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| the pro-democracy uprisings currently sweeping the Middle East and North Africa. |
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| is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and in the Shia Muslim community |
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| the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on Earth for a certain amount of years before the day of judgment. Will restore religion and justice. In Shiism, the twelth Imam (messiah) |
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| Zoroastrianism (priestly class) |
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| First monotheism. Had heaven/hell. One of protected religions in Iran. Influenced Christianity. Based on moral codes. |
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| place of worship for zoroastrianism |
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| founder of the Achaemenid Empire. King of Persia. Early unifier. Ends Babylonian Exile for Jews. Referred to as a messiah. Defeated Median empire. |
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| third king of Achaemenid Empire. |
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| Son of Darius, king of persia. attacked Greeks but was forced to withdraw. |
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| period in Jewish history in which the Jews were captives in Babylon. Cyrus the Great took over Babylon and freed the Jews. |
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| powerful esoteric dimension of the Islamic faith. |
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| 16th century. dynasty that ruled Persia and installed Shia rather than Sunni Islam as the state religion.b |
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| ancient kingdom that lay southeast of the Caspian Sea in present-day Iran. |
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| The last pre-Islamic Persian Empire ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651. It was a major power in the area and the last greatest Iranian empire before Muslim conquest. It was the peak of Persian civilization in arts and culture; this is problematic when talking about Islam in contemporary politics. |
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| dynasty of caliphs who rules in Baghdad. |
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| terms for the strategic rivalry and conflict between British Empire and Russian Empire over supremacy in Central Asia. |
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| founder of the Afsharid dynasty and ruler of Iran. Known for his military genius. |
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| overtakes the Qajar dynasty. Known for instituting western values, banning hijab. |
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| Iranian royal family who ruled Persia during the 19th century. |
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| any interpretation of the Quran that is not literal is invalid. there should be no mediating authority between man and God (opposed to Shia), no idolatry. |
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| a militant group of extremist Sunnis who believe themselves the only correct interpreters of the Koran and consider moderate Muslims to be infidels; seek to convert all Muslims and to insure that its own fundamentalist version of Islam will dominate the world |
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| Political activist and Islamic ideologist in Muslim world. A Founder of Islamic modernism. Advocated for pan-Islamic unity. Interested in organizing Muslim response to Western pressure. |
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| City in Iraq. In Karbala, Husayn challenged the caliph. He and his family are massacred by Sunnis. Holy to Shiites because Husayn is grandson of Muhammad. |
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| Constitutional Revolution |
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| Took place in 1900s. Led to the establishment of a parliament. Democratized Persia. Welcomed the modern era. |
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| new monotheistic religion stemming from Islam. |
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| palestinian islamic fundamentalist movement that has become a focus for Arab resistance in Gaza. Opposes peace with Israel. Also conflicts with PLO. |
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| Zoroastrian priests. The word is the root of magic. The Mji were said to have brough gifts to baby Jesus |
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| code of conduct of religious law of Islam. Khomeini believed this should be the law of the land. "god's law" |
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| Khomeini decided that everyone should pay one-fifth of all certain items acquired as wealth as tax. |
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| per capita tax levied on a section of an Islamic state's non-muslim citizens. |
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| 1979. events involving overthrow of Pahlavi. Instituted Islamic republic under Khomeini. |
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| British Conquest of Palestine |
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| During WWI, British, German, and Ottoman Empire fought in the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns. Territorial disputes, since Ottoman wanted to maintain land, and the British wanted to prevent the Germans from getting the lands. This would lead to the British Mandate for Palestine. |
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| British Mandate for Palestine |
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| legal commission for the administration of Palestine. Formalized British rule in Ottoman Syria. Territory was divided into British ruled Palestine and autonomous Transjordan. |
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| Founded in 1959, it is a Palestinian nationalist political party that is the largest faction of the PLO. The Fatah believe in the eradication of the Zionists, the liberation of Palestine, and the establishment of a democratic state. They became a dominant force after the Six-Day War and currently work closely with Hamas. Their founder was Yasser Arafat. |
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| United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) |
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| Established by the General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis in 1956. It was designed to enter Egyptian territory with consent of the Egyptian Government in order to help maintain quiet during and after the withdrawal of non-Egyptian forces. |
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| An Arab nationalist and socialist political party. They opposed Western imperialism and called for a resurrection of the Arab World. Their motto was “Unity, Liberty, and Socialism.” Founded in Damascus. Party is banned in Iraq after gaining monopoly in their political system; the party supported Iran in the Iran-Iraq War. |
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| A high ranking title given to Shi’ia muslims. The title is given to those who are experts in Islam. |
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| An Austro-Hungarian journalist who was the father of modern political Zionism and father of the State of Israel. He was relatively conservative and supported democractic institutions. He was the author of Der Judenstaat. |
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| (more than “Jewish communal self governance”?): A group of self-governing Jews in an agricultural system. A sort of pre-yishuv |
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| A political activist probably born in Iran (claimed to be Afghani), he was a political activist and Islamic ideologist. He advocated Pan-Islamic unity and was a founder of Islamic modernism. He was less interested in theology than creating a Muslim response to the West. |
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| Palestine Conciliation Commission |
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| Created by the General Assembly, it was written to conclude the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. France, Turkey, and the United States were selected to be part of this, and they met separately with Arab and Israeli governments.This was the first time that the US was involved with mediating Arab-Israeli relations. |
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| A book by the Iranian Shia cleric Ayatollah Khomeini in 1970. It is the most influential document written in modern times in support of theocratic rule. Argues that we should live in accordance to sharia, and for this to happen, the faqih must provide political guardianship. |
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| Faqih: Is an expert of Islamic Law. In a sense, faqih is a Jurist of Shariah and Islamic law. |
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| group chaired by Weizmann. Followed Balfour Declaration. Went to palestine to study conditions and make recommendations to the British authorities. |
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| United Nations Partition Resolution of November 29, 1947: |
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| Resolution by the General Assembly of the UN. It noted Britain’s planned termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and recommended the partition of Palestine into two states, one for Arabs, one for Jews. Jerusalem was to be under special international protection by the UN. |
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| "End of Israel" under Rehoboam's reign |
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| Rehoboam’s reign was initially the king of united Israel but later becomes the king of the Kingdom of Judah. He was the son of Solomon and grandson of David. During his reign, the Kingdom split into Judah and Samaria. Samaria was the sinful state. |
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| Was a caliph and the first Shia Imam. He is an important figure in Shi’ism and is considered a martyr who fought tyranny as he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliph. He was considered the “true” Islamic polity as opposed to what he considered the unjust rule of Umayyads. He was killed and his death is mourned on the day of Ashoura. Grandson of Muhammad. |
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| The predecessor to the IDF, they rose in the 1920s and by the 1930s became a para-military force. They advocated havlagah, or a purely defensive stance in the conflicts of the time, but they became a terrorist organization later on. They would become the IDF. In the 1940s, the Haganah’s arms factories were producing two or three mortar or mortar bombs. |
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| God promises Abraham the Land of Canaan, prosperity, and many descendants in exchange for monotheistic, eternal faith, and obligation to the commandments. Torah given at Mt. Sinai. (Book of Covenant) Central institution of life. |
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| Contains regions of modern day Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon to the Jordan river valley, and down to the Brook of Egypt. |
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| Exodus out of Egypt. 40 years in desert (Negev) before entering Israel. Then, controlled by 12 tribes of Israel. |
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| First king of Israel by anointed by prophet Samuel. Failed. |
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| Son of Saul and successful king of Judah and Israel. Killed Goliath. Made Jerusalem capital. Unified tribes into single kingdom. |
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| Son and successor of David. Built the Temple in Jerusalem. Eventually punished for idolatrous ways. |
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| Capital of Israel. Politically neutral, holy, cetrally located, defensible. Created by David. Construction marked the beginning of a golden age. Strong central government and religious system. |
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| Son of Solomon; king of ancient Israel. Under him, Israel split into Judah (ruled by Jeroboam) and Israel (ruled by Rehoboam). Northern kingdom suffered from lack of unity and strength and was destroyed by Assyrian army. Leads to renewed power of Mesopotamia and Egypt. |
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| Refers to dispersed tribes in Israel who lost Jewish culture and religion after the destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians. |
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| Holiest Jewish place in Old City. Built by Solomon. Place where God rested and gathered dust to create Adam. Temple has been destroyed and rebuilt three times. According to Bible, should function as the center of all national life - government, judicial, and religious. |
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| a square stone building in the center of the Great Mosque at Mecca. Site most holy to Muslims. They must face the building while praying. Stands on site of pre-Islamic shrine said to have been built by Abraham. When Ishmael went to Mecca, he brought monotheism, but Mecca turned to idolatry over time. When Muhammad brought the word of God, he destroyed all the idols placed in Ka’ba. Only muslims may enter the Ka’ba. |
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| Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the last month of the year. All Muslims expected to make at least once in lifetime. Largest pilgrimage in the world. |
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| city in Western Saudi Arabia. Holiest city in Islam. Birthplace of Muhammad. Scene of his early teachings before his emigration to Medina. |
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| First-born Son of Abraham but not Sarah. Born of a maidservant (potentially Arab). In bible, he is the patriarch of the Arab peoples. Helps explain early relationship between Israelites and ancient Arabs. In Quran, importance patriarch and prophet of Islam. Forefather of Muhammad. Involved in created on Kaabah. Brought monotheism to Mecca. |
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| Islamic reference for Arabia prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran. |
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| Relationship between nation and faith. In Judaism, regarded as a religious nation governed by commandments of Torah. In Islam, means collective nation of states. |
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| Main prophet of Islam. Born 570 AD. Most of Middle East is monotheistic. |
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| Sunni believe in Majoritarian decision for successor to prophet (caliph). Shia believes in bloodline |
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| Political, religious individual who is given divine rule in Sunnism. |
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| Shia day of mourning for Husayn at battle of Karbala. On this day, Shias make pilgrimage to Karbala and participate in self-flagellation and blood-letting. The Shia believe God answers prayers for forgiveness more readily on this day than any other day. |
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| Hierarchy of Muslim clerics and scholars who have specialist knowledge of sacred law and theology. Includes Imams and Ayatollahs. |
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| In Shiism, traced through the bloodline of Ali. |
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| An age when philosophers, scientists, and engineers of the Islamic world contributed enormously to technology. |
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| Alexander the Great conquest during this period. Introduction of Greek ideas into region. Hellenic influence on Jerusalem. Maccabees eventually throw out Hellenists and carve out independent Jewish state. |
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| central text of mainstream Judaism. Record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs, and history. Comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemara. |
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| authoritative collection of critical material embodying the oral tradition of Jewish law. First part of Talmud. |
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| rabbinical commentary on the Mishnah |
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| Jews living outside of Israel. The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel. |
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| a movement for the reestablishment and development and protection of a Jewish nation in Israel. Established as political org. under Herzl. Later led by Chaim Weizmann. Wanted to normalize Jewish status by achieving political sovereignty. |
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| non resident rich land owners of Palestine. |
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| Jewish community of settlement in Palestine during the 19th century and until the formation of the state in Israel in 1948. Refers to the Jewish body. |
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| attempt to teach Jews Arabic customs and language against socialist Zionists' wished who advocated for total segregation. |
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| Young Arab Society. Founded in 1911 by Arab nationalist. Secret org under the Ottoman Empire. Aimed to gain independence and unity for various Arab nations then under the Ottoman rule. |
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| 1916. Secret agreement between UK and France defining spheres of influence after expected downfall of Ottoman Empire during WWI. Left Palestine to British. |
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| letter from Arthur Balfour to Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community stating support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people and promising best efforts to facilitate this. Promises to not prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non Jewish communities in Palestine. partially intended to counter French claims to Palestine by legitimizing its own presence in region. Most important international statement of support Zionists had received. |
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| reduced the gov't's commitment to the Balfour Declaration. limited official Jewish immigration. anti-zionist. criticized the Jewish Agency. favored independent Palestine governed by Jews and Arabs in proportion to their pop. not well implemented. |
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| right-wing Zionist org. Carried out violent attacks on Arabs and Britons in campaign to establish Jewish state. Rose out of White Paper. |
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| British report aiming to look into the reasons for violent rioting in Palestine in August '29. |
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| series of demonstrations and riots over disputes between Muslims and Jews regarding access tot he Western Wall. Many casualties from both sides. |
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| set out to propose changes to the British mandate of Palestine following the outbreak of Arab revolt. Recommended partition. Eventually declared unworkable and rejected following publication of the Partition Commission. |
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| central political organ of the Arab community of Mandate Palestine. |
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| smuggle of weapons discovered in cement barrels for Haganah. |
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| Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) |
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| paramilitary organization that is considered the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. formed to unite various Palestinian Arab groups and to bring about an independent state of Palestine. Anti-zionist. |
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| called for establishment of a Jewish Commonwealth. Became official aim of Zionist movement. |
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| Israeli statesman; prime minister. First PM and minister of defense. |
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| elite fighting force of the Haganah; underground of the Yishuv |
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| small communist-based Israeli settlement. Often a farming community. |
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| PM of Egypt with whom Ben-Gurion engaged in secrete negotiations. Overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan and heralded a new period of modernization and socialist reform in Egypt. Supported pan-Arabism. One of the most important political figures in modern Arab history. Known to be very militaristic. |
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| King of Jordan until 1951. Tried to engage in peace treaty with Israel which included territorial concession of two-kilometer strip which would connect Jordan to the Mediterranean. Israel rejected. |
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| problem of Arabs coming over the border illegally. Palestinians believing that land was rightfully theirs and returning to it. trying to reclaim farms. |
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| Egyptian-sent attackers in Gaza to retaliate for Israeli actions. Used through the Suez-Sinai war as retaliation by Egypt. |
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| war between Egypt and Israel where Israel captured all of the Sinai Peninsula. The war was supported by Britain and France in an effort to control the Suez Canal, but they were transparently belligerents in the war, not an intervening party. The war ended with pressure by the UN and the US. |
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| Begun the day after independence and the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine. 7 countries declare war on Israel. 1% population loss in Israel but Israel wins against all odds and gains land. |
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| Haganah shifts to offensive. (Havlaga). Landgrab -> jordan and egypt take gaza and west bank. |
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| 1967. Caused mainly by miscommunication. Israel occupied Sinai (took first move sensing time-bomb), Old City, the West Bank, and Golan Heights and defeated Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian alliance. Gained even more land. US then saw Israel and true potential ally for Cold War. Ended pan-Arabism. |
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| PM who negotiated a PLO-Israeli peace accord. Assassinated by extremist. |
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| 1987, Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. First time that Palestinians acted together as a nation. Primarily nonviolent civil disobedience. Caused by unbearable economic conditions for Palestinians, inspiration from 1979 Revolution, rise of civil society, and population density. Caused rise of Hamas in Gaza and raised questions about the control of Jerusalem (and Temple Mount). Radicalized ideological positions in West Bank and Gaza. Ended in a stalemate. Israel agreed to evacuate most of West Bank and Gaza. |
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| Strategic policy used by the Haganah members with regard to actions taken against Arab groups who attacked Jewish settlements during Mandate. Core principles where to abstain from taking revenge on Arabs by attacking innocent civilians. |
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| an association of countries established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles to promote international cooperation and achieve international peace and security. It was powerless to stop Italian, German, and Japanese expansionism leading to World War II and was replaced by the United Nations in 1945. |
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