1. Ethnic Groups of Southwest Asia
 2011 Clairmont Press

2. What is an Ethnic Group?
A group of people that share cultural ideas and beliefs that have been part of their community for generations
Often share: language, religion, history, types of food, and traditions
Kurds, Arabs, and Persians are all ethnic groups in Southwest Asia.

3. Arabs Descendants of Abraham, through his son Ishmael
Largest ethnic group in Southwest Asia
Most follow Islam, but many are also Christian

4. Location of Arabs

5. Persians Live in the modern country of Iran
Descendants of Indo-Europeans from Central Europe and Southern Russia
Speak Farsi
Most practice Islam, mainly the Shia branch

6. Location of Persians

7. Kurds Live in the mountainous areas of Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq
Speak Kurdish
Many Kurds hope to have their own country one day, which has caused conflict with the countries in which they live.
Most Kurds practice Sunni Islam

8. Location of Kurds