Religious & Ethnic Groups of SW Asia
TEST Study Guide
Directions: Make sure you know each item listed on this study guide for your upcoming TEST
on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3RD!
 Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group
 Explain the similarities and differences between the three ethnic groups of
SW Asia: Arabs, Persians, Kurds.
o Which ethnic group does the majority of SW Asia belong to?
o What modern-day country is home to the Persians?
o Which group is trying to create an independent country for itself?
o What religions are practiced by the Arabs?
 Compare and contrast the three major world religions found in SW Asia:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (Check out pages 22, 24-28, & 31-32 in
your Interactive Notebook!)
o Dominant religion in SW Asia.
o How does each religion view Jesus?
o When did Christianity begin? (After what event?)
o Explain the promise God made to Abraham.
o What are the 5 Pillars?
o Who is the patriarch of each religion?
o What do all three religions have in common? (Look at your Venn Diagram ~ pg.
23)
o Which of the three religions is the oldest?
o What is the Diaspora?
o What name do Muslims use to refer to God?
o What is the main belief that distinguished the Jewish religion from other ancient
religions?
o Greatest leaders of each religion.
o Sacred books of each religion.
o What the “Exodus” in Jewish history?
o Why did Islam spread so quickly after the death of Muhammad?
o What great civilization controlled Jerusalem during the time of Jesus?
o Why did Jesus have trouble with both Jewish leaders and Roman authorities?
o How do Muslims view Abraham, Moses, and Jesus?
 Explain the reason for the division in Islam between Sunni and Shi’a
Muslims.
o Why did a split occur?
o Which group believes the leader of Islam should be a direct descendant of
Muhammad?
o Which group makes up the majority of Muslims today?
SW Asia’s History TEST Study Guide
Directions: Make sure you know each item listed on this study guide for your upcoming TEST
on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3RD !
Explain the impact of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.
o How did European involvement in Southwest Asia impact the region after the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire?
o What led to the end of the Ottoman Empire at the close of World War I?
o When the Ottoman Empire ended and its territory was divided up among Europeans, what problems
did the new boundaries cause as people found themselves living in newly created countries?
o Who controlled Palestine after World War I?
o Who ruled Palestine before World War I?
Explain how Britain’s actions after World War I laid the groundwork for ongoing conflict between the Jews and Arabs in SW Asia today.
o Why were the Palestinian Arabs furious after the signing of the Balfour Declaration?
o When did tens of thousands of Jews begin moving to Palestine? After what movement began?
o At the root of many on-going conflicts in the Middle East is a religious issue concerning historical
ownership of the land. What does this issue center on?
Describe the key reasons for the creation of Israel.
Describe the terms: Zionism and Anti-Semitism.
Explain who Zionists were.
Why did the United Nations believe it was right to establish the state of Israel in 1948?
When was Israel created? Know the EXACT date!
How did Arabs living in Palestine in 1948 feel about the creation of the new state of Israel?
When conflict broke out in Israel immediately after its creation, who joined the Palestinian Arabs to
fight the creation of Israel?
o Why did conflict begin immediately after the birth of the Jewish state of Israel?
o What was the result of the 1948 conflict between the new state of Israel and the Arab neighbors of
Palestine?
o
o
o
o
o
o
Explain why the U.S. got involved in the on-going conflicts in SW Asia.
o
o
o
o
o
o
When did the Persian Gulf War begin?
Why did Saddam Hussein invade the country of Kuwait?
Why did the United Nations try to stop Iraq from taking over Kuwait in 1990?
Why did the U.S. attack Afghanistan?
Why did the U.S. get involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003?
What is the U.S.’ main economic interest in Southwest Asia?