Term
| What form of government does Saudi Arabia possess? |
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Definition
| Traditional absolute monarchy with consultants, but no parliment. |
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Term
| What is the population of Saudi? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What is the ethnic mixture of Saudi? |
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Definition
| 90% Arabs, 9% African Asian. |
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Term
| What are the main religions of Saudi? |
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Definition
| 94% Muslim, especially Wahhabi, 4% Christian, rest are Hindu, Buddist. |
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Term
| What are the major cities of Saudi? |
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Definition
| Riyadh (capital), also Mecca, Jiddah. |
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Term
| What is the GDP of Saudi? |
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Definition
| about 186 billion dollars. |
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Term
| What is the name that Saudis call their country? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are some of the groups present in Saudi before Islam? |
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Definition
| Amorites, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Hebrews, Canaanites. |
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Term
| How many people come to Mecca on pilgrimage each year? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the basic history of Saudi? |
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Definition
| When the Abbasid Kalifeh fell apart in 1258 AD, the Mamluk of Egypt took control. Al Saud family was powerful, allied itself with religious reformers such as Mohamed In Al-Wahhab. |
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Term
| When did Saudi become the "kingdom of Saudi Arabia"? |
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Definition
| In 1932, Al Aziz named it this, modernization followed. |
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Term
| What are religious scholars of Saudi referred to as? |
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Definition
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Term
| When did Iran become officially Iran and what is the country's title? |
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Definition
| In 1959 Iran became Iran, in 1979 it become the Islamic Republic of Iran. |
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Term
| What is the title of the king of Iran? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What are the two major ethnic groups of Iran? |
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Definition
| About 1/2 are Persian, 25% are Azeri. |
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Term
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Definition
|
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Term
| What is the crude oil reserve of Iran? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What is one of the major natural resources of Iran? |
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Definition
| Natural gas, after Russia. |
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Term
| What are the major cities of Iran? |
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Definition
| Tehran (capital), and Mashhad, Espahan. |
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Term
| What is significant about Tehran's location? |
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Definition
| On the fringe of the mountains, there is poor air flow and thus a lot of pollution, one of the most polluted cities in the world. |
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Term
| What Iranian empire challenged the Ottoman, and created beautiful architecture seen there today? |
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Definition
| Safavid Empire, in Espahan. |
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Term
| What is the significance of the family in Muslim culture? |
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Definition
| The family has been, and still is, the only legitimate source of protection, support, provision of basic necessities, source of identity, and moral cohesiveness. |
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Term
| What is the family, in essence? |
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Definition
| The basic unit production, the center of all activities. |
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Term
| How does an individuals behavior relate to the family? |
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Definition
| The success or failures of individuals become that of the entire family, including sexual misbehavior of girls, etc. |
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Term
| What are some of the class structure changes occurring in today's societies? |
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Definition
| The creation of the middle class as the state creates more jobs for young people, disparities become higher and lower classes in pattern of marriage and interactions. |
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Term
| What is the main structure of the family? |
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Definition
| Hierarchical in terms of sex and age, father is the king of the family, owns the property, etc. |
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Term
| How is the patriarchal and hierarchical nature of muslim societies changing? |
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Definition
| Employment of women, competing socioeconomic units, migration of children into the cities seeking education all add to fathers and elders releasing their grip. |
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Term
| What are some common discriminations against women in the Muslim world? |
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Definition
| - Few careers are available to women, most are just extensions of their tradition roles. Most are marginalized. Personal status codes discriminate against women, especially in marriages, divorce, inheritance, etc. Oppressed by religion which considers women a source of anarchy, social disorder, evil, deception. Some women still suffer honor crimes, forced marriage, female circumcision, etc. |
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Term
| What are the three trends in societal thinking regarding women? |
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Definition
- Traditionalist: women are subordinate by nature or God's will and design.
- Reformist: argue that traditionalists misinterpret the Koran, do not attribute to Islam itself.
- Liberal or Progressive: reject both traditionalist and reformist recommendation.
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Term
| What is the real name of Egypt? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What are the major religions of Egypt? |
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Definition
| 94% Sunni Muslim, other are Coptic Christian. |
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Term
| What is the GDP of Egypt? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What is the major cities of Egypt? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What is the general history of the conversion of Egypt. |
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Definition
| In 642 AD Egypt was conquered by Muslim Arabs, shortly after Arabic was the official language. Egypt went from Sunni to Shia and back again. |
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Term
| When did Egypt become contemporary? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| Who were major players in power in Egypt during the 1900's? |
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Definition
| Gemal Al Nasser, fought the British, negotiated with the Soviets, promoted Arab Nationalism, attacked Israel in the 6 day war. Followed by Sadat, who was a very radical leader who fought Israel, but also tried to tie to the US. Made peace w/ Israelis, which is still in effect. |
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Term
| What are the population issues faced by Egypt? |
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Definition
| Every 28 years the population doubles, there is very little land left, they are facing a food source problem. |
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Term
| How are the living styles of Egyptians today? |
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Definition
| Many villagers in the Nile valley, the dominant group is Bedoiun Arabs which are migrating away from nomadic life and beginning to socialize, less village style life these days. |
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Term
| What type of family is becoming more dominant? |
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Definition
| Nuclear rather than extended family. |
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Term
| What are endogamy, polygamy, polygyny, and polyandry? |
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Definition
| Marriage between family members, marriage to more than one spouse, one man several women, one woman several men. |
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Term
| What are the rules of marriage? |
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Definition
| A man may have up to four wives, but must treat all of them equally. Comes from the prophet Mohamed. Temporary marriages are also allowed. |
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Term
| What is the word for dowry, and what is it traditionally? |
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Definition
| Because women cannot own property to make sure there is protection, the men had to pay the bride a dowry. Could be real estate, money, etc. Westerners see this as a "bride price". |
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