People of the Middle East•

Background

• The Middle East is home to a broad diversity of people

• Even throughout its history it has been home to many peoples

• The Arabs make up the majority in several countries

Different ethnic people in the Middle East according to language

Arabs

• More the half of the people are Arabs• Speak Arabic language• Religion they practice is Islam (90%);

Christianity (10%)• Trace their roots to the Arabian Peninsula

but today live in all countries of the Middle East

• Three things that govern their attitude and actions– Belief in Islam– The Arabic language– The Arabic Culture

The Saudis

• Saudi Arabia is regarded with deep respect within the Muslim world– Birth place of Muhammad– Site of Mecca and Medina

• Creation of a man whose name the country bears – King Ibn Saud (1882-1953)

• Saudi royal family still rules the kingdom• Oil was discovered in 1936 and BOMB –

area became important to the world

The Egyptians

• The World is fascinated with Egypt due to its history– The mummies, pyramids, sphinxes

• In the past was considered to be an ally of the United States in the Middle East

• Viewed Egypt as a way to make moderate changes in the Middle East

• First nation to recognize and make peace with Israel

• One of the most stable nations in the Middle East

                                                                            

                                                                        

Iranians• Not Arab – Persian• Most are Muslim (90% are Shia, 10% Sunni)• Language – Persian, or Farsi, an Indo-European

language that is distantly related to English• Location – was Persia; now Iran • Iran means “land of the Aryans”• Persian Empire was established in 500 BC

– One of the greatest empires of its time• 600 AD Arabs invaded the region and established Islam• 1979 new gov took over and set up an Islamic republic• Took Americans hostage (50 for over a yr)• War with Iraq in 1980• Relationship with the United States is strained

Lebanese

• Descendants from the great sea traders the Phoenician

• One of the most westernized of the Middle Eastern countries

• Capital, Beirut, is the Paris of the Middle East• Made up of Christian, Druze, Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims

– Spelled doom

• Its neighbors also cause problems for Lebanon– Syria and Israel

• Civil Wars took places between 1975-1990• Still dominated by Syria today• Israel still upset at Lebanon for harboring Hizballah

militiamen in their fight against Israel

Syrians

• Really hate the west• Sometimes called the “Paymaster” to

worldwide terrorist groups– Hizballah, Hamas, Islamic Jihadist

• US believes that the Syrian government is backing the Sunni insurgency in Iraq

• The Assad ruling dynasty tries to rule with an iron fist– But at times its own home grown terrorist

organization have cause problems for the government

• The current government might not have a very tight grip on its own people

Turks• Language – Turkish, comes from the Central Asian roots• Religion – Islam • Location – was Asia minor; now Turkey• 56 million Turks• First people to live in Asia minor = Greeks and Hittites • Great city of Constantinople fell to Islam in 1453

– Changed name to Istanbul– Greatly changed Turkey’s future

• Greatly “westernized” after WWI• Once thought to be an ally of the United States

– US offered Turkey $6 billion to use military bases to attach Iraq

• Parliament said no• Problems in Turkey today

– Upsurge of Islamic terrorism– The Kurds

• •

Armenians

• Language – Armenian• Religion – Christianity • Location – was Turkey; now Turkey,

former Soviet Union (Republic of Armenia)

• Were Christians living in a Muslim country, wanted own land–Massacred by Turks during WWI – about 1 million

The Iraqis• Home of ancient Mesopotamia “the cradle of civilization”

– Gave us agriculture and writing• Made up of Shi’ite (60%) Sunnis (32%) and Kurds

– Each regard itself to be a separate nation and wanting its own homeland

• After independence overthrew and executed the king and his family

• Proclaimed a republic• Border disputes with Kuwait and Iran• Oil made the country wealth and powerful• Baath Party gained power in 1968

– Saddam Hussein came to power in 1979

• Ever sense the country has been in turmoil

Kurds• Language – Kurdish• Religion – Islam • Location – was and is border separating Turkey, Iran,

Iraq, Syria, and former Soviet Union– Call area Kurdistan– Do not have self rule– Largest ethnic group in world without a homeland

• Have been slaughtered by the Iranians, the Turks and the Iraqis

• The P.K.K (Partiya Karkaren Kurdistan) are a militant group of Turkish Kurds fighting for a homeland

• A Kurdish saying– “Kurds have no friends”

Palestinians• Language – Arabic• Religion – Islam • Location – was Palestine the areas surrounded by Egypt,

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon • In 1948, Palestine was formed into the Jewish state of

Israel• Many Palestinian lost their homes, farms and businesses• Many became refugees (4.5 / 7.5 million Palestinians)

– Some live in Israel (1 million)– Some live in West Bank and Gaza areas– Some live in surrounding countries (Jordan and

Lebanon)– Many live in refugee camps

• Many want a fully independent Palestinian state• Conflict between Palestinians and Israeli continues today

Israelis• Language – Hebrew and Arabic are official• Religion – Jewish (82%) rest are Muslim and Christians • Location – Israel

– Israel today = 4.1 million Jews; .9 million Arabs– Jews have move to various parts of the world

• Abraham led his people to Canaan• Roman Empire conquered the region called it Palestine

– Forced Jews to move = diaspora• Arabs conquered Palestine in the mid-1600s• Come under control of Ottoman Empire• End of WWI come under British control• Movement known as Zionism began• In 1948, Israel was created by the United Nations as a

homeland for the Jews

Women in the Middle East

• Prior to Islam women were slightly less valuable than livestock

• Islam improved the lives of women greatly– Outlawed infanticide– Education of girls a duty– Woman had the right to own and inherit property– But they are not equal

• Lives are governed by the Shari’a

• No single picture of women living under Islamic law

• Veil tradition/required by law in many Arab countries– Represents freedom for many and pride in Islam