Arab World

THE ARAB WORLD

Cranny, Michael. Pathways: Civilizations Through Time. Prentice Hall, 1997.

A. MATCH THE VOCABULARY WORDS TO THE DEFINITIONS: (Click HERE to find hints.)
apostle
astrology
caliph
caravan
clan
covenant
domestication
emancipate
evangelist
fasting
hadith
harem
herder
incense
infidel
mosque
nomad
pagan
parable
pilgrim
pilgrimage
prostrate
Qur’an
recite
Semites
sharia
siege
sultan
terrace
treaty
among Muslims, someone who does not accept the Islamic faith
an agreement reached through negotiation, like a contract
changing animals from wild to tame over the course of 20 generations
free
going without food to improve one’s physical or spiritual health
a group of people from ancient times
a group of people who all descend from the same ancestor
a group of people who travel together for safety
a guide about what to do based on what Mohammad said and did
the holy book for Muslims that contains revelations from God
a journey to a holy place
the law in Islam
lie face-down
a person who worships many gods or goddesses
a place of worship for Muslims, like a temple for Jews or a church for Christians
prolonged period of attack
a promise or bargain between two people
a ruler
repeat aloud
someone sent on a special mission
someone who comes after someone else as a leader in the Islam religion
someone who doesn’t have a permanent home but moves with the seasons
someone who moves animals from one area to another
someone who spreads news, like a messenger
something that smells goods when burned
a special part of a Muslim home in which men are not allowed
an open space connecting a building and the outdoors
a story that has a moral lesson, like a fable
the study of how the planets affect people
a traveller

B. FOR EACH TOPIC SENTENCE, WRITE A PARAGRAPH WITH A TOPIC SENTENCE,  ADDING AT LEAST THREE SUPPORTING SENTENCES AND A CONCLUDING SENTENCE:
1. The Middle East is a political term for a geographical area that includes parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. (p. 107-108)
2. Three religions all started in the Middle East. (p. 108, 116)
3. There have been many Middle East conflicts over the centuries. (p. 108, 110, 111, 119, 120, 129, 130)
4. Islam was started by the prophet Mohammad. (p. 116)

C. DRAW AND COLOUR:
1. a mindmap showing the geography, climate and agriculture of the Middle East (p. 113 – 114)
2. a mindmap showing Muslim areas of Africa, Asia and Europe between 632 and 750 C.E. (p. 107)
3. a mindmap describing the 5 pillars of Islam (p. 117-118)
4. a mindmap showing goods that came from trade with various places in Asia and Africa (p. 120)
5. a mindmap about Arab cities (p. 123-124)

D. DO SOME RESEARCH
1. Click HERE to go to a World Book Online assignment.

 

         Three of the world’s major religions were all born in the Middle East and all of them are linked to each other by more than simply geography. The first, and perhaps oldest faith, is Judaism which is the predominant faith of the nation of Israel. It has its origins in ancient antiquity, believed to have begun in the second century BCE, giving it approximately a four-thousand-year history. The second is Christianity, which began with the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth making it approximately two thousand years old. The third faith of the Middle Eastern region is Islam, which traces its origins to the prophet Muhammad and his revelation from Allah in approximately the seventh century CE, making it the youngest of the Middle Eastern religions. While there are many differences between these faith traditions, there are at least two features that they both share. All three faiths are monotheistic, meaning that they believe in the existence of only one ultimate God; for Judaism and Christianity that God is Yahweh and for Islam it is Allah. All three faiths also share a belief that Abraham is the forefather of their people; Judaism and Christianity trace their history from Isaac (Abraham’s second son) and Islam traces its history through Ishmael (Abraham’s first son.) [by Isaak in grade eight]

           The Middle East is a political term for a geographical area that includes parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. This area is located on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea and has suffered from a lot of conflict between various religious groups and styles of leadership. Throughout history, various Middle East empires have spread from Spain to present day Pakistan as many different empires [have] wanted this area for their own. For example, the Crusaders took over what is now Lebanon, Syria, and Jerusalem because that is where Jesus was born and where they believed they could find untold riches. Terrorists blew up the New York Twin Towers in 2001, and now American troops are fighting them in the Middle East, formerly for revenge and now to eliminate terrorist groups. People in Egypt and Syria currently want freedom from their dictators, so there are riots between competing groups and even religious groups, and the Syrian government is using chemical weapons on its own people. Starvation, violence and discrimination are all common occurrences of life in the Middle East, which has been a center for conflict for centuries. [Brennan in grade eight]


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