THE TASK:  You are going to create a booklet that provides key information about the religious and ethnic groups found in the Middle East. Follow the guidelines on this PowerPoint to ensure you receive full credit on this assignment.

How do I label my pages? Cover: Title, Author’s Name, and EQ Back of the Cover: Standard Page 1: What is an ethnic group? Page 2: What is a religious group? Page 3: Who are the Persians? Page 4: Who are the Kurds? Page 5: Who are the Arabs?

Lesson EQ: –How diverse are the cultures of the people in the Middle East? Standard: –SS7G8b: The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in the Middle East. How do I label my pages?

Key Terms (Add these to your booklet.) Religious Group Religion is based on a common belief in a theological claim. –Unlike ethnic groups, religious groups do not always share common ancestors or common customs. Ethnic Group These groups are defined by common cultural characteristics like language, customs, and clothing. They are usually descended from common ancestors of the inhabitants of a common country.

Persians Most Persians live in the modern country of Iran where they are the most populous ethnic group. They are different from Arabs and Jews in that their ancestors came from Central Europe and Southern Russia The country of Persia became known as Iran after WWI. Persians speak Farsi, a language that uses the Arabic alphabet but is actually spoken differently. Most Persians are Shia Muslims even though Shia Muslims only make up about 15% of the world’s Muslim population. Zoroastrianism is one of the minor religions of the Persian people. Persian family from northern Iran

Kurds Most Kurds are found in the mountainous areas where Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq come together. They speak their own language called Kurdish, and have a separate history, literature, music, and set of traditions. Many Kurds hope to have a nation of their own some day, a hope that has caused conflict with the countries in which Kurdish people live. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim with small minorities of Shia Muslims and Yazidis. Women, in traditional Kurdish dress, dance during a wedding party in what they hope to one day be called Kurdistan.

Arabs Arabs are the most populous ethnic group in the Middle East. Arabs believe themselves to be descendants of Abraham through his son Ishmael and originally from the Arabian Peninsula. They speak Arabic. Most Arabs practice the religion of Islam and are called Muslims, with the majority being Sunni Muslim. However, there are many Christian Arabs as well, especially in the countries of Lebanon and Egypt. Arabs escape the Gaza strip into Egypt for much needed supplies.

How do I label my pages? Page 6: What is Judaism? Page 7: What is Christianity? Page 8: What is Islam? Page 9: Sunni vs. Shia

What is Judaism? What are the followers called? What is the house of worship called? What is the holy book for this religion? What are the basic beliefs? –Is this a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?

What is Christianity? What are the followers called? What is the house of worship called? What is the holy book for this religion? What are the basic beliefs? –Is this a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?

What is Islam? What are the followers called? What is the house of worship called? What is the holy book for this religion? What are the basic beliefs? –Is this a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?

Sunni vs. Shia What caused the division between the Sunni and Shia Muslims? –A disagreement arose over who should lead the religious groups. Sunni Muslims believe the leader should be the person who is best able to keep the Muslims together. Shia Muslims believed the leader should be a direct descendent of Muhammad.