1. Cultures of the Middle East
What’s your image of the people of the Middle East?

2. The Many Cultures of the Middle East
The Middle East consists of approximately 20 countries, with many different religions and a variety of ethnic and linguistic groups. Given this diversity, we should not be surprised to see the difficulties Middle Easterners may have coexisting in the region.

3. What are some stereotypes you have about this region’s people?
At your table please look to your shoulder partner and discuss common stereotypes about the people of the Middle East.

4.                               
Hamas considers all of Israel as

12. Crossroads of Civilization
Situated between Africa, Asia, and Europe, the Middle East has been a crossroads for traders, travelers, and empire builders for thousands of years. It is a melting pot of ethic backgrounds. Major ethnic groups in the Middle East today include Arabs, Iranians, Turks, Jews (Israelis), Kurds, and Caucasians. Most of the countries in this region are multiethnic. But even as diversity enhances the cultural richness of society, it unfortunately may lead to political conflict.

13. Arabs
Most people in the region are Arabs, and most Arabs are Muslims. Both Islamic culture and Arabic, the language of the Arabs, have had a significant impact on the region. Although the area is primarily Islamic, Islam itself can be broken down into 2 sects: Sunnis and Shi’ites.

15. Iranians
Iran is home to about 66 million people, most of whom speak Farsi and are Shiite Muslims

16. Jews (Israelis)
About 6.1 million people in the region are Israelis living in Israel. Of these, about 82% are Jews; the remaining 18% are mostly Arabs. In 1948, Israel was founded as a Jewish State. Tensions between Arabs and Jews resulting in four wars that have brought severe hardship to the area’s people.

18. 3 Major Religions of the Middle East
Judaism
Christianity
Islam

19. Judaism The oldest monotheistic faith
Origin traced back to the ancient Israelites, who made Jerusalem their religious center
Jews eventually settled in other areas, taking their beliefs with them

20. Christianity Developed from Judaism
Based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
Spread throughout the Mediterranean world into Asia, Africa, Europe, and eventually to the Americas and the South Pacific region

21. Islam Major religion of the region
Acknowledge Muhammad as the last of a series of great prophets
Spread from the Arabian Peninsula to other parts of Asia, North Africa, and Europe

22. What do they all have in common?
All believe in one God
Each has a holy book
All call for regular prayer, certain periods of fasting or eating special foods
All observe certain holy days
All require attendance at worship services

23. What’s different about the religions?
The rules of each faith are different.

24. Many ethnic groups have always lived side by side in this region
Many ethnic groups have always lived side by side in this region. Why have these groups not been able to settle their differences?

25. Answer: Cultural identity is very strong
Answer: Cultural identity is very strong. No group is willing to be ruled by a group whose culture, language, and customs are different. Religious beliefs differ, and religious beliefs often result in serious disagreement.

26. Everyday Life in the Middle East
Has changed greatly in the last century, with improved health care, rapid population growth, and the introduction of technology. People’s activities, however, still center on home, family, and religion.

27. Common Thread
A common thread that runs through many lives is the importance of family and the values that derive from having a strong extended family: respect, honor and loyalty.

28. The Family
The family is an important part of culture in the Middle East.
In traditional Arab societies the family unit is an extended family—cousins, grandparents, second cousins, cousin-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and more—all living together. Migration to cities has broken up some of these extended families.

29. The Urbanization of the Middle East
The difference between life in the village and life in the city sometimes seems to be as great or greater than the difference between living in the Middle East and living in America.

30. The largest cities of the region have modern high-rise buildings side by side with small houses that are hundreds of years old.
Much of the rural population lives in stone or wooden housing, some without running water or electricity.

31. What problems could arise from these large cities growing too fast?

32. Answer: Lack of jobs Lack of housing
Unimproved infrastructure such as roads and utilities
* All of these factors have led to poverty, snarled traffic and pollution.

33. Foods in the Middle East
Staple foods include wheat and barley, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, lamb and mutton.
Rural people grow their own food and shop at village markets. Urban dwellers shop at supermarkets, but bazaars, or traditional markets, are also popular gathering places in the cities.

34.                                                                   
                                                               
A fruit vendor at a market in Alexandria, Egypt

35. The Urbanization of the Middle East (continued)
Over the past 200 years, and increasingly more now, more and more Western goods, everything from clothes to computers have appeared in Middle Eastern markets.
Not only goods, but culture as well, have been imported from the West.

36.                                                                   
                                                               
A busy street in Cairo, Egypt

40. The Urbanization of the Middle East (continued)
There is an active debate in most Middle Eastern communities about how much Western culture and technology can and should be adopted before such influences begin to compromise their culture, traditions and identity.

41. Education
Most of the region’s youth male and female attend high school
Some attend universities
Literacy rates in the region vary, but have improved greatly in the past 20 years

42. Health Care
Health care has improved and expanded, but there is a shortage of hospital beds and doctors, particularly in rural areas.
Average life expectancy is low throughout the region.

43. Leisure and Entertainment
A caller, called a muezzin, calls for prayer 5 times a day in areas with large Muslim populations.
People visit with friends and family during leisure time.
Soccer, board games and chess are popular in many areas.

44. Muslim Women
Not all women of the Middle East are restricted. The ones who are restricted by Islamic law.
Some have begun to resist restrictions, and have begun to win greater freedom both in dress and activities.
Women can participate in sports, but can only participate where there are female spectators.

45. Arab Pop Culture

51.                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Partygoers wear western clothes and enjoy western music