Southwest Asia

Southwest Asia Vocabulary Terms

Imgae: http://zionbc.com/

Terms are in bold purple.Definitions of the terms

are in boxes.

1. monarchy

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.342478.1297333008!/image/423399997.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/423399997.jpg

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/11/images/20081113-2_d-0380-2-515h.jpg

King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud

Saudi Arabia’s form of government is monarchy.

Great Britain’s government is a monarchy, but their queens & kings no

longer rule the land.

They are ruled by their constitution. They are a “constitutional monarchy.”

http://www.europepics.org/wallpapers/2012/08/Member-of-the-royal-family-of-Great-Britain-485x728.jpg

Japan also has a monarchy. But they are ruled by their constitution, like

Great Britain.

http://madhattery.royalroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2010-0103-japan-michikokiko.jpg

Saudi Arabia is an authoritarian monarchy.

Because I said so!

That’s why!

http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110318/shamsara20110318084744623.jpg

1. monarchy: a government ruled by a king or queen - not elected.

Much of Southwest Asia is very arid.

2. arid

http://www.primap.com/MapCollection/en/Free/Map%20Asia-Southwest%20Satellite%201600x1200.PNG

2. arid: extremely dry

http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/e007534/ch21southwestasia/20

The Arabian Peninsula is so arid most rivers dry up until there is heavy rain.

3. wadi

3. wadi: river that is dry except after heavy rain

4. groundwater

https://water.usgs.gov/edu/graphics/welltypes.gif

When people dig or drill water wells, they need to find groundwater.

In many parts of Southwest Asia, irrigation – by pumping up groundwater – makes

agriculture possible.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/10/article-2322522-19B75FD1000005DC-667_634x422.jpg

4. groundwater: water under the ground

5. aquifer

Aquifers are found all over the world.http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v3/n4/fig_tab/nclimate1744_F1.html

5. aquifer: groundwater in porous underground rock

http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-For-High-School/r13/section/13.3/

6. surface water: water on Earth’s surface

7. petroleum

Southwest Asia has more petroleum reserves than any other place on earth.

7. petroleum: oil (fossil fuel)

8. Qur’an (Koran)

Islam teaches that the angel Gabriel gave Muhammad the teachings of the Qur’an.

Muhammad’s followers then wrote those down.

8. Qur’an (Koran): the Muslim scriptures

This month-long celebration is in memory of the time the angel gave the

Quran to Muhammad.

9. Ramadan

Eating and drinking is done only when the sun is down.

9. Ramadan: holy month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset

10. mosqueChristians

worship in a church.

Jews worship in a temple or synagogue.

Muslims worship in a

mosque.

10. mosque: Muslim house of worship

11. pilgrimageThe “Pilgrims” who came to North America in

1620 did not have religious freedom in England.

They are called “pilgrims” because they made a journey for religious reasons.

11. pilgrimage: journey taken for religious reasons

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem

12. hajj Muslims from around the world gather in

Mekkah (Mecca) for Hajj.

Going on the hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and Muslims are expected to go on this pilgrimage

(religious trip) at least once in their lifetime. (If someone is too poor or too sick to ever go, it is forgiven because “God is merciful.”)

12. hajj: yearly pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims make

The absolute location for Bethany is 35°N 97°W.

13. absolute location: a place’s latitude & longitude