Name: ______Period: ______

Study Guide: Middle East and Religions

Directions: This is your study guide for your Middle East test. It will cover the 3 major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as the history of the Middle East since 1945.

  1. Who was Justinian?

A Roman emperor who helped make laws fairer for Christians.

  1. The capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, was conquered in what year?

1453

  1. Whom do the Hebrew claim as their ancestor?

Abraham

  1. The Torah is the holy book of which religion?

Judaism

  1. The Resurrection is the Christian belief that Jesus did what?

Rose from the dead

  1. Who was the first Roman emperor to accept and practice Christianity in the Roman Empire?

Constantine

  1. Jewish religious leaders are called what?

Rabbis

  1. Who was responsible for the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001?

Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda

  1. What do Jews consider the holiest day of the entire year?

Yom Kippur

  1. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in what town?

Bethlehem

  1. Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople and renamed it what?

Istanbul

  1. Which of the following is an effect of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001?

Increased security at airports and sporting events, creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

  1. Many people believe that Jesus was the Messiah, meaning what?

He came to restore the greatness of Israel

  1. Why was Jesus arrested?

He challenged the authority of political and religious leaders

  1. The holy book of Christianity is called what?

Bible

  1. Which Arabic leader was assassinated in Cairo because he signed a peace treaty with Israel?

Anwar Sadat

  1. Justinian built what famous temple in the city of Constantinople?

Hagia Sophia

  1. Students in which country stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 60 Americans hostage for 444 days?

Iran

  1. Which of these events happened first?
  1. Muhammad began to talk about his messages.
  2. Muhammad went to the hills to pray and meditate.
  3. Mecca's rulers threatened Muhammad.
  4. Muhammad traveled to Medina.
  1. The central teaching of the Qur'an is what?

There is only one god and Muhammad is his prophet

  1. What is a hajj?

A pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are expected to make

  1. Which city is considered sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

Jerusalem

  1. In 1453, the Ottomans defeated the Byzantine city of?

Constantinople

  1. The Taj Mahal is an example of marvelous what?

Islamic architecture

Completion

The life and teachings of _____Jesus______form the basis of Christianity.

The eastern Roman Empire is also called the _____Byzantine______Empire.

____Islam___ was the name of the religion introduced by the prophet Muhammad.

One requirement is that Muslims must pray ____five___ times a day.

Muhammad was born in the city of ______Mecca_______.

Key Concepts

The capital of the Ottoman Empire was Istanbul.

Moses is the Hebrew who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

The most important Jewish laws are the Ten Commandments.

Muslims, once in their lives, will try to make a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca.

Muslim mosques usually contain a large dome and 4 minarets.

Key Terms to Know:

Nazareth is the place where Jesus grew up.

A pilgrimage is also known as “hajj,” it is a journey to a sacred place.

Judaism is the Hebrews' religion.

Constantinople is the capital of the eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).

Minarets are towers for Muslim prayer calls.

A mosque is a building for Muslim prayer.

The Hagia Sophia is one of the Byzantine Empire's most beautiful churches.

The Ten Commandments are a code of moral laws

The Five Pillars of Islam are five acts of worship require of all Muslims

Monotheism is the worship of only one God

***Please study the Five Pillars of Islam as a possible short answer question.***

Five Pillars of Islam

The First Pillar of Islam

A statement of faith: “There is one god, Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”

The Second Pillar of Islam

All Muslims must pray five times every day

The Third Pillar of Islam

All Muslims are expected to give a yearly donation to charity

The Fourth Pillar of Islam

All Muslims are expected to fast during the holy month of Ramadan

The Fifth Pillar of Islam

All Muslims, if they can, are expected to make a hajj to the holy city of Mecca.