1. Middle East/SE Ethnic Groups Standards: SS7G8 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southwest Asia. SS7G8c Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southwest Asia (Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. SS7G8d Explain the reason for the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims. SS7G8a Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group. SS7G8b Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs, Persians, and Kurds.

2. What is the difference between an ethnic group and a religious group? Ethnic groups share many common characteristics, such as language, physical appearance, heritage, geographic location, customs, and traditions. Religious groups share a common belief system (deity, sacred text, holy days, etc) but are not necessarily composed of a single ethnic group. People of many ethnic groups may share the same religion.

3. Arabs, Persians, and Kurds SS7G8b Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs, Persians, and Kurds. –Live –Language –Religion –Other

4. Arabs Kurds Persians

5. Ethnic Groups PERSIANS KURDS ARABS

6. Religions

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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 are 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.

11. On the map below, color where these ethnic groups live in the Middle East. Create a map key.

12. Name Tag Summarizer Describe one ethnic group using at least 5 clues Do NOT use the name of the group We will share Tuesday