The Middle East

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The Middle East

• Cultural
• Geography

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Three major ethnic groups of the Middle East

• Arabs
• Persians
• Turks
• The major religion is Islam, followed by
  Christianity and Judaism.

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Two cultural tools came from the Middle East

• Western alphabet

• Western numbers

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Three religions originated in this region

• Judaism
• Christianity
• Islam

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Countries with the Largest Muslim Population
1. Indonesia 183,000,000 6. Iran 62,000,000
2. Pakistan 134,000,000 7. Egypt 59,000,000
3. India 121,000,000 8. Nigeria 53,000,000
4. Bangladesh 114,000,000 9. Algeria 31,000,000
5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000
Arabs make up only 20 of the total Muslim
population of the world.
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To whom does the term Arabic refer?

• People who speak Arabic and share a common
  culture
• By what factors are Arabs united?
• Their language, customs, and (to some extent)
  their religion

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Muslims practice Islam

• The word Islam means submission or surrender to
  the will of God.
• An Arab merchant named Muhammed taught that there
  was only one Allah, or God.
• He said that he was Gods messenger.
• His teachings are the foundation of Islam.

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Dont get confused!

• All 3 Middle Eastern Religions (Judaism,
  Christianity, and Islam) are monotheistic (belief
  in one god)
• Christians, however, believe in God as a trinity
  (father, son, holy spirit) and that Jesus was
  Gods son
• Muslims believe that Muhammed was Gods messenger
  (not son)
• Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet arrived
• All 3 share the same foundation through the
  lineage of Abraham

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Abrahams Genealogy
ABRAHAM
SARAH
HAGAR
Isaac
Ishmael
12 Arabian Tribes
Esau
Jacob
12 Tribes of Israel
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Five pillars of Islam

• The hajj (the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca,
  the birthplace of Muhammed)
• Belief in one God
• Prayer 5 times daily

• The giving of alms
• Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan

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The hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is an important
aspect of Islam

• Millions travel to Mecca each year!

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Mecca road sign
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What about these required prayers?
The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a
day dawn noon late
afternoon sunset before going
to bed Wash before praying. Face Mecca and use
a prayer rug.
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• The call to prayer by the muezzin in the
  minaret.
• Pray in the mosque on Friday.

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• Those who complete the pilgrimage can add
  the title hajji to their name.

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Three non-Arab Muslim groups include

• Turks
• Persians
• Kurds
• Indonesians
• Pakistanis
• Nigerians

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How do the Turks and Persians differ from the
Arabs?

• Although they share the Muslim religion, their
  customs and languages are different from those of
  the Arabs.

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What foundations of faith do Christians and Jews
have that are comparable to the five pillars?
The Ten Commandments
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Which Middle Eastern people are non-Muslim, and
where do they live?

• ChristiansCyprus and Lebanon
• JewsIsrael

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How are the roles of Middle Eastern women
different from those of the United States and
Western Europe?

• In many Middle Eastern countries, women and men
  are expected to live apart more often.
• Generally speaking, women have less power and
  opportunity in the Middle East. In some
  countries, laws limit their conduct and they must
  follow strict rules.

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• Currently, the M.E. is experiencing a rise in
  conflict between the two major groups of muslims-
  Sunni and Shia. This has caused religious
  conflict in the area that goes back more than a
  1000 years.
• Other factors contributing to unrest
• Cultural conflicts
• Non-democratic governments
• 3. Lack of economic development

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Bazaars

• Bazaars are outdoor markets where many of the
  same items traded long ago are still traded
  today.
• Textiles, fine carpets, and farm products are
  often traded.

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OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries

• This organization was formed to help the
  oil-producing countries get a fairer price for
  their oil.

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More oil facts

• The Middle East and North Africa produce 1/3 of
  the worlds oil annually.
• Saudi Arabia produces the most oil annually (over
  3 billion barrels)!
• Oil-rich nations use oil money to produce
  schools, airports, highways, ports, hospitals,
  and factories.

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Agriculture in Israel

• To farm their harsh lands, the early settlers of
  Israel developed two special kinds of farms
• a moshav (cooperative farm)
• a kibbutz (collective farm)
• Israel uses advanced agricultural technology to
  farm the arid land.

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Arts and Recreation

• Storytellers are highly regarded in this region.
• Muslim artists are known for their calligraphy.
• Camel racing is a popular traditional sport.
• Sports and recreation in this area combine old
  and new pastimes.

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Middle Eastern Governments

• Absolute rulers have complete power. Their
  authority cannot be challenged.
• Most Middle Eastern rulers have traditional
  titles such as sultan or emir.
• Many governments in the Middle East rely on
  Islamic law, or sharia, to govern them fully or
  partially.

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More recently, the Middle East has received a
great deal of attention for an anti-government
Afghan terrorist group.

• There is a Muslim extremist group that has added
  a sixth pillar of Islam. This sixth pillar is
  the jihad, or holy war. It includes the
  belief that dying in the name of Allah sends one
  directly to heaven.