Southwest Asia Vocabulary Terms Imgae: Terms are in bold purple. Definitions of the terms are in boxes.

1. monarchy es/landscape_640/ jpg whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/11/images/ _d h.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.”

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

Saudi Arabia is an authoritarian monarchy. Because I said so! That’s why!

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

Much of Southwest Asia is very arid. 2. arid

2. arid: extremely dry

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 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.

4. groundwater: water under the ground

5. aquifer Aquifers are found all over the world.

5. aquifer: groundwater in porous underground rock

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

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

10. mosque Christians worship in a church. Jews worship in a temple or synagogue. Muslims worship in a mosque

10. mosque: Muslim house of worship

11. pilgrimage: journey taken for religious reasons

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