1. 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.

2. Unit Focus
Events that happened leading up to the 21st century in SW Asia have changed or affected the people who live there.
Ethnic Groups were affected
Religious Groups were affected
National boundaries were changed
Conflicts between people groups have and still are taking place in the Middle East as a result of these changes.

3. The People of the Middle East
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.
c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southwest Asia (Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
d. Explain the reason for the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

4. Vocabulary of the Standard
Diverse- many different kinds of
Culture- the way of life for a group of people
Ethnic Group- group of people with SIMILAR distinctive characteristics such as
language, ancestry, culture, national origin,
shared history, beliefs, traditions
These similarities have existed for generations
WE ARE BORN INTO OUR ETHNIC GROUP
Religious Group- group of people who share the same belief in a god or gods
WE ARE NOT BORN INTO OUR RELIGIOUS GROUP- WE CAN CHANGE RELIGIONS IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO.

6. 3 Major Ethnic Groups of the Middle East Arabs Persians Kurds
(Iranians)
Kurds

8. Can you describe the location of the Persians, Kurds, and Arabs?

9. Ethnic Groups of the Middle East
Found mostly in Iran;
also called Iranians
Majority ethnic group in the Middle East in almost every country except: Israel, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.
Arabs
Persians
Kurds
Found in mountains of S.E.Turkey, northern Iran,
Northern Iraq, and northern Syria

10. What makes them a ‘group’?
Arabs- share a history of descending from Abraham; speak Arabic
Persians- share a history of descending from the Persian Empire; speak Farsi
Kurds- share a history of being a people without a nation (Kurdistan); speak Kurdish

11. Ethnic VS. Religious Groups

12. The Religious Diversity within Ethnic Groups
Arabs- the major ethnic group of the region
93% of all Arabs are Muslim
BUT NOT ALL ARABS ARE MUSLIM!
Most Arabs are Sunni Muslim
7% of Arabs are not Muslim

13. Persians Almost all Persians/Iranians are Muslim
Also called Iranians- their
Country borders the PERSIAN GULF!
Almost all Persians/Iranians are Muslim
Most Persian Muslims are Shi’a Muslim
Minority are Sunni Muslim
Only 4% of the Persian population are not Muslim

14. Kurds- live mostly in northern Iraq, Iran, Syria and SE Turkey
MOST KURDS are Sunni Muslim
small number of Shi’a Muslim
BUT NOT ALL KURDS ARE MUSLIM!

15. Judaism’s Western Wall
Islam’sDome
of the Rock
Christianity’s
Church of the
Holy Sepulchre
Judaism’s Western Wall
Jerusalem contains very important holy sites for all 3 religions

16. Religious Groups of the Middle East
Monotheism- a belief in only ONE God began in SW Asia
Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all monotheistic religious groups that began in the Middle East.

17. Compare And Contrast The Three Main Religions
SS7G8.c
Compare And Contrast The Three Main Religions

18. The Abraham Connection: Judaism, Christianity, & Islam
God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations,
Abraham began Judaism, the world’s first MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION
He was nearly 76 but he had no children with his wife Sarah
So, he had a son with his 2nd wife, Hagar
His name was Ishmael
Sarah became jealous
Sarah gave Abraham a son, named Isaac
Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael away
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was a descendant of Ishmael
Jesus, the founder of Christianity, was a descendant of Isaac
Judaism, Christianity, & Islam all began because of Abraham

19. Timeline of Events- Religion in Middle East
Years before the ‘Common Era’ (BCE)
Years before Christ (BC) Or
During Anno Domini (AD) after the birth of Christ
During the Common Era (CE)
1600 BC
Abraham begins Judaism
33 AD/CE
Jesus’ death;
Christianity begins
Muhammad begins spreading Islam
622 AD/CE

20. 1st Monotheistic religion in the world Over 4000 years old
About Judaism
1st Monotheistic religion in the world
Over 4000 years old
Started by Abraham and his descendants.
Worshiped a God named Jehovah / Yahweh
Symbol is the Star of David

21. Writings and literature
Torah – Name of religious writing. It’s the first 5 books of the Bible.
Synagogue/Temple – Place of worship
Rabbi – Religious leaders
Sabbath – Religious observance day- All day Saturday.

22. Believe in one God, creator of the universe Religious book is Torah
What Jews Believe
Believe in one God, creator of the universe
Religious book is Torah
1st 5 books of the bible
Moses primary author
Includes 10 commandments

23. Hebrew / Jewish History
12 tribes make up Hebrew
Lived in Canaan modern Israel
Forced into slavery by Egyptians
Moses led them out of slavery (called Exodus)
Went back to Israel
Called Jews after largest tribe Judah

24. Christianity Christianity followers of Jesus began in Judea / Israel
Leader Jesus
Born a Jew at about 4 B.C.
Parents, Mary & Joseph,
Lived in Nazareth.
Christians call Mary the Virgin Mary.
Christians believe Jesus is the “Son of God”

25. Many believe Jesus’ birth fulfilled a prophecy that a virgin would give birth to the Messiah
Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, north of Judea, when he was in his early 30’s.
The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) contain stories about his birth in the city of Bethlehem.

26. Jesus attracted disciples / followers
Life of Jesus
Jesus attracted disciples / followers
preached, performed miracles, & criticizing the Jewish authorities.
Jesus preached about the coming of the Kingdom of God, meaning an eternally just and peaceful state of affairs.
Kingdom of God = heaven
Believed to be the “Son of God”

27. Jesus’ disciples spread his teachings throughout the Roman Empire
Followers of Christ
Jesus’ disciples spread his teachings throughout the Roman Empire
organized churches.
New religion open to all and not just Jews

28. Judaism & Christianity
Judaism predates Christianity – it is the foundation of Christianity but is not a part of it
Jesus and Apostles were Jewish
Jews believe Jesus was a prophet but not Messiah
Jews are not concerned about salvation and the “world to come”

29. Writings of Christianity
Most early Christians accepted the books of the Jewish Bible as inspired by God and made them part of the Christian Bible.
They also added their own writings to the canon— that is, the official list of books of the Bible.

30. Exit Questions 1. What do Christians believe Jesus is?
2. What religion was Jesus?
3. How old was Jesus when he started his ministry?
4. How did Jesus die?
4. What happened to Jesus after his death that made people believe he was the Messiah?

31. Exit Questions 1. What is monotheism?
2. Who is responsible for starting the Jewish religion?
3. What is the Torah?
4. When is the Sabbath?
5. What are the 10 commandments?

33. Origins of Islam

34. Story of Prophet Mohammed
He was born to Arab parents from the tribe of Quraish, in Mecca.
The Quraish worshiped 360 gods. They believed these gods will get them closer to the God of gods (Allah).
His parents died very early.
He never worshiped Idols, drank Alcohol or lied.
He worked as a shepherd and then as a trader.
Known to people in Mecca as “the Honest”.

35. Story of Prophet Mohammed
Arab tribes had multiple wars with the prophet and Muslims.
Finally, victory was for Islam and Mecca fell into the hands of the prophet.
He forgave all his enemies and soon, his followers became in hundreds of thousands.
He died at the age of 63.

36. Allah Monotheistic Allah is Arabic for God Used by Muslims
Allah – the one God

37. Quran(Koran): The Holy Book
Muslim Holy Book
Original intact as given by the Prophet in Arabic
114 Chapters
Teaches what a Muslim must do

38. 5 Pillars of Islam Profession of Faith (Shahadah) Prayers (Salah)
Charity (Zakat)
Fasting ( Sawm)
Pilgrimage (Hajj)

39. Profession of Faith (Shahadah)
The Shahadah is the basic creed or tenet of Islam:
"I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah".
This is the most important pillar
Ideally, it is the first words a newborn will hear, and children are taught as soon as they are able to understand it and it will be recited when they die.
Muslims must repeat the shahadah in prayer

40. Prayers (Salah)
Five Daily Prayers from Dawn to Late Evening regulate a Muslim’s day
Face Kabah, prayers in Arabic as taught by the Prophet.
Additional Prayers optional

41. Charity (Zakat) Required 2.5% charity on yearly savings
A Muslim must be a charitable person
Removing a stone from the road is charity
Greeting with a smile is a charity

42. Fasting (Sawm) Ramadan is 9th month in Islamic Lunar calendar
Daily dawn to sunset fast for 29/30 days (no food or drink)
Done to show sacrifice Mohammad made when he received his revelations
Eidul-Fitr Holiday at the end

43. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
About 2-3 million Muslims perform Hajj each year from all over the world.
Every Muslim at least once in their life must make a pilgrimage to Mecca

44. Exit Questions 1. Who is the founder of Islam? 2. Where was he born?
3. What did he do when he captured Mecca?
4. What is a Caliph?
5. What does Allah mean in Arabic?

45. He did not die but went up to heaven during the crucifixion
Who do they say Jesus was?
A true prophet (messenger of God) whose message has been corrupted
A false prophet
Son of God
Savior (of mankind from their sins)
God in human form
How do they say Jesus died?
He did not die but went up to heaven during the crucifixion
Death by crucifixion
Do they believe Jesus was resurrected (brought back to life) after his death? No
Yes
How does someone get to heaven?
Correct belief
Good deeds
Five Pillars of Islam
Belief in God
Good Deeds
Faith that Jesus was the son of God

46. What are the followers of Islam called?
SS7G8d: Explain the ORIGIN of the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims
A quick review:
What are the followers of Islam called?
Most Muslims are from which branch of Islam?
What places in the Middle East are mostly Shia?
What places in the Middle East are mostly Sunni?

47. Background Information
Before Islam began, most of Arabia was polytheistic.
Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 CE.
He became an orphan at age 6 when his mother died.
He was raised by an uncle who was a shepherd.
He traveled in caravans across Arabia as he grew up; he managed caravans (traders).
When Muhammad was 25, he was employed by a wealthy widow, who became his wife.

48. Muhammad had no other wife (even though polygamy was common) until his wife died 24 years later.
Muhammad often went to a cave to escape chaos and find peace.
In 610 CE, Muhammad was 40 years old, he was visited by Angel Gabriel. His wife was his first ‘convert’ to Islam.
After other visits from the Angel Gabriel, he began to teach others that there was only one true god, Allah.
In his 1st 3 years, he only converted 40 people.

49. His teachings threatened the Meccan way of life; he and his followers were treated very badly.
In another city, Muhammad was gaining more followers.
Muhammad and his close friend, Abu Bakr planned an escape to the city of Yathrib.
Medina needed a good leader so Muhammad went; in exchange for his leadership, all people accepted Muhammad’s belief in one god.
Their escape is known as the Hijira.
The escape happened in 622CE, the first year of the Muslim calendar.
The city became known as Medina, ‘the city of the prophet’.

50. Muhammad and his followers went back and conquered Mecca in 630 CE.
He dedicated the temple of Ka’aba.
He succeeded in converting most of the Meccans to Islam.
He returned to Medina.
Muhammad died in 632 CE.
By 634, Islam had spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Within 100 years of Muhammad’s death, Islam had spread to the Atlantic coast and the coast of China.

51. So what’s the problem with the Sunni and Shia?
There are two main sects of Islam- Sunnis and Shia.
Sunnis- have historical roots to Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s close friend) who was the leader after Muhammad.
The “Four Rightly Guided Caliphs” lead the Muslim community after Muhammad’s death.
“Sunni”- the name comes from Sunnah, ‘custom of the Prophet’;
Sunnis believe Muslims should be lead by someone who follows Muhammad’s example of leadership, not necessarily a relative

52. Shia- have a historical connection to Ali, Muhammad’s relative.
Shia believe the leader of Islam should be a relative of Muhammad.
They believe that Muhammad designated Ali as his successor.
When the last of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs died the struggle between the two groups worsened.
This battle between the Sunnis and the Shia about who should lead the Islamic faith has been going on centuries.
The religious practices of the two groups is very similar.