Middle East Culture Groups

Questions to Ponder :  1. Which ethnic group is most numerous in Southwest Asia? 2. Which ethnic group is most numerous in Israel? 3. What modern country is the home to those who call themselves Persians? 4. What is the religion of most Persians? 5. What is the religion of most Arabs in Southwest Asia? 6. What is so special about the country of Japan regarding ethnicity? (Remember our word: homogeneous!)

Ethnic Group, Religious Group or BOTH (or Neither!*!)? 1. Muslims 2. Christians 3. Kurds 4. Shiites 5. Catholics 6. Latinos 7. Persians 8. Arabs 9. Cherokee 10. Lutherans 11. Polish 12. Jews 13. Sunnis 14. Southerners 15. Northerners 16. Californians

Arabs  The Arab people are named for the language they speak, Arabic, which originated with the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula.  The largest cultural group in the Middle East.  Arabs include many different groups. While most Arabs are Muslim, other religious groups are part of the Arab world, including Christians and Jews.

Bedouins  The Bedouins are the traditional Arab people of the deserts, where they have lived as nomads for thousands of years.  They live in tents and herd camels and goats.  Their society focuses heavily on family clans.  Although they make up only about 2% of all Arabs, Bedouin language and culture has been a powerful force in history.

Druze  They are a minority Arab group living in the Mountains of Lebanon and Syria.  Their religion a mix of Shia Muslim, Christian, and other beliefs.  They have traditionally had good relations with their Jewish and Christian neighbors.

Berbers  The Berbers speak a distinct variety of languages and have lived in the mountains of Northwest Africa for thousands of years.  Historically, they have practiced many religions, but today they are predominantly Muslim.  Modern day Berber culture is heavily blended with Arab culture.

Turks  The Turks are a non-Arab people that live in modern day Turkey.  Turkish scholars have made many important contributions to astronomy and medicine.  Powerful Turkish empires dominated the Middle East for centuries.

Armenians  They are one of the earliest and largest Christian groups in the Middle East.  They live in an area that includes parts of modern day Iran, Armenia, and Turkey.  About 600,000 Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

Kurds  Kurds come from a region called Kurdistan, which includes parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.  They fought wars against the Turks and the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein.  Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim.

Persians  Persians have an ancient culture and once controlled the world ’ s most powerful empire.  Persian contributions to world culture include elaborate rugs and the invention of algebra, wine, polo, and the domesticated chicken.  Persians are NOT Arab; they speak the language Farsi.  Persians come from Iran, which is the largest Shia Muslim country.

Jews  Although Jews originated in the Middle East, most were forced out during the first century by the Romans in an event called the Diaspora (dispersal).  They eventually settled in communities all over Europe, where they were often persecuted (abused). Nazi Germany killed six million during the Holocaust of World War II  In the early 20th century many Jews sought to return to the Middle East and establish a Jewish homeland. They founded the nation of Israel in  Modern Israeli culture combines European with traditional Jewish customs.  Many of Israel ’ s Arab neighbors believe their land should belong to Muslim Arabs instead of Israeli Jews. Israel has fought and won many wars with its Arab neighbors.

Middle East Culture Groups

Arabs  The Arab people are named for the language they speak, Arabic, which originated with the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula.  The largest cultural group in the Middle East, living throughout North Africa and Southwest Asia.  Arabs include many different groups. While most Arabs are Muslim, other religious groups are part of the Arab world, including Christians and Jews.

Bedouins  The Bedouins are the traditional Arab people of the deserts, where they have lived as nomads for thousands of years.  They live in tents and herd camels and goats.  Their society focuses heavily on family clans.  Although they make up only about 2% of all Arabs, Bedouin language and culture has been a powerful force in history.

Druze  They are a minority Arab group living in the Mountains of Lebanon and Syria.  Their religion a mix of Shia Muslim, Christian, and other beliefs.  They have traditionally had good relations with their Jewish and Christian neighbors.

Berbers  The Berbers speak a distinct variety of languages and have lived in the mountains of Northwest Africa for thousands of years.  Historically, they have practiced many religions, but today they are predominantly Muslim.  Modern day Berber culture is heavily blended with Arab culture.

Turks  The Turks are a non-Arab people that live in modern day Turkey.  Turkish scholars have made many important contributions to astronomy and medicine.  Powerful Turkish empires dominated the Middle East for centuries.

Armenians  They are one of the earliest and largest Christian groups in the Middle East.  They live in an area that includes parts of modern day Iran, Armenia, and Turkey.  About 600,000 Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

Kurds  Kurds come from a region called Kurdistan, which includes parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.  They fought wars against the Turks and the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein.  Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim.

Persians  Persians have an ancient culture and once controlled the world ’ s most powerful empire.  Persian contributions to world culture include elaborate rugs and the invention of algebra, wine, polo, and the domesticated chicken.  Persians are NOT Arab; they speak the language Farsi.  Persians come from Iran, which is the largest Shia Muslim country.

Jews  Although Jews originated in the Middle East, most were forced out during the first century by the Romans in an event called the Diaspora (dispersal).  They eventually settled in communities all over Europe, where they were often persecuted (abused). Nazi Germany killed six million during the Holocaust of World War II  In the early 20th century many Jews sought to return to the Middle East and establish a Jewish homeland. They founded the nation of Israel in  Modern Israeli culture combines European with traditional Jewish customs.  Many of Israel ’ s Arab neighbors believe their land should belong to Muslim Arabs instead of Israeli Jews. Israel has fought and won many wars with its Arab neighbors.