People of Southwest Asia

September 3, 2014

Background

• There are a variety of peoples living in Southwest Asia.

• They come from different religions and ethnicities.

• Ethnic Group: a group of people who share cultural ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community for generations.

• Religious Group: shares a belief system in a god or gods, with a specific set of rituals and literature

Ethnic Groups

• Characteristics that ethnic groups may have in common:– Language– Religion– Shared history– Types of foods– Traditional stories– Beliefs– celebrations

Religious Groups

• People from different ethnic groups may share the same religion

• However, they can be from very different cultures

• For example, people from all over the world practice Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, but they aren’t all necessarily from the same ethnic group

Arabs

• Ethnic group that believes themselves to be descended from Abraham

• They make up the majority of those who live in Southwest Asia

• Most Arabs practice the Islamic religion, but some are also Christians

• No matter which religion, however, most speak the Arabic language

Persians

• This ethnic group lives in Iran• They are descended from a group of

ancient people who moved into the region from Central Europe and Southern Russia

• Persians speak the Farsi language• Most practice the Islamic religion, with

most belonging to the Shia Muslim group

Kurds

• The Kurds live in several different SW Asian countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq

• They speak the Kurdish language• Most practice the Islamic religion,

belonging to the Sunni Muslim group• Many Kurds hope to have their own

nation some day, which has caused conflict with the countries in which Kurdish people live

Questions

• 1. What is the definition of ethnic group?• 2. What is the definition of religious group?• 3. What are 4 examples of characteristics that an

ethnic group may have in common?• 4. Which ethnic group believes that they are

descended from Abraham?• 5. Which two religions are most practiced by Arabs?• 6. Where do Persians live?• 7. What language is spoken by Persians?• 8. Which Muslim group do most Persians belong to?• 9. Which 4 countries do most Kurds live in?• 10. Which Muslim group do most Kurds belong to?