SS7G8 The student will describe
the diverse cultures of the people
who live in Southwest Asia
(Middle East).
b. Explain the diversity of religions
within the Arabs, Persians, and
Kurds.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Arabs- believe themselves to be descendants of
Abraham through his son Ishmael.
• They are the majority ethnic group of those who
live in the Middle East
• There are differences among them.
• Most practice the religion of Islam and call
themselves Muslims.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Muslims are divided into several groups.
• The major groups are Sunni Muslims and Shia (or
Shiite) Muslims.
• Many Arabs are Christians.
• Most Arabs speak the Arabic language.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Persians live in the modern country of Iran.
• Descended from a different group than those who
are Arabs or Jews.
• Ancestors were Indo-Europeans from Central
Europe and Southern Russia.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Persia became known as Iran after World War I.
• Persians (or Iranians) speak Farsi (uses the Arabic
alphabet but is a different language) *Like French
and Spanish use the same alphabet as us, but are
different languages. n'est-ce pas? n ¿no?
• Most Persians belong to the Shia group of Muslims.
• Only 15% of all Muslims are Shia.
• The other 85% are Sunni Muslims.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Kurds live in several different countries.
• Most are found in the mountainous areas where
Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey come together.
• See themselves as a distinct ethnic group.
• Speak their own language (Kurdish), have a
separate history, literature, music and set of
traditions.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Many Kurds hope to have their own homeland
some day.
• This has caused conflict with the countries in which
they live.
• Most are Sunni Muslim although there is a small
minority who are Shia Muslim.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• Which ethnic group is most numerous in SW Asia?
a. Jews
b. Kurds
c. Arabs
d. Persians
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• What modern country is the home to the Persians?
a. Iran
b. Iraq
c. Israel
d. Syria
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• What is the religion of most Persians?
a. Christianity
b. Judaism
c. Shia Muslim
d. Sunni Muslim
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• What is the religion of most of the Arabs or SW
Asia?
a. Christianity
b. Judaism
c. Shia Muslim
d. Sunni Muslim
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs,
Persians, and Kurds
• What is the religion of most of the Kurds?
a. Christianity
b. Judaism
c. Shia Muslim
d. Sunni Muslim