World Geography 8
Name__________________
Chapter 17 Homework
Date__________Period____
History and Culture of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central
Asia
Section 1: History and Religion
1. What event is described on the Egyptian stelae on p. 456?
2. Approximately 5000 years ago two civilizations developed along rivers in Southwest Asia and North
Africa.
a. ________________developed along the Nile River .
b. ______________________ developed along the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.
3. Mesopotamia is the ancient name for what present day country?
4. The area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf is known as:
5. What did irrigation allow the Mesopotamians to do?
6. Describe Mesopotamia’s religion:
7. What is a theocracy?
8. Describe cuneiform:
9. What were three other inventions of the Sumerians?
a.
b.
c.
10. Who conquered Mesopotamia in 1790 BC?
11. What was his greatest achievement?
12. What did the Egyptians rely on to enrich the soil?
13. Using the pyramid, fill in according to the social status that Egyptians placed high importance on:
14. What were Egyptian rulers called, and what were their tombs called?
15. What was the Egyptian form of writing called?
16. Besides trading goods, what else was shared along the Mesopotamian trade route?
17. What does monotheism mean?
18. What is the oldest of the monotheistic religions?
19. The Jews are descended from a herder who lived in Mesopotamia. He is considered Judaism’s
founder. What is his name?
20. What is the name of the laws that Moses received on the top of Mount Sinai?
21. (Picture on p. 459) What is the name of the sacred wall in Jerusalem?
22. Around A.D. 30 what new monotheistic religion began?
23. Who is the founder of that religion?
24. How many followers of Christianity are there today?
25. When did Islam begin?
26. Who Is Islam’s founder?
27. What is the holy book of Islam called?
28. What language is associated with Islam?
29. The coins and detailed business records Muslims practiced developed into what business?
30. The discovery of what resource led to great wealth in North Africa and Southwest Asia in the
1900’s?
31. What two groups see themselves as “stateless nations”?
32. What year was Israel founded?
33. What other group claims that as their homeland?
34. Describe the revolution that occurred in Iran in 1979:
35. What is terrorism?
36. Al-Qaeda was responsible for what terrorist attack against Americans?
Section 2: Cultures and Lifestyles
37. Because water is scarce, where have people settled in this region?
38. What factors have led to the region’s population growth?
39. What are some of the challenges faced by the large cities in this region?
40. What are the two major groups in Islam?
41. Which group has more followers throughout the world?
42. Name the Five Pillars of Faith for Islam:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
43. What is the major holy day in Christianity?
44. Describe the Jewish Sabbath:
45. What is the Jewish holy day, and how is it observed?
46.
Religion/Country
Language
Islam/Muslim World
Israel
Turkey
Iran
47. Describe the distinctive architectural style Muslims have developed:
48. What is an Islamic house of worship called?
49. Why is the human figure not shown in Islamic art?
50. What is the art of beautiful writing called?
51. What percentage of people in this region live in cities?
52. What is a traditional marketplace called?
53. Name three countries whose economies are based on oil production or manufacturing:
a.
b.
c.
54. What have oil revenues have been used for:
55. What are the economic activities in Afghanistan and Tajikistan?
56. Describe some of the gender roles in this region: