Middle East/SE Ethnic Groups

Standards:
SS7G8 The student
will describe the diverse
cultures of the people
who live in Southwest
Asia.
SS7G8c Compare and
contrast the prominent
religions in Southwest
Asia (Middle East):
Judaism, Islam, and
Christianity.
SS7G8d Explain the
reason for the division
between Sunni and Shia
Muslims.
SS7G8a Explain the
differences between an
ethnic group and a
religious group.
SS7G8b Explain the
diversity of religions
within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds.
Enduring Understanding
Cultural and religious
divisions affect the
development of a
region.
Why did Islam split into
two sects, and how has
that split affected the
people of the Middle
East?

SS7G8c Compare and contrast the
prominent religions in Southwest Asia
(Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and
Christianity.
Section 4
Birthplace of
Three Religions
Southwest Asia was the birthplace of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam.
NEXT
Three Religions
Jerusalem
City has been home for centuries to Jews,
Christians, Muslims
Each group believes in only one god
monotheism
- Sumerians, Egyptians believe in many
godspolytheism
Each religion was begun by single person, has
sacred writings
Birthplace of Three Religions
NEXT
4
SECTION
4
SECTION
Yahweh and Abraham
Hebrews, first monotheists, believe Yahweh spoke to
Abraham
- has him leave Mesopotamian Ur, settle in Canaan
(now Israel)
Abrahams descendants are Jews; religion is
Judaism
Abraham and the Origin of Judaism
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Continued . . .
4
SECTION
How Judaism Adapted over Time
In 586 B.C., Babylonians destroy Jews First
Temple in Jerusalem
- Jews are exiled to Babylon
Persians take over Mesopotamia 50 years later
- Jews return to Jerusalem, rebuild Temple
Jerusalem, Temple destroyed when Jews fight
Roman rule in A.D. 66
Most Jews live outside Jerusalem for next 1,800
years
continued Abraham and the Origin of Judaism
NEXT
4
SECTION
Early Life
Around 8 to 4 B.C., Jewish boy Jesus born in
Bethlehem, Palestine
According to Bibles Gospels, written decades after
his death:
- grew up in Galilee, baptized at age 30 by cousin
John the Baptist
- for 3 years, preaches love, forgiveness; performs
miracles
- 12 disciples, other followers believe he is Jewish
Messiahsavior
- called ChristGreek for messiah; followers called
Christians
Jesus and the Birth of Christianity
NEXT
Continued . . .
4
SECTION
Final Days
Some government, religious leaders feel Jesus,
followers are threat
- in Jerusalem, Jesus betrayed by disciple, Judas
Iscariot
- arrested, tried, crucified; disciples believe he was
resurrected
continued Jesus and the Birth of Christianity
NEXT
Beginnings of Christianity
Disciples spread Jesus teachings and belief he
was Jewish Messiah
Christianity develops from Jewish roots, spreads
around world
Today, few Christians live in Southwest Asia
4
SECTION
The Regions Third Monotheistic Religion
Muhammad born in Mecca around A.D. 570
- founder of Islamreligion with one god, whose
prophet is Muhammad
- Muslimbeliever in Islam
Muslims believe that around 610, Muhammad is
commanded by a voice
Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam
NEXT
Continued . . .
4
SECTION
Muhammads Teachings
Muhammad believes angel Gabriel tells him the
will of God
- Gabriel sends him revelations over next 22 years
Revelations later collected into Quransacred
text of Islam
Muhammad shares divine messages, criticizes rich
of Mecca
Meccas leaders try to kill Muhammad
In 622, Muhammad, followers escape to nearby
Medina
continued Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam
NEXT
Section 5
Muslim Empires
Islamic beliefs and culture spread out Southwest
Asia and much of the world
NEXT
The Five Pillars of Islam
Religious Duties
Five Pillars of IslamMuslims important
religious duties
- these duties unite Muslims around the world
Muslim Empires
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5
SECTION
Chart
Conquest, Trade, and Learning
After Muhammads death, a caliph is chosen to
succeed him
Caliphs form caliphateempireas theocracy,
ruled by religious leader
Caliphates vast trading system spreads Islamic
ideas, artwork
In early Middle Ages, Muslims save important
books, papers
- preserve ancient worlds knowledge, later studied
by Europeans
Muslim Empires
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5
SECTION
Islam in Europe
Muslims conquer Spain, but stopped in 732 at
Tours by Charles Martel
JERUSALEM:
The Old City includes sites
sacred to three religions.
Muslims revere the Dome of
the Rock, built over the rock
from which Muhammad made
a night journey to heaven. The
Wailing Wall, all that remains of
the ancient Temple
of Solomon, is sacred to the
Jews. The Christian Church of
the Holy Sepulcher marks the
spot where Jesus Christ is
believed to have been buried
after his crucifixion.
Holy Places
for 3 Religions
SS7G8a Explain the differences
between an ethnic group and a religious
group.

How are ethnic and religious
groups different?
Ethnic groups share many common
characteristics, such as language, physical
appearance, customs, and traditions.
Religious groups share a common belief
system, but are not necessarily composed
of a single ethnic group.

Ethnic Groups
Share Examples
Share examples of different religions and
how these include different ethnic groups.
Students should understand that ethnic
groups and religious groups are not defined
by political borders.

ETHNIC GROUPS/LANGUAGE GROUPS
Language is the principle criterion for defining ethnic
groups. Arabic is the national language of most of the
countries of the Middle East and is spoken by about half the
population of the region. Speaking Arabic is the hallmark of
being an Arab since it is the language of the Koran, the holy
book of the Muslims. However, many other ethnic and
language groups exist in the Middle East other than
Arabic. These include Hebrew, spoken by approximately 4
million people and includes mainly the Jews of Israel; Altaic
Turkic Languages such as Turkish, spoken in Turkey; Azeri,
spoken in northwestern Iran; Indo-European Languages
such as Farsi (Persian), the primary language of Iran,
Kurdish, spoken in Kurdistan, Armenian at the junction of
Turkey and Iran; and Berber which is spoken by many
millions of North Africans.
RELIGION
The overwhelming majority of the people in the Middle East
are Muslims (followers of the Islam). Within the Muslim
religion there are various sects. Major divisions of include
the Sunni, Shiite, and Druze sects.
However, other religions are also represented in the Middle
East. One obvious exception to the Muslim majority in Middle
Eastern countries are the Jews of Israel. Also, there are
Christian minorities in several countries. In Egypt, there are
the Coptic Christians who kept their original faith after the
Muslims conquered their country. In Lebanon and Syria there
are Orthodox Christians and also Roman Catholics and
Protestant Christians, who were converted by missionaries
from Europe and the United States.
Sources of Religious Conflict
Among all the peoples of the Middle
East, religious differences contribute
to conflict. Jews and Arabs claim holy
sites in Jerusalem. Religious conflicts
between Christians and Muslims have
erupted in Egypt, Lebanon, and
Sudan. Conflicts also occur within
religions.
Sunni and Shia Muslims
SS7G8d Explain the reason for the
division between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

Two Muslims Groups
Sunnis and Shiites Islam, for example, has two
main sects, or groupsSunnis (SUNeez) and
Shiites (SHEEYTS). Most Muslims in the region
are Sunni. In Iran, however, most people
belong to the Shia branch of Islam. Shiites are
more willing than the Sunni to accept religious
leaders as political leaders. This difference has
contributed to conflict between neighboring
Iran and Iraq. The most powerful Iraqis are
Sunni.
Reason for Division
The reason for division between Sunni and Shia
Muslims is based on the issue of

a. the issue of womens rights within the religion
b. who should control the natural resources of the
region
c. who should succeed Muhammad as leader or
caliph after his death
d. where the geographic center of the Islamic world
should be located


Arabs, Persians, and Kurds

SS7G8b Explain the diversity of
religions within the Arabs, Persians, and
Kurds.

Conflict Between Ethnic Groups
Trouble also occurs when different ethnic groups
come into conflict. For example, like most people
in the region, Iraqis are descendants of Arabs who
spread out from the Arabian Peninsula in the
600s. Most Iranians, however, are Persian,
people originally from Central Asia who have lived
on the Iranian plateau for 3,000 years. Arabs and
Persians have different histories and speak
different languages. These differences contribute
to conflicts between Iran and Iraq.
Most Kurds are found in the
mountainous areas where
Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq
come together.
They speak their own
language called Kurdish, and
have a separate history,
literature, music, and set of
traditions.
Many Kurds hope to have a
nation of their own some day,
a hope that has caused conflict
with the countries in which
Kurdish people live.
Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim
with small minorities of Shia
Muslims and Yazidis.
Women, in traditional Kurdish
dress, dance during a wedding
party in what they hope to one
day be called Kurdistan.
Most Persians live in the
modern country of Iran where
they are the most populous
ethnic group.
They are different from Arabs
and Jews in that their ancestors
came from Central Europe and
Southern Russia
The country of Persia became
known as Iran after WWI.
Persians speak Farsi, a
language that uses the Arabic
alphabet but is actually spoken
differently.
Most Persians are Shia Muslims
even though Shia Muslims only
make up about 15% of the
worlds Muslim population.
Zoroastrianism is one of the
minor religions of the Persian
people.
Persian family from northern Iran
Arabs are the most populous
ethnic group in the Middle
East.
Arabs believe themselves to
be descendants of Abraham
through his son Ishmael and
originally from the Arabian
Peninsula.
They speak Arabic.
Most Arabs are Muslims, with
the majority being Sunni
Muslim. However, there are
many Christian Arabs as well,
especially in the countries of
Lebanon and Egypt.
Arabs escape the Gaza strip
into Egypt for much needed
supplies.
Conflict Between Ethnic Groups
Trouble also occurs when different ethnic groups
come into conflict. For example, like most people
in the region, Iraqis are descendants of Arabs who
spread out from the Arabian Peninsula in the 600s.
Most Iranians, however, are Persian, people
originally from Central Asia who have lived on the
Iranian plateau for 3,000 years. Arabs and
Persians have different histories and speak
different languages. These differences contribute
to conflicts between Iran and Iraq.

Vocabulary
Arab: ethnic group located in the Middle East and North Africa; language spoken is
Arabic
Caliph: title used by rulers of the Muslim community from 632-1924
Kurd: an ethnic group that lives in the mountainous regions of Armenia, Georgia,
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon,
Syria, and turkey; most are Sunni Muslims; Kurds do not have their own
state/country
Persian: ethnic group located primarily in Iran (Iran was formally the Persian
Empire)
Religious Group: people who identify closely with a set of beliefs that influence their
culture. Example: Christians and Muslims appeal to many different ethnic groups,
whereas, Judaism is mostly associated with ethnic Jews.
Shia: The Shiites believed that Mohammad had designated Ali as his successor and
spiritual heir. There are two important aspects here. First, the idea that
Mohammad's heir should be from Mohammad's family. Second, that unlike the
Sunnis, the successor should be a religious and political leader.
Sunni: 80%-85% of Muslims are Sunnis, Sunnis believe that Mohammad did not
appoint a successor (replacement), and therefore one had to be appointed by the
Muslims themselves. This led to the establishment of the Caliphate, a series of men
who took over Mohammad's worldly power, but who made no claim to be
Mohammad's spiritual successor.


1. In the boxes, explain the diversity (variety) of religions that each ethnic group considers part of its culture.
2. On the map below, color where these ethnic groups live in the Middle East.












ARABS


PERSIANS


KURDS


On the map below, color where these ethnic groups live in the Middle East.