“What is the Muslim World?”

An Introduction to Middle Eastern Studies

Introduction

• Due to the current historical circumstances, modern Americans are more familiar with the “Muslim world” than they are other regions

• However, in many cases, this “knowledge” is actually a collection of stereotypes and misinformation

• The goal of today’s lecture is to begin to break down some of those stereotypes and build a strong foundation for approaching this civilization

Issue #1:

“The Middle East and the Islamic World are the same thing”

“The Muslim Countries”

“The Muslim Countries?”

Middle East = A Place

• Southwest Asia– Persia (Iran); Mesopotamia (Iraq); Syria (Syria); Arabia

(Saudi Arabia, et al); Palestine (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon)– Anatolia (Turkey)*

• North Africa– Egypt (Egypt)– Maghrib (Morocco, Algeria)

• What about Pakistan?– No: Is part of South Asia (Indian Subcontinent)

• What about Afghanistan?– No: Is part of Central Asia (with the other “stans”)

Issue #2:

“The words “Muslim”, “Arab”, and “Middle Eastern” can be used

interchangeably”

Venn Diagram: Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern

Arab

Mid East

Muslim

Middle Eastern Terminology

• Arab– Descendants of the the peoples from the Arabian

peninsula– Typically speak Arabic– Self-identify as “Arab”

• Middle Eastern– People who live in the countries identified as the

“Middle East”

• Muslim– Individuals who practice the Islamic faith

10 Things to Know about Islam

• Read: http://www.teachmideast.org/essays/35-religion/58-ten-things-to-know-about-islam

• Discussion Questions:– What is the “POV” of the author who wrote this

essay? (agenda?)– What aspects of this essay might you take issue

with?– What aspects of this essay are helpful information

to remember?

Coach Lerch’s Final Thoughts

• The “Muslim World” is not the “Middle East” and the “Middle East” is not the “Muslim World”

• The terms “Muslim”, “Arab” and “Middle Eastern” must be used properly

• Islam is practiced in a diverse number of ways based on the social, economic, and political circumstances in a given area