Ethnic groups of soithwest asia

1. Ethnic GroupsEthnic Groups
•An ethnic group is a group of people who share cultural An ethnic group is a group of people who share cultural
ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community
for generations. for generations.
The characteristics they may
have in common could
included a language, a language, a
religion, a shared religion, a shared history, history,
types of foods, and a set of types of foods, and a set of
traditional stories, beliefs, or traditional stories, beliefs, or
celebrationscelebrations.
These things make up a
common culture shared by
those in a particular ethnic
group.

2. Religious Religious
GroupsGroups
•A religious group A religious group
shares a shares a
share a belief share a belief
system, in a god or system, in a god or
godsgods, with a
specific set of
rituals and
literature.
• People from different ethnic groups may share People from different ethnic groups may share
the same religionthe same religion; through they may be from very
different cultures.

3. ArabsArabs
•Southwest Asia is home to many different ethnic
groups who share similar religions.
•The Arabs of Southwest Asia believe themselves to The Arabs of Southwest Asia believe themselves to
be descendants of Abraham be descendants of Abraham in the Bible, through
his son Ishmael.
•They make up the majority of those who live They make up the majority of those who live
throughout the region known as the Middle Easthroughout the region known as the Middle Eastt,
though there are many differences among them.
•Most Arabs practice the religion of Islam and call
themselves Muslims.

4. Arab
•Arabs comprise most Arabs comprise most
of the population of of the population of
Southwest Asia.Southwest Asia.
•However, many
Arabs also live in
Northern Africa,
Canada, Europe, and
the US.
•Most Arabs practice Most Arabs practice
Islam and speak Islam and speak
Arabic.Arabic.
•Small numbers of
Arabs practice other
religions.

5. •Those who call themselves Muslims are
further divided, as some call themselves Sunni
Muslims, while others are Shia Muslims.
•Some Arabs are Christians.
•Most Arabs, whether they are Muslim or
Christian, speak the Arabic language.

6. PersiansPersians
•Persians are those who live in the modern country Persians are those who live in the modern country
of Iranof Iran. . The country of Persia became known as Iran
after World War I.
•The Persian people are descended from a different
group than those who are Arabs and Jews. Their
ancestors were Indo-Europeans from Central ancestors were Indo-Europeans from Central
Europe and Southern Russia. Europe and Southern Russia.
•Persians, or Iranians, speak Farsi, a language that Persians, or Iranians, speak Farsi, a language that
uses the Arabic alphabet but is actually a different uses the Arabic alphabet but is actually a different
language. language.
•They practice Islam, but most belong to the Shia
group of Muslims.

7. Persian
•Persians make up about Persians make up about
half of Iran’s current half of Iran’s current
population.population.
•They have their own
language called Persian or
Farsi.
•Most Persians in Iran today
practice Shi’a Islam, but
some are Sunni and other
religions.
•Persian women have faced
many challenges as a result
of strict cultural and
religious practices.

8. KurdsKurds
The Kurds are an ethnic group The Kurds are an ethnic group
that are found in the that are found in the
mountainous areas where mountainous areas where
Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq
come together. come together.
Many Kurds hope to have a
nation o their own some
day, a hope that has
caused conflict with the
countries in which Kurdish
people live.
Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim,
though there is a small
minority who are Shia
Muslims.

9. Kurdish
The Kurds see themselves as a distinct
ethnic group from others in the area.
They speak their own language, known They speak their own language, known
as Kurdish, and have a separate as Kurdish, and have a separate
history, literature, music, and set of history, literature, music, and set of
traditions. traditions.
•Almost one-fifth of the population of
Turkey is Kurdish.
•Kurdish Muslims are usually less
strict about certain Islamic practices.
•For example, there are fewer laws
for how Kurdish women should dress
than there are for Iranian and Arab
women.
•Kurds share many aspects of their
culture with Iranians.
•Persecuted by Sadam Husain Persecuted by Sadam Husain