People of the Middle East

Table of Contents• About the Author• Introduction to Religion• Diaspora• Judaism• Christianity• Islam – slides 8 – 11• Languages• Family Life• Arts and Literature• Interactive Quiz

About the Author

Alicia Ross, Social Studies TeacherBlue Ridge High School

Religion

• Three major monotheistic religions originated in the region

• Judaism – Oldest of the three → Ancient Israelites set up Kingdom of Israel

Diaspora

• Dispersion or scattering of the Jews from Palestine

• Babylonians' conquest of the Judean Kingdom in the 6th century BCE and again following the Romans' destruction of the Second Temple in ad 70

Judaism

• Teachings - Obedience to God’s Law; emphasis on a just society

• Scripture – First Five Books of the Old Testament → Torah

• Synagogues • Rabbis• Yom Kippur Day of Atonement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ReadingOfTheTorah.jpg

Christianity

• Jesus – Jewish carpenter and teacher • A.D. 30 in Judah (part of the Roman Empire) –

Message of salvation and God’s mercy• Unpopular with the powerful → Roman

officials will execute Jesus• Followers believe that he was the Messiah• Life and teachings become the basis of

Christianity

Islam

• The dominant religion of the region.• Founded by Muhammad on the Arabian Peninsula

in 610 A.D.• Revelations from God that people should turn away

from sin and worship one God →monotheism• Felt he was in the line of prophets that included

Moses and Jesus• Prophet – a messenger from God• Did not feel others needed to convert

Islam

• About one-fifth of the world follows Islam• Followers are referred to as Muslims – “those

who submit to God’s will”• Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina• Worship in a Mosque• Holy Book – Koran• Do not eat pork or drink alcohol

Islam

Islam

• Five Pillars• Profess Faith in one God - Shahada• Pray five times a day - Salah• Help the poor - Zakat• Fasting during Ramadan (9th month of the

Islamic calendar) - Saum• Pilgrimage to Mecca - Hajj

Language

• Arabic – dominant language of the region• Spread as Islam spread• Hebrew in Israel• Turkish • Farsi - Iran

Family Life

• More than one-third of populations of the region – under 15

• Daily life has the family and religion at the center - Defines gender relations

• Hijab – head scarf• Urbanization• Rural areas – farming• Lower standard of living• Education – increasing literacy rates

Art and Literature

• Strong oral tradition – epics are common form• Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam has been widely

translated• One Thousand and One Nights – collection of

Indian, Arab, and Persian stories • Soccer, board games like backgammon, chess

Interactive Quiz

• In the slides that follow, read each question carefully.

• Give yourself some “think time” to come up with the correct response.

• When you are ready to check your response, click the bottom of the screen.

• Click the bottom at the bottom of the screen to advance to the next question!

What three major religions

were founded in the Middle East?

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What religion is most common throughout

the Middle East?

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What are the five pillars of Islam?

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What language is the most widely spoken in the region?

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Judaism, Christianity,

and Islam

Islam

1. Profess Faith in one God - Shahada2. Pray five times a day - Salah3. Help the poor - Zakat4. Fasting during Ramadan (9th month

of the Islamic calendar) - Saum5. Pilgrimage to Mecca - Hajj

ArabicEnd of Quiz!