Middle Eastern Ethnic Groups

1. Middle Eastern Ethnic Groups

2. Arabs

3. Arabs • Where they live: North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, north of the Arabian Peninsula (i.e. Iraq, Iran) • Religions: Mostly Islam but some Christian (especially in Lebanon) • Customs/Traditions: many grow such crops as fruits, coffee, qat. • Islamic holidays such as Ramadan • Most Arabs speak Arabic

4. Arabs • Other Facts: • the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula relied heavily on a diet of dates, wheat, barley, rice and meat, with little variety, with a heavy emphasis on yogurt products. • Today, Arabian cuisine today is the result of a combination of richly diverse cuisines, spanning the Arab world from Iraq to Morocco and incorporating Lebanese, Egyptian and others.

5. Berbers

6. Berbers • Where they live: North African mountains • Religion: mostly Sunni Muslim • Customs/Traditions: thought of as nomads but many are farmers • Berber languages are Afroasiatic • Musicians use many drums and stringed instruments with a vocalist • http://www.fabchannel.com/najat_aatabou_concert

7. Berbers • Other facts: • Cuisine: bread made with yeast, Mechoui or lamb barbecue - a whole sheep roasted in artisanal furnaces, designed especially for this use, and couscous • Artisans: Make baskets, weave rugs, etc. • Discrimination: don’t always have full rights in certain North African countries

8. Druze

9. Druze • Where they live: Syria, Lebanon, Israel • Their religion: incorporates Muslim practices along with traditional beliefs, Greek philosophy, Persian thought, Indian mysticism, and Jewish and Christian theology • Customs/Traditions: • Education is important • Tolerant of other faiths • Protect their tight-knit communities but usually in a peaceful manner

10. Druze • Other facts: The Druze Star Each segment is a different color, and each color represents a different universal principle: • The mind, the male principal, the sun; green. • The soul, the female principal, the lunar principal, red. • The Word, the mediator between the divine and the material, yellow. • Will, the realm of possibility, Blue • Manifested will, actualization, white.

11. Bedouins

12. Bedouins • Where they live: deserts of the Middle East • Religion: Islam and traditional religions • Customs/Traditions: • Live in clans/kins • Have strong honor codes • Practice folk music, folk dance, and folk poetry • Migrate throughout the year following plants and animals, some herd camels, sheep or goats

13. Bedouins • Other facts • Many Bedouins have migrated to the city to obtain jobs there (working as oil drillers, truck drivers, and farmers) • Many live on settlements where education and healthcare can be offered

14. Armenians

15. Armenians • Where they live: Armenia, Eastern Europe, Russia • Religion: Christianity • Customs/Traditions: • Speak Armenian • Music is a mixture of folk music, pop, and Christian music • Large families with close bonds • Lace-making is a popular craft

16. Armenians • Other facts • One of the oldest ethnic groups in the world! • Armenia is the proposed site of the Garden of Eden • Lavash is a very popular Armenian rollable bread, and Armenian baklava is a special treat. Other famous Armenian foods include the kabob (a skewer of marinated roasted meat and vegetables), apricots, and peaches

17. Kurds

18. Kurds • Where they live: northern Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran (an area sometimes called Kurdistan) • Religion: Yazdanism and Islam • Customs/Traditions: • Kurdish language is spoken but most people are bilingual and also speak Arabic, Turkish, or Persian • Warrior heritage • Very independet, even today • Have traditionally been persecuted and lack equal rights

19. Kurds • Other facts: • Kurdish women enjoy greater freedoms than most other Muslim women • Storytellers are an important part of the culture

20. Persians

21. Persians • Where they live: mostly Iran • Religion: Islam, Zoroastrianism and Baha’I • Customs/Traditions: • Speak Persian (sometimes called Farsi) • Important for arts b/c it was in the middle of Europe and Asia • Famous architects and weavers

22. Persians • Other Facts: • Very open to adopting other cultural customs • Persian gardens are designed to show paradise on Earth • Teahouses are an important part of the culture. Chai tea is a favorite • Invented the game of polo

23. Turks

24. Turks • Where they live: Turkey • Religion: Islam • Customs/Traditions: • Speak Turkish • Turkish coffee is a popular drink • Music and dance are an important part of the culture

25. Turks • Other facts: • Traditional music uses brass and percussion instruments (developed the first marching band!) • Oral storytelling and written literature are both important

26. Jewish

27. Jewish • Where they live: Israel • Religion: Judaism • Customs/Traditions: • Religious holidays such as Yom Kippur and Hanukkah • Rite of passage celebrations: B’nai Mitzvahs • Hebrew is the main language, Yiddish is another • Special dietary laws: kosher foods

28. Jewish • Other facts: • Have been persecuted throughout history • Israel was founded in 1948 after WWII and the Holocaust when several world organizations decided there needed to be a homeland for Jewish people.