 | Term | Definition |
| |
Golan Heights |
called Al Jawlan, a hilly plateau over looking the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee |
| |
wadi |
Riverbeds that remain dry except during the rainy seasons |
| |
Tigris River and Euphrates |
two ancient river valley civilitations in an area called the Fertile Crscent |
| |
Jordan River |
Provides on of the most precious resources in the entire region-water. |
| |
Dead sea |
A landlocked salt lake |
| |
Rub al-Khali |
"Empty Quarter" "Place whre no one comes out" |
| |
oasis |
Area in the desert where vegetation is found because water is available |
| |
salt flat |
When winds evaporate the moisture in soil and chemical salts remain. |
| |
western wall |
the wailing wall |
| |
Dome of the Rock |
houses the spot where muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad rose into heaven. |
| |
Zionism |
19th century movement |
| |
Palestine Liberation Organization |
was formed to regain the land for Palestinian Arabs |
| |
guest workers |
are largely unskilled laborers |
| |
stateless nation |
a nation of people without a land to legally occupy |
| |
palestinians |
a group of people who have been displaced in the region |
| |
west bank |
a strip of land on the west side of the jordan river |
| |
gaza strip |
is a territory along the Mediterranean sea |
| |
drip irrigation |
small pipes that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve water used for crops |
| |
desalinization |
the removal of salt from ocean water, is done at technically sophistricated water treatment plants |
| |
fossil water |
water pumped from underground aquifers |
| |
crude oil |
petrolium that has not been processed |
| |
refinery |
it coverts crude oil into useful products |
| |
mecca |
the holiest city in the islamic religion |
| |
islam |
monotheistic religion |
| |
muhammad |
the creater of islam |
| |
mosque |
an islamic cherch |
| |
theocratic |
the leader of the religion is the leader of the country |
| |
OPEC |
Organizatio of Petroleum Exporting Countrys |
| |
Kurds |
an ethnic group in southwestern Asia |
| |
Mesopotamia |
the "land between the rivers" |
| |
sunni |
One of the main branches of islam, 83% of muslims |
| |
shi'ite |
One of the main branches of islam, most Iranians |
| |
Taliban |
a fundamentalist muslim political group |
