Ethnic Groups of SWA & NA

SSWG3g. Describe the major ethnic and cultural groups in North Africa/Southwest Asia; include major customs and

traditions.

Arabs

Arabs are the primary ethnic group of SWA & NA

Arabs’ religion is primarily Muslim, but there are Jewish & Christian Arabs as well.

Arab culture◦Speak Arabic◦Family is very important & gender roles are not

equal◦Muslim men often wear turbans; women

sometimes wear form of Muslim dress.◦Homes vary from place to place

Arabs

Bedouins

Bedouins are nomads in the deserts of NA & SWA.

They are known for rich oral poetic tradition, their herding lifestyle, emphasis on community and their traditional code of honor.

They are considered to be “true Arabs”.

Persians

Persians are a non-Arab ethnic groupPersians primarily live in Iran (and some of

Afghanistan)Persians are primarily Shia Muslim

◦Created Zoroastrianism Culture

◦Speak Farsi◦Sport of polo, algebra, and our modern road

system originated here◦1001 Arabian Nights◦Women in Iran wear the veil◦Men and women are generally equal◦Known for their rugs and art

Persian

Kurds

Kurds are a non-Arab ethnic groupKurds primarily live in Turkey, Iran, Syria &

Iraq◦They want their own homeland--Kurdistan

Their religion is primarily Sunni MuslimCulture

◦Speak Kurdish◦Kurdish folklore is about reverence for elders

(particularly women), hospitality, courage, valor, and the love of freedom

◦Women are not required to wear the veil & relative equality between men & women

◦Kurds love music, poetry and dancing◦Primarily farmers & herders

Kurds

Berbers

Berbers are a non-Arab ethnic groupBerbers primarily live in Morocco, Algeria,

Tunisia, Libya, and EgyptTheir religion is primarily Sunni MuslimCulture

◦Men & women unequal in gender roles◦Disappearing because they are assimilating with

Arabs◦Primarily spoken language w/many dialects◦Live in clay huts or goat hair tents in rural areas◦Primarily herders◦Couscous

Berbers

Jews

Jews are a religious group living mostly in Israel.

Jews claim Palestine as their rightful homeland, but were driven out during the Jewish Diaspora (around 600BC)

Early 20th century, Zionism (or desire for a Jewish homeland) started. ◦This was influenced by the Holocaust

In 1948, Jews were given Israel by the UN, forcing Palestinians (Muslim Arabs) who lived there to move to other areas.

Who owns what where?

Jews occupy part of Jerusalem (southeast corner), Israel, and part of the Golan Heights.

Palestinians occupy the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as well as part of Jerusalem (northeast corner)

The Palestinians were forced off their land when Israel was created and there’s still lingering tension between the groups.

They both claim that this area is their rightful homeland.

Holy Place Pics

Wailing Wall Dome of the Rock