Contrasting Cultures

Ethnic and Religious Groups

• Ethnic group definition• Each ethnic group has its own distinct

language, traditions, arts and crafts, history, way of life and religion

• Religious group definition• Share a common belief system, but are

not necessarily composed of a single ethnic group

Arabs, Persians and Kurds

• Kurds, Persians, and Arabs are the ethnic groups for Southwest Asia (Middle East).

• Kurds – p. 452

• Watch video clip

• Read about Sunni and Shi’ite (Shia) Muslims

http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/MidEast.html

Middle East and Ethnic Groups

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/maps/demo.html

Arabs

• An ethnic group

• Speak Arabic as a native language

• Some are Muslims

• Some are Christians

• Southwest Asia and Middle East

Persians

• Live in Iran

• Until 1935,Iran was known as Persia.

• Iranians today are not Arabs

• Persians speak Farsi.

Kurds

• Semi-nomadic, tribal people

• Iraq and Turkey have suppressed the Kurds and their traditions.

Jewish People

• Considered to be an ethnic group and a religious group

• Religious Jews believe in Judaism

• Half of Jewish people living in Israel are secular, with no belief in Judaism.

• In Biblical times, the Jewish people were considered to be a nation.

Review – Which group is it?

• The majority of people in the Middle East belong to this ethnic group.

• Today, most Iranians speak Farsi and are:

• Kurds live in mountainous parts of the Middle East, an area informally called____.

• Some people consider this group to be both an ethnic and religious group.

Religion in the Middle East

• Judaism-a monotheistic religion of the Jews based on the Torah and the Talmud

• Began about 1800 B.C.E.(B.C.) when God spoke to Abraham; Moses and Abraham were considered prophets

• Jews are still awaiting the Messiah• Sacred places – Remains of the Jerusalem

temple (Wailing Wall), Hebron, Palestine, burial place of Abraham

• 2% of the Middle East is Jewish

Islam

• Islam: the Muslim religion teaching that there is only one God and that Muhammad is his prophet.

• Began in 7th century by Muhammad• Believe in Abraham and Moses as prophets;

Muhammad is the last prophet.• Believe Jesus was a prophet.• Their holy book – parts of the Bible’s Old

Testament and New Testament and the Qur’an.• Sacred Places – Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem• 90% live in Middle East

Christianity B.C.E. = Before Common Era /C.E. = Common Era

Anno Domini is Medieval Latin, translated as In the year of (the/Our) Lord • Christianity: a monotheistic system of beliefs and

practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

• Began in first century C.E. (A.D)• Believe in Abraham and Moses as prophets• Believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah• Sacred Book – Old and New Testament of the

Bible• Sacred Places – Many places in the Holy Land

(parts of Israel) where Jesus lived.• 4% of Christians live in Middle East

Quick Review – True or False

• 1. The oldest religion in the Middle East is Judaism.

• 2. Christians believe Muhammad was a prophet.

• 3. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe in all or part of the Bible.

• 4. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe Abraham was a prophet.

• 5. In Judaism, Mecca is a sacred place.

Sunnis and Shi’as – Both Muslims

• Sunni• Powerful Iraqis• (Saddam Hussein)• Rigid• 90% of Muslims are Sunnis• Sunnis follow sunnah or

custom of Muhammad.• After Muhammad’s death the

Sunnis wanted the best leader to succeed

• Shi’ite / Shi’a• More willing to accept

religious leaders as political leaders.

• In Iran, most are Shi’ite.• After Muhammad’s death,

Shias began to follow Ali, Muhammad’s closest relative.

• Ali was Muhammad’s cousin and was married to his daughter.

• The Shia felt that leadership should stay within the prophet’s family.

• Saddam Hussein – Former leader of Iraq

• Osama bin Laden – Leader of the Alqaida Terrorist Group said to be the cause of September 11 attacks

Muslim Men in the Media