim and other
Christian. |
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How many distinct ethnic groups are there in Russia?
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92
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How different languages are in Russia?
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Slavic (west), Turkic (central), Altaic, & Paleo-Siberian
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What cities are in the Central Region of Russia?
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Centered around MOSCOW it also includes, Kostroma, Kalinin, Ivanovo, Dzerzhinsk, Yaroslavl', Suzdal, Vladimir, Tver, Smolensk, Serpukhov, Ryazan, Kaluga, Tula, Bryansk and Orel.
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What percent of the Central Region is Urban?
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85% Urban
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Why is the Central Region a Historic Core Region?
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The Central Government
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What are the major contributors to the Russian Federation Production?
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80% Textile
20% Industrial Research & Development Core associated with Soviet Military Complex |
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What two natural sites are in Moscow?
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– Center of Russian Plain
– Moskva River |
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What three major historical sites are in Moscow?
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Kremlin, Red Square, and Cathedral of St. Basil
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Moscow is the center for what three things?
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– Finance
– Business Services – Entertainment |
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What is the largest city in Russia and Europe?
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Moscow
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What city is the heart of Russian Culture?
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Moscow
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Where is St. Petersburg?
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Near the Gulf of Finland, it is North East and is outside the core region but is considered an extension.
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What is St. Petersburg the center of?
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– Shipping
– Culture – Intellectual – Manufacturing: Shipbuilding, armaments, electronics, chemical |
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What is St. Petersburg famous for?
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Architecture, Urban Design & Art
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What is the Secondary Core?
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The Urals, which includes: Udmurtiya, Komipermyak, Bashkortostan, Perm', Nizhniy Tagil, Yekaterinburg, Karabash, Kurgan, Chelabinsk, Ufa, Magintogorsk, and Orenburg.
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What extensive natural resources do the Urals have?
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– Iron Ore, Many Minerals
Energy – Coal, Oil & Gas |
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What are two important things about The Urals?
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– Key Military Region
– Heavy Industries |
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What percent of The Urals is urbanized?
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75%
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What is the Climate like in Russia?
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– Cold Air From the North
– Nothing to Block It=Permafrost |
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What is Russia's climate like from North to South?
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– Tundra
– Coniferous forest (taiga) – mixed and broad-leaf forests – grassland (steppe) – semi-desert (fringing the Caspian Sea) |
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The change in what reflects the changes in climate?
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The changes in vegetation reflect the changes in climate.
– humid continental in much of European Russia – subarctic in Siberia – tundra climate in the polar north |
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The tundra is a vast territory dominated by ____ and ___
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Cold and Ice
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What nomadic people live in the Tundra?
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Samoyed and Inuit
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What are the natural resources of the Tundra?
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Coal, Oil & Gas, Minerals, & Fish
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When did Military installations take place in the Tundra?
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The Cold War
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What is the worlds deepest lake?
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Lake Baykal, 1615 meters.
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What % of the worlds of fresh water comes from Lake Baykal?
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20%
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How old is Lake Baykal?
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20-50 million years old.
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What are some of the problems that Lake Baykal has?
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– Over fishing
– Pollution – Irkutsk Dam: Raising water level |
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How many different species are found at Lake Baykal?
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2500 plant & animal species
– 75% unique to the lake |
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WHat is the official name of the Russian political structure?
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The Russian Federation
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Who is the head of state in Russia?
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President Dmitry Medvedev, elected in 2008.
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When was Moscow liberated from the Mongols?
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1480
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What happened in 1613 for Russia?
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Rurik dynasty ended, and Romanov dynasty begins
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In 1812 Napoleon tried to conquer Russia, did he succeed?
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No! Even though he was able to occupy Moscow, he could not take over.
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When was the overthrow of the Tsarist regime?
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1917
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Why did Russia wish to expand?
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Desire for more Land & Subjects
– Also a warm water port |
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What are Russia's expanded territories?
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– Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, The Crimea
– Finland, Georgia, Armenia – Central Asia in the mid 18th. C. – Far East in late 18th. C – Trans-Siberian Railway – 1904 |
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When did the Socialist Revolution start in Russia?
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1917 same time the Tsar was defeated by Socialists.
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What does USSR stand for?
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Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
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Who was the advocate for classless societies and the father of the communist revolution?
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Karl Marx.A hugely influential revolutionary thinker and philosopher, Marx did not live to see his ideas carried out in his own lifetime, but his writings formed the theoretical base for modern international communism
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Who was one of the leading political leaders in Russia who was the master mind behind the Bolshevik take-over of power in Russia in
1917 and was the architect and first head of the Soviet state? |
Vladimir Lenin
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Who was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for a quarter of a century?
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Joseph Stalin. His regime of terror caused the death and suffering of tens of millions, but he also oversaw the war machine that played a key role in the defeat of Nazism.
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What is the Socialist definition of class struggle?
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the oppressed class against the
oppressing class, slaves against slave-owners, serfs against land-owners, and wage-workers against the bourgeoisie. |
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What did the Socialist compare religion to?
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Opium
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Production and distribution will be on the socialist principle:
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“From each according to ability: to each according to need"
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What is the 1948 "Iron Curtain"?
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The border from the USSR to the other countries Germany and Austria. A few satellite states own by USSR are outside of this dividing line.
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What is the Truman doctrine?
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that the United States will provide military and economic aid to any nation it believes is threatened by communism.
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Two years after WWII which countries fell to communism?
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Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
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What are the important achievements in the space race?
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Oct 1957. The Soviets launches Sputnik, first artificial satellite.
Feb 1958. The US launches Explorer I. Apr 1961. Soviet sends first human in space. Yuri Gagarin 23 days later, Alan Shepard is sent to space from the United States American Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the lunar surface on July 21, 1969. |
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What were some of the realities to Stalin's Soviet rule?
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Party Hegemony
– Terror and Control – Informational “Closedness” International Capitalism – Competing in Exports – Consumer Goods – Defense Spending Command Economy – Production Targets and Growth – Incentives and Inefficiency Contiinuatiion of the “Near Abroad” |
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Khrushchev proposed removing Soviet
missiles and personnel if the U.S. would guarantee what? |
not to invade Cuba and remove US missiles from Turkey.
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What was the Detente period?
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Both the NATO powers and the Warsaw Pact had reasons to relax tensions between them. The economic burden of the nuclear arms race was unequivocally evident. The American economy was also in financial trouble as the Vietnam War was burdening government finances.
The Soviets also hoped that with Détente, more trade with Western Europe would be possible. Both sides were aware that the nuclear arsenals on either side assured lethal and grave destruction on both sides. |
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What does SALT stand for?
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Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty
signed in Vladivostok, November 23, 1974. |
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What event ended the detente period?
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1979 - Soviet troops invade Afghanistan, formally ending the period of détente with the West.
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What does glasnost mean?
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Policies of openess
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What does perestroika mean?
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restructuring
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What is a civil society?
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involves the presence of a network of voluntary organizations, business organizations, pressure groups, and cultural traditions that operate independently of the state and its political institutions.
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What is a market economy?
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economy in which goods and services are produced and distributed through markets.
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Who is Michael Gorbachev?
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1985 becomes general secretary of Communist Party. He developed the ideas of glasnost and perestroika. He helped the end of communism and signed a treaty with US to start scrapping nuclear warheads.
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Who is Boris Yeltsin?
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1990 he became the president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
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What is Kaliningrad Oblast?
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forms the westernmost part of the Russian Federation, but it has no land connection to the rest of Russia.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union it has been an exclave of the Russian Federation surrounded by Lithuania, Poland and the Baltic Sea. Borderless travel to the main part of Russia is only possible by sea or air. This political isolation became more pronounced when Lithuania and Poland both became members of the European Union and NATO, and entered the Schengen Zone, which means that the oblast is surrounded by the territories of these organizations as well. |
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What is CMEA Comecon?
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The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (1949–1991) was an economic organization of communist states and a kind of Eastern Bloc equivalent to—but more geographically inclusive than—the European Economic Community.
The military equivalent to the Comecon was the Warsaw Pact, though Comecon's membership was significantly wider. The Comecon was the Eastern Bloc's reply to the formation of the OEEC (Organization of European Economic Co-operation). |
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What is NATO?
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization also called "the (North) Atlantic Alliance", is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949.
The NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, and the organization constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. |
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What events were the demise of the Soviet Union?
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1990 - Communist Party votes to end one-party rule; Boris Yeltsin elected president of the Russian
Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Sept. 1991- Congress of People's Deputies votes for the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Dec. 25 1991- Gorbachev resigns as Soviet president Dec. 26, 1991- Russian government takes over offices of USSR in Russia. |
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What are the countries of Central Asia?
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Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan *Think Stans!* |
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Which of the Central Asian countries are landlocked and which actually touch some form of water?
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Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are completely landlocked
Kazakhstan borders the Aral and Caspian sea Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea Uzbekistan has a brief shoreline with the Aral Sea. |
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What are the Geological features of Central Asia?
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– Not buffered by a large body of water.
– A continental climate. |
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What is the Climate like in Central Asia?
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It has varied climatic and natural
conditions. – In the west and north there are extensive plains – In the east and south a considerable part is mountainous |
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Which is the wealthiest countries of Central Asia?
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Kazakhstan: $10,658 (66th) GDP
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Which country of Central Asia is the poorest?
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Tajikistan: $1,388 (159th) GDP
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What are the different ethnic groups of each country in Central Asia?
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• Kazakhstan: Kazakh 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%,
• Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, other • Tajikistan: Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1% • Turkmenistan: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% • Uzbekistan: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Tatar 1.5%, other 4.5% |
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What are the three main religions in Central Asia? Which is the most predominant?
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Mostly Sunni Muslims
Russian Orthodox Marginal Tibetan Buddhist |
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What happened in Central Asia in the 8th and 9th century?
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Arab conquest.
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What happened in Central Asia in the 13th and 14th centuries?
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Central Asia becomes part of Mongol empire.
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What happened in Central Asia in the 15th-17th centuries?
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Southern part of Central Asia again comes under Persian rule, while the northern part is dominated by the Uzbek-ruled states of Khiva and Bukhara.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1780?
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1780 - Russian immigrants begin to
flood Central Asia and take over fields and grazing lands. |
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What happened in Central Asia in 1916?
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A major anti-Russian rebellion is repressed.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1917?
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Civil war breaks out following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1917-1924?
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the Muslim population of Central Asia tried to make itself independent of Russian rule. But the Soviets reestablished their hegemony over the region so that, by 1936, all of Central Asia was redrawn into ethnic based national entities dependent on Moscow culturally, politically &economically.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1920's-1930's?
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Stalinist collectivization. Millions die from starvation as a result of the campaign to settle nomadic population and collectivize agriculture. And many others flee their native lands.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1923-29?
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Latin alphabet replaces Arabic alphabet
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What happened in Central Asia in 1927-1928?
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Islamic courts (Quranic Law) and adat (customary law) are abolished.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1939- 1940?
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the Cyrillic script replaces the Latin alphabet in Soviet Central Asia.
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What happened in Central Asia in 1990-1991?
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All five republics declare independence from the former Soviet Union.
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The Soviet regime attacked the traditional cultures of Central Asia in what two ways?
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1st level: direct.
– war, famine, purges, the arrest of kulaks, the closure of mosques and by collectivization • 2nd level: indirect – Schooling and propaganda |
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What were some of the cultural traditions of Central Asia that were tolerated by the Soviet Union?
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• Rites of passage such as circumcision.
• Prayers at burials and weddings. • Clothing (except veil) |
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What cultural practices came back to Central Asia once the Soviet Union was out of the picture?
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– bride snatching.
– Increasing power of aqsaqal (white beards) – Islamicization in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and more superficial observance of the faith in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. – Trips to Mecca by elites (Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) – Swearing oath on a Koran (Karimov) – Making Islamic holidays as state holidays (not in Kazakhstan) – Increasing role of Saudi Arabia |
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What two countries in Central Asia does US have military bases?
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Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
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Why does US have military bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan?
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The US claims that it is an important spot in order to conintue our efforts in Afghanistan.
Critics claim that we are there in order to curb the Moscow influence in the area or/and there for the area's oil. |
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Who is the President of Kazakhstan?
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Nursultan Nazarbayev since 1991.
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What country in Central Asia is four times the size of Texas?
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Kazakhstan
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What is the literacy rate of Kazakhstan?
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99.5%
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Remember these important dates of Kazakhstan!
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• Mid 18th century Kazakh seeks Russian protection.
• 1820. Kazakh revolt against the harsh rule of the Russians. • 1854- Alma-Ata is built by the Russians. • 1890- Large numbers of Russians and Ukrainians settle in the Kazakh steppe • 1916-300,000 Kazakhs leave their ancestral lands and flee to Xingjian. • 1932- Ethnic Kazakhs leave their homeland in a second wave from forced collectivization. • 1936: Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic • 1926 and 1939: the Kazakh population declined by 22%, due to starvation, violence and mass emigration. • 1950-1960s- “Virgin Lands” Program. • Locals outnumbered by immigrants (mostly Russians) • 1991. Gained independence from Russia. |
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What are the three current issues of Kazakhstan?
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• President’s control is strong.
• Dissent is suppressed. • Large proven oil and natural gas reserves. |
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Who is the president of Kyrgyzstan?
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Kurmanbek Bakiyev
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What are the three important events of Kyrgyzstan?
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• 1936, the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic was established as a full republic of the Soviet Union.
• 1991. Gained independence from the Soviet Union • 2005. Tulip Revolution. President Askar Akayev resigns. |
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What country in Central Asia is slightly smaller than South Dakota?
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Kyrgyzstan
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Who is the president of Tajikistan?
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Emomalii Rahmon
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What is the literacy rate of Kyrgyzstan?
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98.7%
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Remember these important dates for Tajikistan!
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• 1929: the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (Tajik SSR) was made a separate constituent republic of the former Soviet Union.
• 1991: Declared independence • 1992: Subsequent civil war. – Ruling elite backed from the Soviet period – Liberal democratic reformists and Islamists (as opposition) |
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What countries in Central Asia is slightly bigger than California?
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Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
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Remember these important dates for Turkmenistan?
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• 1924: Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic.
• 1991: Declared independence • One of the countries with the worst freedom of speech • Human rights violations (persecution of homosexuality and suppression of other religions) |
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Remember these important dates for Uzbekistan!
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• Became Soviet republic in 1924.
• 1991: Gained independence • “an authoritarian state with limited civil rights" • World’s sixth-largest producer and second-largest exporter of cotton. • The seventh largest world producer of gold. • It is also a regionally significant producer of natural gas, coal, copper, oil, silver, and uranium |
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What are the three important dates of the Georgian Conflict?
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On August 8, 2008, Georgian troops entered into Ossetia in an attempt to crush separatist forces.
Russian troops advanced toward pro-Russian enclave of South Ossetia on August 9. By August 11, 2008, war had broken out between Russia and Georgia, with Russian troops attacking the Georgian city of Gori. |
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What are some interesting dates and facts about Azerbaijan?
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Azerbaijan is a secular nation with a Shi‘ite Muslim majority population.
1936. Azerbaijan became a Soviet republic. 1991. Gained independence. |
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Why is the Middle East referred to as the Cradle of Civilization?
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The region was the commercial crossroads of the ancient world and the base of several sophisticated empires the world has ever known.
The birthplace of world’s three monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) Site of most of the world’s petroleum reserves |
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What major bodies of water border the Middle East?
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the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
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What is the average annual rainfall of the Sahara desert?
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Less than one inch.
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Islam recognizes the prophets of Judaism and Christianity but follows the teachings of who/what?
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Muhammad as the last prophet.
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What are some of the practical differences of the Sunni's and Shia's?
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Sunni Muslims pray five times a day, whereas Shia Muslims can combine prayers to pray three times a day.
The practice of Muttah marriage, a temporary marriage, is also permitted in Shia Islam but Sunnis considered it forbidden as they believe the Prophet abolished it. The relationship between Sunni and Shia Muslims through the ages has shaped their contemporary political landscape. The persecution of the family of the Prophet particularly and the early Shia followers has been a paradigm of martyrdom throughout Shia Islam's history. |
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What is the smallest country in the Middle East/North Africa?
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Bahraiin: 620 (km2)
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What is the largest country in the Middle East/North Africa?
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Sudan: 2,505,810 (km2)
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What is the most populous country in Middle East/North Africa? What is the least?
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Most: Egypt 81,713,520
Least: Western Sahara 393,831 |
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What are some important facts about Qatar?
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Outstanding economic boom supported by its expanding production of natural gas and oil. Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues.
Oil and gas have made Qatar the highest per-capita income country and one of the world's fastest growing. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas are roughly about 15% of the world total and third largest in the world. GDP - per capita (PPP): $87,600 (2007 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 8.4% (2007 est.) |
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What are four facts about the Byzantine Empire?
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Constantinople was the heart of the Christian Byzantine Empire. It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The capture of Constantinople ended the Byzantine Empire after 1100 years. Sultan Mehmet renamed Constantinople Istanbul – the 'city of Islam' - and set about rebuilding it as his capital. Although the Pope demanded a crusade to recapture Istanbul from the Muslims, the Christian nations failed to produce an army for him, and no attempt to retake the city was made. Churches were converted into mosques. |
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What is the birthplace of Islam and
home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina? |
Saudi Arabia
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In Saudi Arabia what are women NOT allowed to do?
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– They may not legally drive cars.
– Women’s use of public facilities is restricted when men are present. – Women cannot travel within or outside of the country without a male relative. – Daughters receive half the inheritance awarded to their brothers. – The testimony of 1 man is equal to that of 2 women in Sharia courts. – Saudi women who marry non Saudis are not permitted to pass their nationality on to their children, and their spouses cannot receive Saudi nationality. – Saudi women are not permitted to serve as lawyers, and women seeking access to the courts must work with a male. – Religious police force,the mutawa’een, enforces a strict policy of segregation between men and women and often uses physical punishment to ensure that women meet conservative standards of dress in public. – The government did not allow women to participate in the municipal elections that took place in early 2005. |
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How have the rights of women in Saudi Arabia improve?
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– Girls were not permitted to attend school until 1964, but now more than half of the country’s university students are female.
– In May 2004, women won the right to hold commercial licenses, which opened the door for greater economic participation. – In 2005, Saudi state television began using women as newscasters. – Two women became the first females elected to Jeddah’s chamber of commerce, a small step forward for women’s leadership in business. – In September 2007, women activists presented King Abdullah with a petition containing over 1,100 signatures from women demanding the right to drive. |
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What are the issues of the Persians vs. Arabs (Iranians and Iraqis)?
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– Persian identity derives from the ancient Indo-European Aryans who arrived in Greater Iran circa
2000-1500 BCE. – Arabs originated from Arabian peninsula. – Iranians speak Persian – Iraqis speak Arabic and Kurdish. – Persians were brutally conquered by the Arabs in the seventh century and converted to Islam beginning in the ninth century. – At the time of conquest, Zoroastrianism was the state religion. – The Arab conquest dramatically changed life in Persia. Arabic became the new lingua franca, Islam eventually replaced Zoroastrianism. |
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What countries are in East Africa?
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Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda,
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What countries are in Southern Africa?
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South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Angola, Madagascar, and Zambia
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What countries are in Western Africa?
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Chad, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Gambia, and Mauritania and Senegal.
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What countries are in North Africa?
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Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara
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What countries are in Equatorial Africa?
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Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
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What are the five major basins in Africa?
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Djouf Basin (Western) Chad Basin (North Western) Sudan Basin (North Eastern) Congo Basin (equatorial) and Kalahari Basin (Southern)
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When did Lagos, Nigeria formally annexed as a British colony?
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1861
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When was Lagos the capital of Nigeria?
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1914-1991
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In the 1500's and 1600's what were the three major trade items from Africa?
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Ivory, Slaves and Gold.
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When were slaves emancipated by British colonies and the slave trade ended?
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1807
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When was Slavery abolished in the US?
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1863
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What was the Berlin Conference of 1884-85?
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– Carved up Africa into artificial
boundaries. – 13 countries (non-African) • British • French • Belgian • Portuguese • German • Italian • Spanish |
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What was the Mau Mau movement?
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• European settlers occupied disproportionately large areas of land compared to the indigenous population.
– 1.25 million Kikuyu were confined to 2000 square miles while 30,000 white settlers occupied 12,000 square miles land. The latter occupied more fertile and desirable agricultural parts of land. • In the 40ies Kikuyus began protests in civil disobedience form and later erupted into more violent forms of protest. • Kenya became independent in 1956. |
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What were the Pass Laws?
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The Pass Laws (restricting blacks enter or live in white areas)
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What were the Fundamental Laws?
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The Fundamental Law (1852) legally enshrined the inequality of blacks and whites.
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When was the Prohibition of Interracial marriages?
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1949
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What is Ujamaa?
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traditional values of communal ownership and kinship
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What is the Resource Curse: Sierra Leone?
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Sierra Leone is a major producer of gem-quality diamonds. (and is in many other minerals)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $600 • Population below poverty line: 70.2% • Sierra Leone is the lowest ranked country on the Human Development Index and 7th lowest on the Human Poverty Index. • Erupted into nearly decade long brutal civil war which was largely financed by illicit diamond trade. |
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What is the Kimberly Process (2003)?
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a certification system for monitoring diamonds’ origin from the mine, up until it reaches the hands of the distributors.
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What is the most populous country of Africa?
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Nigeria: 135,031,164
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What is the least populated country in Africa?
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Seychelles: 81,895
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What is the largest country by total area in Africa?
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Democratic Republic of Congo
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What is the smallest country of Africa?
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Seychelles
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How many people in Sub Saharan Africa are living with HIV?
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• 22.5 million people were estimated to be living with HIV. (68% of the global total)
• 1.9 million new HIV infections. (76% of the global total) • 1.5 million people died of AIDS. (75% of the global total) |
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What percent of the global total of Children living with HIV live in Africa?
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90%
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In Africa how many women are at risk of Female genitalia mutilation annually?
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In Africa, about 3 million girls are at risk for FGM annually.
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What age is FGM in Africa usually done?
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It is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15 years.
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What are some important facts about the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
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• Formerly Belgian colony.
• The selling of the rubber made a fortune for The King Leopold of Belgium. To enforce the rubber quotas, the Force Publique (FP) was called in. People were mutilated for failing to achieve the quotas. |
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Who is Joseph Kabila?
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Joseph Kabila became president of
the DRC in 2001, after the murder of his father and DRC president Laurent-Désiré Kabila. He is the youngest head of state in Africa. |
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Victoria Falls which plunges more than 400 feet is in what country?
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Zimbabwe
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Who is Robert Mugabe?
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President of Zimbabwe since 1980.
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What is Humanitarian Intervention?
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• Dichotomous concept.
• Breaches a state’s sovereignty (usually involves armed intervention) – Right to intervene (when mandated by supranational authority, one or more nations can intervene a sovereign state without the consent of the host nation) – Duty to intervene (when requested by supranational authority, states must assist in the intervention to the possible extent of each state) • Intends to relieve the suffering of the population in the state. |
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What are some of the problems of Humanitarian intervention?
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• Subjective (widely depends on the
recognition and interpretation of the need to intervene) • Eurocentric concept. • Influenced by powerful nations, especially by those with veto powers. |
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What is the background of the Rwanda Genocide?
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• Started in 1994.
• Ethnic tension between the majority Hutu and minority (powerful) Tutsi. • Colonial Legacy. – Colonial Power: Belgium – Preference of Tutsis over Hutus. – Rapid withdrawal of the colonial power in 1962. Catalyst: On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying Rwandan President Habyamira, and the Hutu president of Burundi Ntaryamira, was shot down. |
