Cultural Characteristics of the Middle East

7 th Grade TAG Social Studies

Background

 Arab peoples make up almost the entire populations of Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and other states of Southwest Asia.  Arab culture has a long history and rich traditions.  Arabs are the largest ethnic group in the Middle East, but many other cultures also live in the region.

Background

 Christianity and Judaism are major religions practiced in Southwest Asia.  Most people in the Middle East are Muslims.  This means that they practice the religion of Islam.  Ninety percent of people in the region are Muslims.

Turkish

 The Turks are an ethnic group based on language —Turkish.  They live mostly in Turkey and Iran.  Most of the people who live in Turkey are of Turkish descent.  Most Turks practice some form of Islam.  Like Kurds, Turkish people are rarely strict about some Islamic practices.

Turkish

 Both Kurds and Turks live in Turkey and often fight over issues not related to religion - for example, education is a controversial issue between these two groups.  The Turkish people are well known for their architecture.  Mosques in Turkey are a good example of Turkish architecture.

Arab

 Arabs comprise most of the population of Southwest Asia.  However, many Arabs also live in Northern Africa, Canada, Europe, and the United States.  Most Arabs practice Islam and speak Arabic.  Small numbers of Arabs practice other religions.

Arab

 Islam consists mostly of two different groups.  The majority of Muslims practice Sunni Islam.  Most others practice Shi’a Islam.  Sunnis and Shi’a disagree about who is in charge of the Muslim world.

Persian

• Persians live in the modern country of Iran.

• Persia became known as Iran after World War I.

• Descended from a different group than people who are Arabs or Jews.

• Ancestors were Indo-Europeans from Central Europe and Southern Russia.

Persian

 The Persians are an ethnic group that lived in Iran before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century.  Persians make up about half of Iran’s current population.  They have their own language called Farsi.  Most Persians in Iran today practice Shi’a Islam, but some are Sunni and other religions.

Persian

 Persian women have faced many challenges as a result of strict cultural and religious practices.  Through struggle, Persian women have increased their personal freedoms over the past forty years.  Persian art and architecture is well known.  Many people consider Persian rugs to be among the finest in the world.

Kurds

•Ethnic Group (Kurds)- live in mountain regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

•Almost one-fifth of the population of Turkey is Kurdish. •Speak Kurdish •Do not have their own homeland or government •They are a minority group ruled by the government of the country in which they live

Orange signifies Kurdish Population

Kurds

 Most Kurds today are Sunni Muslims  Kurdish Muslims are usually less strict about Islamic practices.  There are fewer laws for how Kurdish women should dress than there are for Iranian and Arab women.  Kurds share many aspects of their culture with Iranians.