Question 1

Which of the following was NOT a result of the Iranian revolution of 1979?

Accepted Answer

The Iranian revolution of 1979 led to increased anti-American sentiment in Iran, culminating in the 444-day hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy. The revolution also resulted in the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the replacement of secular laws with Islamic codes. The revolution served as a model for Islamist political movements throughout the Middle East. However, it did not result in the United States becoming a close Iranian ally.

Question 2

What was the core message of the Freedom Movement's ideologue Ali Shari'ati?

Accepted Answer

Ali Shari'ati believed that Shi'ism was an activist faith that required its adherents to oppose injustice and to assert their cultural heritage in the face of Western models of development. He encouraged Iranians to embrace their own culture and history, and to resist the influence of the West. While he was critical of traditional religious scholasticism, he still believed in the importance of religion as a source of power and inspiration for the people.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about Vilayati-i Faqih is not true?

Accepted Answer

Vilayati-i Faqih was not the traditional form of Shi‛ite government, but a modern concept devised by Ayatollah Khomeini in the 20th century. Traditional Shi‛ite government relied on the concept of the Imamate, where the rightful leader of the community was a divinely appointed Imam.

Question 4

When leading ayatollahs and opposition members called for Iranians to observe a day of mourning for the deaths of student protestors in Qum in 1978, they effectively ____________________________.

Accepted Answer

By calling for a day of mourning that fused political protest with religious rituals, the ayatollahs and opposition members were able to unite their cause with the credibility and authority of the religious establishment, thus empowering themselves and granting themselves more legitimacy in their opposition to the shah's regime. This move did not carry out the desires of the shah, absolve his regime of wrongdoing, or dismiss the concerns of the families of the students.

Question 5

The rise of political Islam in the Middle East is usually explained as a reaction to which two events?

Accepted Answer

The defeat of Arab nationalism in 1967 (with Israel's success in the Six Day War) and the success of the Iranian revolution in establishing an Islamic republic are often cited as key events that triggered the rise of political Islam in the Middle East.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of the Council of the Islamic Republic?

Accepted Answer

The Council of the Islamic Republic was composed mainly of members of the ulama and subject to guidance by Khomeini; it was the supreme administrative and legislative body in the country; and it had the power to veto policies proposed by the Prime Minister, Mehdi Bazargan. Therefore, all of these answers are correct.

Question 7

It was Ayatollah Khomeini's long-held belief that a truly Islamic state could be ensured only by the _______________________.

Accepted Answer

Ayatollah Khomeini believed that a truly Islamic state could only be ensured by the governance of the religious establishment, that is, the supreme leader and the clerics who interpret and enforce Islamic law. He argued that secular leaders would lead the country astray from Islamic principles and that only a government based on Islamic law could bring justice and prosperity to the people.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT an example of how the "Islamization" of Iran impacted women?

Accepted Answer

Women in Iran were granted the right to vote in 1963 and this right was not taken away during the Islamization of Iran. However, the other options listed are examples of how women's rights were restricted during this period.

Question 9

What was the driving force behind the Islamic resurgence during the 1970s and 1980s?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What was the driving force behind the...

Question 10

In 1980, which country attacked Iran partly due to the threat it felt by the Iranian revolution?

Accepted Answer

Iraq attacked Iran in 1980 partly due to the threat it felt by the Iranian revolution.

Question 11

Which of the following groups was not one of the main participant groups in the Iranian Revolution (1979)?

Accepted Answer

The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist organization primarily active in Egypt and was not a main participant group in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The other three groups listed, Bazaaris, Students, and Urban professionals, were all important participant groups in the revolution.

Question 12

Which of the following most accurately describes "Irangate"?

Accepted Answer

Irangate, also known as the Iran-Contra Affair, was a secret arms deal between Iran and the United States during the Reagan administration. The United States sold weapons to Iran, violating an arms embargo, and used the proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua, which was also illegal. The scandal was uncovered in 1986 and several members of the administration were convicted for their involvement.

Question 13

Which of the following statements most accurately describe the ideas of Ali Shari‛ati?

Accepted Answer

Ali Shari‛ati advanced a reformist doctrine that combined elements of Marxism, Shi'ism, and Iranian patriotism.

Question 14

What event helped trigger the transformation of the opposition to Muhammad Reza Shah from a moderate reformist movement into a popular Islamic revolution?

Accepted Answer

The event that helped trigger the transformation of the opposition to Muhammad Reza Shah from a moderate reformist movement into a popular Islamic revolution was a scandalous attack against Ayatollah Khomeini published in a government newspaper. This attack galvanized public support for Khomeini and intensified the opposition to the Shah, contributing significantly to the mobilization of the masses and the eventual success of the Islamic Revolution.

Question 15

How did Ayatollah Khomeini tend to use the enormous powers that were constitutionally mandated to him as the supreme Islamic jurist?

Accepted Answer

Ayatollah Khomeini tended to use his powers as a guide, offering decisions on major questions and avoiding involvement in routine administrative matters. He did not establish a direct personal dictatorship or create a façade party. While he did have some influence over government decisions, he did not micromanage the entire government.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a reason that the Freedom Movement came to endorse Khomeini's camp as the forefront of opposition?

Accepted Answer

The Freedom Movement did not exclusively call for a government based on Islamic law like Khomeini did. While they shared some common goals with Khomeini's camp, such as opposition to the Shah, their vision for Iran's future governance was not limited to an Islamic framework.

Question 17

Which of the following accurately describes the significance of Muharram?

Accepted Answer

Muharram is a Shi'a religious holiday and the most important ceremony in the Shi'a calendar. It is also the customary period of ritual mourning for the martyrdom of Imams Ali and Husayn. Additionally, the coinciding of demonstrations against the shah with this holiday in December 1978 helped consolidate support for Khomeini and, ultimately, the Islamic Revolution.

Question 18

Which of the following leadership positions are chosen by popular vote?

Accepted Answer

Members of the Majlis, the Iranian parliament, are chosen by popular vote in elections held every four years. The other options listed, including the Supreme Islamic jurist, Revolutionary Guards, and Council of Guardians, are not chosen by popular vote but rather appointed or selected through other means.

Question 19

Which of the following does NOT accurately describe the significance of Bani-Sadr?

Accepted Answer

Bani-Sadr was not viewed as an instrument of the religious establishment by the secular middle class due to his close ties with Khomeini. In fact, he was seen as a moderate figure who eventually became isolated from both the religious establishment and other political factions, leading to his impeachment.

Question 20

Which of the following best captures the relationship between ulama and the new Islamic Republic's land reform measures?

Accepted Answer

While there may have been some support for land reform within certain segments of the ulama and urban working classes, the predominant relationship between the ulama and the Islamic Republic's land reform measures was one of opposition. The government did carry out land redistribution in the countryside during the 1980s, but large land-owning ulama were able to successfully undermine much of it through legal rulings that emphasized Islamic jurisprudence in support of private property. Some ulama did work on behalf of peasants, but overall the ulama's position was not in support of the government's land reform measures.

Quiz 18: The Iranian Revolution and the Revival of Islam