An ethnic group is a group of people who share

cultural ideas and beliefs that have been a part

of their community for generations.

The characteristics they may

have in common could

include a language, a

religion, a shared history,

types of foods, and a set of

traditional stories, beliefs, or

celebrations.

These things make up a

common culture shared by

those in a particular ethnic

group.

Share a belief system in a god or gods, with a specific set of rituals and literature.

Southwest Asia is home to many different

ethnic groups who share similar religions.

Arabs of SWAsia/ME believe themselves to be descendants of Abraham from the Bible, through his son Ishmael.

Arabs as the ethnic majority of SW Asia/ME are diverse culturally, but most Arabs practice the religion of Islam and call themselves Muslims.

• Arabs comprise most of the population of Southwest Asia.

• Many Arabs also live in Northern Africa, Canada, Europe, and the US.

• Most Arabs practice Islam and speak Arabic.

• Small numbers of Arabs practice other religions.

Shia Muslims believe leader of Islam should be a direct

descendant of Muhammad (founder of Islamic faith)

Sunni Muslims believe leader should be best candidate

for Caliph (Leader)

Most Arabs are Sunni Muslims

Persians live in Iran (formed after World War I); different

ethnic group from Arabs and Jews

Persians, or Iranians, speak Farsi, a separate language

that also uses the Arabic alphabet

Also practice Islam, but most are Shia Muslim

Persians are

descended

from Indo-

Europeans of

Central

Europe and

Southern

Russia.

• Persians make up about half of Iran’s current population.

• Persian language is called Persian or Farsi

• Most Persians practice Shi’a Islam, but some are Sunni Islam and other religions

• Persian women face challenges as a result of strict cultural and religious practices

Kurds are an ethnic group found in mountainous areas where Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq meet

Kurdish desire to reunite their ethnic group as a nation has led to conflict within the countries in which Kurdish people live (boundaries were drawn by San Remo Agreement of1920)

Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim, though there is a small minority who are Shia Muslims.

See themselves as distinct ethnically

Distinct cultural group; speak Kurdish language, have a separate history, literature, music, and set of traditions.

Almost one-fifth of the population of Turkey is Kurdish.

Most are Sunni Muslims Usually less strict about certain

Islamic practices; ex. fewer laws for Kurdish women should dress than for Iranian and Arab women

Kurds share many aspects of their culture with Iranians.

Persecuted by Saddam Hussein