SS7G8 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people

who live in Southwest Asia (Middle East).

a. Explain the differences between an

ethnic group and a religious group. b. Explain the diversity of religions within

the Arabs, Persians, and Kurds.

Culture

Religious group:

Group that shares a common belief, normally in God or Gods

and practice that belief the same way-religion

Ethnic Group: Group that share a

common history, ancestry. And normally shares same language. Many have one

religion but some have several religious groups

Is your Ethnicity

Bedouin

Kurd

Persian

Jewish

Arab

Arab

Most are Sunni Muslims, but there are other religious groups too. For example, 10 million Christian Arabs live in Egypt (the Coptic).

Most of the population of the Middle East

Jews 4,000 year old Ethnic Group who practices Judaism and lives mainly in Israel in the Middle East, but they are found worldwide

Nomadic sheep and camel herders who speak Arabic and practice Sunni Islam.

Minority group that practices Sunni Islam and lives in Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq

They have their own language and many want their own State.

Very old Ethnic group (at least 2,000 years old) most of whom are Shi’ite (Shia) Muslim

They have their own language (Persian) and their own State-Iran.