Arabs, Persians, and Kurds

7th Grade Social Studies

Our Standard Says… SS7G8: TSW describe the diverse cultures

of the people who live in SWA. B. Explain the diversity of religions within the

Arabs, Persians, and Kurds. You need to understand the fact that there

is a wide diversity of religions inside each ethnic group.

There can be more than one religious group in a ethnic group.

Arabs, Persians, and Kurds These are three prominent ethnic

groups found in SWA. Remember an ethnic group is a group

of people who are tied together by some kind of common background (shared language, physical appearance, customs, traditions, etc.)

There can be many religious groups in an ethnic group.

The Arabs A Southwest Asian ethnic group living

primarily on the Arabian peninsula, but also in other Southwest Asian locations and many other parts of the world.

The Arabs Much of Southwest Asia’s population belongs

to the Arab ethnic group. Arabs are people who can trace their ancestors to the original tribes of Arabia. Arab people have lived in Southwest Asia for thousands of years. Their predominant language is Arabic. Most Arabs are Muslims; however many are Christians or hold to other faiths. Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula all feature large Arab populations. Palestinians within Israel (i.e. in the Gaza Strip) are predominantly Arab as well.

The Arabs Most of the population of SWA.

Especially in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, the West Bank, and the Arabian peninsula.

Most speak Arabic Made up of the people who can trace

their roots back to the Arabian peninsula

Most but not all are Muslim.

The Arabs- Religions Religions

Islam Most are Sunni Some are Shia Before Islam, most Arabs were polytheistic.

Ismaili Druze Christians

Small populations of Arab Christians in SWA and northern Africa.

Where are the Arabs? Green= Areas where

Arabic is the primary language

Blue= Arabic is one of several languages.

Found all over SWA and northern Africa.

Don’t get along with the Jews (Arab-Israeli Conflict)

The Persians A Southwest Asian ethnic group found

mostly in Iran. The main thing that ties this ethnic group together is the use of the Persian language.

The Persians Persians originate from Iran and still

live in the regions around the Persian Gulf. While most Persians live in Iran, some also live in surrounding countries. The majority of Persians are Shiite Muslims. However, there are also Jewish Persians, Christian Persians, other monotheistic Persians, and atheistic Persians.

The Persians Originate from Iran. Most live in Iran and the Persian Gulf

region. Most Persians are Shiite Muslims, but

there are many religions in this ethnic group.

The Persians- Religions Religions

Islam Most are Shia

Especially in Iran Sunni

Zoroastrianism Christianity and Judaism Atheistic Persians

Where are the Persians? Mostly found in

Iran. Iran was known

as Persia until 1935.

The Kurds A Southwest Asian ethnic group living in a

region known as Kurdistan (which includes parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey).

Formally part of the Ottoman Empire, they were promised a homeland (Kurdistan) after the end of World War I, but that never happened. Since 1925, the Kurds have staged revolts in Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.

The Kurds The Kurds are an ethnic group found in

parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Lebanon. They originate from an area often referred to as Kurdistan. They speak Kurdish and are of the victims of discrimination. Kurds have long called for an independent Kurdistan to be carved out of portions of the countries in which Kurdish people live.

The Kurds For years, some Kurdish groups have

launched military campaigns in their quest for independence. In retaliation, during the late 1980s, the Iraqi government destroyed roughly 2,000 Kurdish villages and massacred close to 100,000 Kurds (most of who lived in Iraq). In February, 2008, Turkey caused an international stir when it sent troops into northern Iraq looking for Kurdish rebels.

The Kurds Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims.

However, there are also Shia (plural of Shiite) Kurds, Christian Kurds, Jewish Kurds (most of whom live in Israel), as well as some who practice religions traditional to the region.

The Kurds Found mostly in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and

Turkey. Many Kurds fight for the

establishment of Kurdistan. Most speak Kurdish. Kurds have been victim to violent

discrimination. Saddam Hussein and Iraq in the late

1980s. Turkey in 2008.

The Kurds Most are Sunni Muslim. There are many religious groups in

this ethnic group.

The Kurds- Religions Religions

Islam Majority of Kurds Most Sunni Small minority are Shia (plural of Shiite)

Alevi Yazdanism Judaism and Christianity

Most Kurdish Jews live in Israel.

Where are the Kurds? Found

mostly in the land that was to be Kurdistan.

Parts of Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

Our Standard Says… SS7G8: TSW describe the diverse cultures

of the people who live in SWA. B. Explain the diversity of religions within the

Arabs, Persians, and Kurds. You need to understand the fact that there

is a wide diversity of religions inside each ethnic group.

There can be more than one religious group in a ethnic group.

Discussion Questions Which of the following is an ethnic

group found in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria?

A. Immigrant JewsB. PersiansC. KurdsD. None of the Above

True/False: There can only be one religious group in an ethnic group.

So…1. Which ethnic group is the most widely

distributed in SWA?2. Why do Kurds believe they are entitled to a

homeland (a.k.a. Kurdistan)?3. Which ethnic group is found mostly in Iran?4. What are some things that tie these groups

together?5. Most Arabs are Muslims. Joe is an Arab.

Can you be positive Joe follows Islam? Why or why not?