1. PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST

2. The SEMITES
Together, the Arabs and Jews make up the Semitic population of the MidEast.
Arabic and Hebrew are considered Semitic languages, hence the term.
Earliest Semites were the Akkadians, Assyrians, Canaanites, Hebrews and the Phoenicians.
Hebrew’s only group to maintain separate identity
anti-Semitism only pertains to the Jews
Other groups have been diffused w/ the Arabs

3. The ARABS Single largest MidEast group based upon language
written Arabic (classical)
spoken Arabic
majority are Islamic
Christian Arabs
Jewish Arabs
Live in entire Arabian Peninsula, plus Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and most of North Africa

4. TURKS From Turkey Sunni Muslims Democratic (Parliament)
originally from Central Asia
mixture of Central Asians and Europeans
speak Turkish
most populous MidEast country
Sunni Muslims
Democratic (Parliament)
one of two democracies in the MidEast
member of NATO
No oil
very Western
Ottoman Empire was the largest & longest lasting Muslim empire ever
ATATURK

5. IRANIANS From Iran largest MidEast country Shi’ite Muslims
ancient Persia
speak Farsi (Persian)
written w/ Arabic script
largest MidEast country
Shi’ite Muslims
minority Muslims
Theocratic gov’t today
Iranian (Islamic) Revolution in 1979
US Hostage Crisis
Iran-Iraq War from
Oil rich

6. ISRAELIS Existed in Biblical times Jewish Speak Hebrew Democratic
Israel recreated in 1948
Jewish
Ashkenazim: Jews from Europe
Sephardim: Jews from the Arab world & Africa
Israeli-Arabs
Speak Hebrew
Democratic
western culture
All must serve in the military

7. DRUZE Druze is the ethnic group & the religion Speak Arabic
secret religion
20% of Druze know their religion
must show interest to learn
Speak Arabic
Don’t have own country
live mainly in Israel, Syria and Lebanon
Only non-Jews allowed to join Israeli military
known to be loyal to Israel
fierce warriors

8. KURDS Speak Kurdish No Kurdistan Desire own homeland
live in Turkey, Iran, Iraq & Syria
Desire own homeland
some are willing to use terrorism
Unable to unite amongst themselves
Sunni Muslims
Hated by Turks and Arabs
Arab proverb: there are 3 plagues on the earth: the rat, the locust & the Kurd

9. Answer the following questions:
What is the dominant ethnic group i/t ME?
What are the two Semitic ethnicities?
Name the two ethnicities that are Mtn ppl.
What ethnicity are Iranians?
What is the dominant religion i/t MidEast?
Name the two countries that have democracies.
Name the two most common cultural characteristics found in the MidEast.