the minority sect of Islam (20%); believed that the successor to Muhammad must be a blood relative of the Prophet.

empire that dominated the Middle East and at one time

controlled most of the trade around the Mediterranean

Sea.  It lasted from approximately from 1300 until 1919. 

after W.W. I the European powers who defeated the Ottoman Empire broke up the Empire and forced many Arab parts of the old Ottoman Empire to be controlled by Britain and France so that they could “prepare them for independence”.  In reality, the areas were used as colonies by Britain and France.

founder of modern Turkey after the collapse of the

Ottoman Empire.  Modernized and westernized Turkey

making it a secular republic.

revolution in Iran where the Shah was overthrown by and a Shi’ite religious leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, who created a strict Islamic theocracy.

strict Islamic laws (used in Iran) that are taken from the

Koran.  It can be seen as taking away human rights of

those who are forced to follow them.  (ex- women in

Iran).     

worldwide Jewish movement to create a homeland in Palestine.

conflict between Jewish and Arab population in

Palestine/Israel for control of the Holy Land.  It began

when Jews starting migrating to Israel after the Balfour

Declaration.

Lands taken over by Israel after a series of wars (the West Bank and Gaza Strip); these are supposed to form the future state of Palestine. 

uprising that started in the 1980’s and led by the P.L.O.

where the Palestinians tried to force the Israelis out of the

occupied territories. 

The agreement reached between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  Israel was to withdraw gradually from the West Bank and Gaza and eventually the Palestinians would be able to form their own state.  The Accords, also known as the Declaration of Principles, have not been successful.

peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.  Israel

returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt which it had taken

during the Six-Day War and in return Egypt recognized

Israel as a nation.  Egypt was the first Arab nation to

recognize Israel as a legitimate nation. 

leader of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War.  He was put on trial for human rights violations after he was thrown out of power by a U.S. led invasion in 2003. 

Islamic fundamentalist group that controlled Afghanistan

as a theocracy until 2001 before being forced out of power

by a U.S. invasion.

Islamic fundamentalist terrorist group founded by Osama

Bin Laden which was responsible for the attacks of 9/11.

Bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces in 2011.

oppose the infiltration of secular and Westernizing influences and seek to institute Islamic law, including strict codes of behavior

Palestinian Liberation Organization; its goal is to regain control of the occupied territories.