Regional Geography 105
North Africa and Southwest Asia Study Guide
REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY 105


After the lecture and reading the "North Africa and Southwest Asia" articles you should be able to answer and discuss the following questions.

What are the names of the major deserts in the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm?

What are the names of the major mountain ranges in the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm?

What are the names of the major plateaus in the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm?

What are the names of the major peninsulas in the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm?

What are the names of the major seas and oceans surrounding the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm?

What are the names of the major rivers in the North Africa and Southwest Asia realm?

When was the Aswan High Dam constructed?

What are some of the benefits of dam construction on a river?

What are some of the problems that result after dam construction on a river?

What is OPEC?

Prior to OPEC, what was the major economic influence in the Middle East?

How was the term Middle East originally defined?

What region(s) of the world are considered to be the Near East?

What region(s) of the world are considered to be the Far East?

What is meant by the term Arab World?

What are the major unifying forces within the Arab World?

What is Islam?

What does the Arabic word "islam" mean?

What is a Muslim?

What does the Arabic word "Allah" mean?

By whom and when was Islam founded?

What is the Koran (Qur'an)?

What are the Five Pillars of Islam? Briefly describe each one?

Upon what two other major world religions is Islam founded?

Which foods are prohibited to Muslims?

What are the two main festivals of the Muslim calendar?

What status does Jesus have within Islam?

Which world capital is considered to be a holy city for all three of these religions?

Why has there been a recent (past couple of decades) focus on Islam in the media and within international affairs?

Does Islam promote violence and terrorism?

Does Judaism or Christianity promote violence and terrorism?

Why are acts of violence often done in the name of Judaism, Christianity or Islam?