Middle Eastern Ethnic Middle Eastern Ethnic GroupsGroups

ArabsArabs

ArabsArabs

►Where they live: North Africa, the Where they live: North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, north of the Arabian Peninsula, north of the Arabian Peninsula (i.e. Iraq, Iran)Arabian Peninsula (i.e. Iraq, Iran)

►Religions: Mostly Islam but some Religions: Mostly Islam but some Christian (especially in Lebanon)Christian (especially in Lebanon)

►Customs/Traditions: many grow such Customs/Traditions: many grow such crops as fruits, coffee, qat. crops as fruits, coffee, qat. o Islamic holidays such as RamadanIslamic holidays such as Ramadano Most Arabs speak ArabicMost Arabs speak Arabic

ArabsArabs

►Other Facts:Other Facts:o the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula relied the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula relied

heavily on a diet of dates, wheat, barley, heavily on a diet of dates, wheat, barley, rice and meat, with little variety, with a rice and meat, with little variety, with a heavy emphasis on yogurt products.heavy emphasis on yogurt products.

o Today, Arabian cuisine today is the result Today, Arabian cuisine today is the result of a combination of richly diverse cuisines, of a combination of richly diverse cuisines, spanning the Arab world from Iraq to spanning the Arab world from Iraq to Morocco and incorporating Lebanese, Morocco and incorporating Lebanese, Egyptian and others. Egyptian and others.

BerbersBerbers

BerbersBerbers

►Where they live: North African Where they live: North African mountainsmountains

►Religion: mostly Sunni MuslimReligion: mostly Sunni Muslim►Customs/Traditions: thought of as Customs/Traditions: thought of as

nomads but many are farmersnomads but many are farmers Berber languages are AfroasiaticBerber languages are Afroasiatic Musicians use many drums and stringed Musicians use many drums and stringed

instruments with a vocalistinstruments with a vocalist http://www.fabchannel.com/najat_aatabouhttp://www.fabchannel.com/najat_aatabou

_concert_concert

BerbersBerbers

►Other facts: Other facts: Cuisine: bread made with yeast, Mechoui Cuisine: bread made with yeast, Mechoui

or lamb barbecue - a whole sheep roasted or lamb barbecue - a whole sheep roasted in artisanal furnaces, designed especially in artisanal furnaces, designed especially for this use, and couscousfor this use, and couscous

Artisans: Make baskets, weave rugs, etc.Artisans: Make baskets, weave rugs, etc. Discrimination: don’t always have full Discrimination: don’t always have full

rights in certain North African countriesrights in certain North African countries

DruzeDruze

DruzeDruze

►Where they live: Syria, Lebanon, IsraelWhere they live: Syria, Lebanon, Israel► Their religion: incorporates Muslim practices Their religion: incorporates Muslim practices

along with traditional beliefs, Greek along with traditional beliefs, Greek philosophy, Persian thought, Indian philosophy, Persian thought, Indian mysticism, and Jewish and Christian mysticism, and Jewish and Christian theology theology

► Customs/Traditions:Customs/Traditions: Education is importantEducation is important Tolerant of other faithsTolerant of other faiths Protect their tight-knit communities but usually in Protect their tight-knit communities but usually in

a peaceful mannera peaceful manner

DruzeDruze

►Other facts: The Druze StarOther facts: The Druze StarEach segment is a different color, and each color represents a Each segment is a different color, and each color represents a different universal principle: different universal principle:

► The The mindmind, the male principal, the sun; green., the male principal, the sun; green.► The The soulsoul, the female principal, the lunar principal, red., the female principal, the lunar principal, red.► The The WordWord, the mediator between the divine and the material, , the mediator between the divine and the material,

yellow.yellow.► WillWill, the realm of possibility, Blue, the realm of possibility, Blue

► Manifested willManifested will, actualization, white., actualization, white.

BedouinsBedouins

BedouinsBedouins

►Where they live: deserts of the Middle EastWhere they live: deserts of the Middle East►Religion: Islam and traditional religionsReligion: Islam and traditional religions►Customs/Traditions:Customs/Traditions:

Live in clans/kinsLive in clans/kins Have strong honor codesHave strong honor codes Practice folk music, folk dance, and folk poetryPractice folk music, folk dance, and folk poetry Migrate throughout the year following plants Migrate throughout the year following plants

and animals, some herd camels, sheep or goatsand animals, some herd camels, sheep or goats

BedouinsBedouins

►Other factsOther facts Many Bedouins have migrated to the city Many Bedouins have migrated to the city

to obtain jobs there (working as oil to obtain jobs there (working as oil drillers, truck drivers, and farmers)drillers, truck drivers, and farmers)

Many live on settlements where education Many live on settlements where education and healthcare can be offeredand healthcare can be offered

ArmeniansArmenians

ArmeniansArmenians

►Where they live: Armenia, Eastern Where they live: Armenia, Eastern Europe, RussiaEurope, Russia

►Religion: ChristianityReligion: Christianity►Customs/Traditions:Customs/Traditions:

Speak ArmenianSpeak Armenian Music is a mixture of folk music, pop, and Music is a mixture of folk music, pop, and

Christian musicChristian music Large families with close bondsLarge families with close bonds Lace-making is a popular craftLace-making is a popular craft

ArmeniansArmenians

►Other factsOther facts One of the oldest ethnic groups in the world!One of the oldest ethnic groups in the world! Armenia is the proposed site of the Garden of Armenia is the proposed site of the Garden of

EdenEden Lavash is a very popular Armenian rollable Lavash is a very popular Armenian rollable

bread, and Armenian baklava is a special bread, and Armenian baklava is a special treat. Other famous Armenian foods include treat. Other famous Armenian foods include the kabob (a skewer of marinated roasted the kabob (a skewer of marinated roasted meat and vegetables), apricots, and peachesmeat and vegetables), apricots, and peaches

KurdsKurds

KurdsKurds

►Where they live: northern Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Where they live: northern Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran (an area sometimes called Kurdistan)Iran (an area sometimes called Kurdistan)

► Religion: Yazdanism and IslamReligion: Yazdanism and Islam► Customs/Traditions:Customs/Traditions:

Kurdish language is spoken but most people are Kurdish language is spoken but most people are bilingual and also speak Arabic, Turkish, or Persianbilingual and also speak Arabic, Turkish, or Persian

Warrior heritageWarrior heritage Very independet, even todayVery independet, even today Have traditionally been persecuted and lack equal Have traditionally been persecuted and lack equal

rightsrights

KurdsKurds

►Other facts:Other facts: Kurdish women enjoy greater freedoms Kurdish women enjoy greater freedoms

than most other Muslim womenthan most other Muslim women Storytellers are an important part of the Storytellers are an important part of the

cultureculture

PersiansPersians

PersiansPersians

►Where they live: mostly IranWhere they live: mostly Iran►Religion: Islam, Zoroastrianism and Religion: Islam, Zoroastrianism and

Baha’IBaha’I►Customs/Traditions: Customs/Traditions:

Speak Persian (sometimes called Farsi)Speak Persian (sometimes called Farsi) Important for arts b/c it was in the middle Important for arts b/c it was in the middle

of Europe and Asiaof Europe and Asia Famous architects and weaversFamous architects and weavers

PersiansPersians

►Other Facts:Other Facts: Very open to adopting other cultural Very open to adopting other cultural

customscustoms Persian gardens are designed to show Persian gardens are designed to show

paradise on Earthparadise on Earth Teahouses are an important part of the Teahouses are an important part of the

culture. Chai tea is a favoriteculture. Chai tea is a favorite Invented the game of poloInvented the game of polo

TurksTurks

TurksTurks

►Where they live: TurkeyWhere they live: Turkey►Religion: IslamReligion: Islam►Customs/Traditions:Customs/Traditions:

Speak TurkishSpeak Turkish Turkish coffee is a popular drinkTurkish coffee is a popular drink Music and dance are an important part of Music and dance are an important part of

the culturethe culture

TurksTurks

►Other facts:Other facts: Traditional music uses brass and Traditional music uses brass and

percussion instruments (developed the percussion instruments (developed the first marching band!)first marching band!)

Oral storytelling and written literature are Oral storytelling and written literature are both importantboth important

JewishJewish

JewishJewish

►Where they live: IsraelWhere they live: Israel►Religion: JudaismReligion: Judaism►Customs/Traditions:Customs/Traditions:

Religious holidays such as Yom Kippur and Religious holidays such as Yom Kippur and HanukkahHanukkah

Rite of passage celebrations: B’nai MitzvahsRite of passage celebrations: B’nai Mitzvahs Hebrew is the main language, Yiddish is Hebrew is the main language, Yiddish is

anotheranother Special dietary laws: kosher foodsSpecial dietary laws: kosher foods

JewishJewish

►Other facts:Other facts: Have been persecuted throughout historyHave been persecuted throughout history Israel was founded in 1948 after WWII and Israel was founded in 1948 after WWII and

the Holocaust when several world the Holocaust when several world organizations decided there needed to be organizations decided there needed to be a homeland for Jewish people.a homeland for Jewish people.