UAE Studies Study Guide (Weeks 1-4) PDF

**Study Guide for SOCL-103: UAE Studies** **Course Introduction (week 1)** 1. **What does the course aim to achieve?** - Introduce the UAE's rich history, inherited traditions, and deep-rooted values. - Discuss essential economic and social aspects, as well as the si...

**Study Guide for SOCL-103: UAE Studies** **Course Introduction (week 1)** 1. **What does the course aim to achieve?** - Introduce the UAE's rich history, inherited traditions, and deep-rooted values. - Discuss essential economic and social aspects, as well as the significant role of UAE leaders in the empowerment of Emirati women. - Highlight UAE policies and future aspirations. 5 **Week 1: Learning Objectives** 2. **What are the learning objectives for Session 1?** - Recognize forms of the human society. - Identify the components of the social structure of the Humanitarian Community. - Recognize some features of the ancient and Islamic history of the UAE people. - Identify the unity road map of the UAE. 8 3. **What are the learning objectives for Session 2?** - Verify the conduct of events resulting from Portuguese and British colonialism. - Verify the conduct of events resulting in the formation of the UAE. - Discussion forum on the VLE: Talk about the European interest in the Arabian Peninsula. 9 **What is Society?** 4. **What is society?** - An organized group of persons associated together for various purposes, defined by common culture, beliefs, behaviors, and geographic location. 12 5. **What are the conditions of a society?** - Existence of a group of people (Population). - Geographic Location. - Values, Customs, and Traditions they are characterized by. - A Social system approved for them. - The culture of the society. 13 **The UAE -- An Introduction** 6. **What is the date of unity for the UAE?** - December 2, 1971. 16 7. **What are the seven emirates that make up the UAE?** - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah. 16 **History of the UAE** 8. **What are the historical periods of the UAE?** - The Ancient Period - Post-Islam Era - The Colonization Period (from 1560-1970) - UAE Foundation 20 9. **What three ancient civilizations were mentioned in the UAE\'s history?** - (You will need to read the article "Ancient History of the UAE" for specific details.) 21 10. **When did Islam arrive in the UAE?** - After the opening of Mecca, messengers from Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) arrived in the region in A.D. 630. 23 11. **How did European colonialism treat the people of the UAE?** - They treated the people brutally, tortured them, and destroyed mosques. They controlled navigation and blocked routes against Arab ships. 28 12. **What marked the end of the British era in the Gulf region?** - The role played by the Arab League in condemning the British presence, increased cultural and political awareness among the people, and the independence of Pakistan and India led to the withdrawal of British forces from the Gulf in 1968. 31 **The Union** 13. **What was the roadmap to unity for the UAE?** - The experience of joint relations between Abu Dhabi and Dubai began on February 18, 1968, leading to the formation of a federation overseeing foreign affairs and other coordination among emirates. 34 14. **What were the key factors contributing to the establishment of the UAE federation?** - Common language, common religion, similar customs and traditions, complementing topography, similar resources, and shared interests and aspirations. 39 15. **What significant changes occurred in UAE society after independence?** - Changes in political, economic, demographic, social, and cultural aspects, including a focus on education and health, and a shift in loyalty from tribal to national identity. 40 **Closing Quiz** 16. **True or False: Islam entered the region by the Islamic Leader Khalid Bin Al-Walid.** - False. 43 17. **The first number of Emirates that participated in the formation of a union was:** - b- Six emirates. 43 18. **How did European colonialism treat the people?** - They treated the people brutally, tortured them, and destroyed mosques, while controlling navigation and blocking Arab ships. 28 **Week 2 -- Learning Objectives** 2. **What are the learning objectives for Session 1?** - Understand the nature of the terrain in the UAE. - Understand the implications of the climate of the UAE. - Discuss the geographic history of the UAE 7. 3. **What are the learning objectives for Session 2?** - Identify the geographical features of the Emirates. - Participate in a classroom discussion, an interactive presentation, and Q&A. - Write about the Geographical Features of one of the Emirates (200 to 300 words) 8. **What is Geography?** 4. **Define Geography.** - Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments, including both physical properties of the Earth's surface and human societies 10. 5. **What are the two main types of Geography?** - Physical Geography: Study of Earth's seasons, climate, atmosphere, soil, streams, landforms, and oceans. - Human Geography: Study of the distribution of networks of people and cultures on Earth's surface 11. **Importance of Geography** 6. **Why is studying Geography important?** - To gain a holistic understanding of our planet and its systems, comprehend political issues across countries, and understand the impacts of human activities on the planet 13. **Geographical Features** 7. **What are the two ways geographers can describe the location of a place?** - Absolute Location and Relative Location 16. 8. **What is the absolute location of the UAE?** - The UAE is situated at Longitude: 51°35' -- 57°10' and Latitude: 22°35' -- 26°25' 17. 9. **What is the area of the UAE?** - The area of the UAE, including some islands in the Arabian Gulf, is about 71,023.6 sq km, plus 27,624 sq km of territorial water 19. 10. **Describe the terrain of the UAE.** - The UAE consists mostly of deserts, particularly in the inner western region, with oases like Al-Ain and Liwa 20. **Climate** 11. **What is the difference between climate and weather?** - Weather refers to day-to-day temperature and precipitation, while climate is the average atmospheric condition over long periods 22. 12. **What is the climate of the UAE?** - The UAE has extremely hot and humid summers with temperatures reaching up to 51.8°C, while winters are mild with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 25°C 23. 13. **How much rainfall does the UAE typically receive?** - The average annual rainfall in the UAE is 140-200 millimeters, varying by region 24. **Advantages of the UAE Location** 14. **What are the advantages of the UAE\'s location?** - Stable relationships with neighboring countries, which enhances the economy and societal prosperity 26. **Comparison of Coastal Plains** 15. **What are the key differences between the Western Coastal Plain and the Eastern Coastal Plain?** - Western Coastal Plain: 18.8% of total area, includes 81.2% of population, long (640 km), rich in resources, near Arabian Gulf. - Eastern Coastal Plain: 1.6% of total area, includes 4.5% of population, short (90 km), limited resources, near Gulf of Oman 30. **Geological History** 16. **Describe the geological history of the UAE.** - The UAE occupies a stable corner of the Arabian Platform, with a history that includes the creation of the Hajar Mountains and the region\'s geological stability since the Cambrian Period 32. **Quiz Questions from Document** **Multiple Choice** 1. The UAE is bordered from the South by: - A. Qatar - **B. Saudi Arabia and Sultanate of Oman. (Correct Answer)** - C. Gulf of Oman and Oman - D. Arabian Gulf 2. The Zagros Mountains are located in: - A. Oman - **B. Iran (Correct Answer)** - C. The UAE - D. Qatar 3. Describes the location of a place based on a fixed point on earth: - A. Relative location - B. Geographical location - **C. Absolute location (Correct Answer)** - D. Political location **True/False** 1. Sharjah is the largest part of the UAE, with 80% of the total area. (False) 2. The most important Non-metallic Ores in the UAE is zinc. (False) 3. Coastal plain enables the country to establish many commercial ports. (True) **Short Answer** 1. **What underground resources is the UAE endowed with?** - The UAE has important non-metallic ores, primarily petroleum, and metallic ores such as Zinc, Lead, Copper, Iron, and Manganese 35. 2. **Discuss the impacts of the astrological location of the UAE.** - The UAE\'s astrological location results in hot weather year-round, high humidity, rare rainfall, and limited agricultural production 27. **Different Forms of Land in the UAE** - The UAE features various forms of land including Western Coastal Plain, Eastern Coastal Plain, Mountains, Desert, Stony Plains, and Islands 40. **Study Guide: WEEK 3 - UAE Society and Heritage** **Learning Objectives** 1. Analyze the nature of the social environment in the UAE. 2. Identify the features of the tribal community of the UAE. 3. Identify the role of language, social cohesion, and political community in the refinement of the UAE. **Table of Contents** 1. UAE Society 2. UAE Culture 3. Components of the UAE Community 4. Discussion Questions **Section 1: UAE Society** **Questions:** 1. What are the three settings that have affected the UAE community? - **Answer:** The three settings are the desert, the marine environment, and the industrial sector (oil) 8. 2. Describe the classification of Bedouins. - **Answer:** Bedouins are classified into three groups: Nomads (move to different places throughout the year), Semi-nomadic (gather around oases), and Nomadic (move between mountains and adjacent grasslands) 8. **Section 2: UAE Culture** **Questions:** 3. What is the definition of culture as discussed in the document? - **Answer:** Culture is described as a complex whole that includes shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that characterize a group of people or society. It encompasses both tangible and intangible aspects 12. 4. How can culture be categorized? - **Answer:** Culture can be categorized into Material Culture (tangible aspects such as buildings, clothing, and transportation) and Non-material Culture (intangible aspects such as religion, beliefs, norms, and values) 12. **Section 3: Components of the UAE Culture** **Questions:** 5. What role does religion play in UAE culture? - **Answer:** The UAE community is an Islamic community, and Islam impacts all aspects of social life, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, and personal conduct 13. 6. Describe the harmonious coexistence of religions in the UAE. - **Answer:** The Abrahamic Family House symbolizes shared values of coexistence among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, featuring a mosque, church, and synagogue 14. 7. What is the official language of the UAE, and what other languages are commonly spoken? - **Answer:** Arabic is the official language, while English is widely spoken. Other languages include Persian, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, and Chinese 15. **Section 4: Discussion Questions** **Questions:** 8. What are the main factors that affect the culture, traditions, and customs of the UAE? - **Answer:** The factors include the transitional civilized shift, developmental influences, and the diversity of the people living in the UAE 24. 9. Do you think that the UAE still maintains its identity with all the cultural diversity that lives in it? Explain. - **Answer:** This question is subjective and requires personal opinion. The document suggests that despite cultural diversity, the core values of the UAE remain intact, indicating that it may maintain its identity 24. 10. What are the main components of the UAE community? - **Answer:** The components include religious unity, humanistic homogeneity, linguistic unity, geographical unity, customs & traditions unity, and historical unity 26. 11. Discuss three non-material culture and three physical culture. Provide examples. - **Answer:** Non-material culture examples: Religion (Islam), Traditions (Ramadan practices), and Language (Arabic). Physical culture examples: Buildings (mosques), Clothing (Kandura for men), and Transportation (traditional dhows) 12, 16. **Study Guide for SOCL-103: UAE Studies** **Week 4 -- Session 1: Cultural and Educational Development in the UAE** **Learning Objectives** 1. Understand the meaning of cultural development and its relationship to the development of individuals. 2. Identify the roots of cultural development in the UAE. 3. Identify the nature of education that prevailed in the early to mid-20th century. 4. Discuss the stages of education in the UAE and its different types. 5. Introduce APA citation style. **Table of Contents** 1. UAE Culture 2. Foundation of the Governance Culture 3. Education in the UAE 4. Closing Questions **Key Questions and Answers** **1. What is the general concept of culture?** **Answer:** Culture is defined as the "customary beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a particular social group." It encompasses the arts, customs, beliefs, values, behavior, and material objects that characterize a society or nation 9. **2. What are the cultural developmental tools mentioned?** **Answer:** The cultural developmental tools include: - **Religion:** A major force in shaping values and norms. - **Education:** Key in shaping individual culture. - **Leadership:** Necessary for creating change and establishing cultural institutions. - **Parenting:** An effective mechanism for transferring culture. - **Media:** Influences behavior and culture. - **Arts:** A component of culture 12. **3. Describe the foundation of governance culture in the UAE.** **Answer:** The foundation of governance culture in the UAE is characterized by a culture of sharing and participation intrinsic to Emirati culture. Historically, ruling Sheikhs held informal meetings known as Barza or Majlis, where they engaged with the community to discuss and resolve local issues 17. **4. What were the factors that affected cultural development in the UAE?** **Answer:** Significant factors include: 1. Economic prosperity from pearl trade. 2. Connections with cultural movements in Egypt and the Syrian coast post-Suez Canal opening. 3. Regular shipping routes enhancing trade and cultural exchange. 4. The role of Arab merchants and intellectuals in fostering cultural reform 19. **5. What was the first newspaper in the UAE and what type of news did it cover?** **Answer:** The first newspaper was \"AL Nakhi,\" issued in 1934 by Musabeh Obaid Al Dhahiri. It covered a wide range of local news, including births, deaths, weddings, divorces, and the arrival of commercial convoys 22. **6. Describe the evolution of education in the UAE.** **Answer:** Education in the UAE has evolved through several stages: 1. **The Mutawa and the Katateeb**: Early forms of education focusing on religious instruction. 2. **Educational Circles**: Informal gatherings for learning. 3. **Semi-Organized Education**: Emergence of schools with varying quality influenced by scholars. 4. **Modern Education System**: Established post-1971, with education becoming compulsory and free for Emiratis 35. **Closing Questions** 1. **How can a multi-cultural society like the UAE balance the preservation of local traditions with the integration of diverse cultural influences?** - **Answer (inferred):** The UAE can balance this by promoting cultural awareness through education, community events, and policies that celebrate both local traditions and the diverse cultures present in society. 2. **Which early bulletin, issued in 1934 by Musabeh Obaid Al Dhahiri, covered a wide variety of news, including births, deaths, weddings, and the arrival of commercial convoys in Al Ain?** - **Answer:** d) Al Nakhi 44.