1. Ethnic Groupsā¢ An ethnic group is a group of people who share cultural ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community for generations.ā¢ The characteristics they may have in common could included a language, a religion, a shared history, types of foods, and a set of traditional stories, beliefs, or celebrations.ā¢ These things make up a common culture shared by those in a
2. Religionā¢ A religious group shares a belief system in a god or gods, with a specific set of rituals and literature.ā¢ People from different ethnic groups may share the same religion; through they may be from very different cultures.ā¢ Religion has been important to the history of the Middle East.ā¢ Christianity, Islam, and Judaism were started in this region.ā¢ People who follow Judaism are called Jews.ā¢ Followers of Christianity are called Christians.ā¢ Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
3. Arabsā¢ Southwest Asia is home to many different ethnic groups who share similar religions.ā¢ The Arabs of Southwest Asia believe themselves to be descendants of Abraham in the Bible, through his son Ishmael.ā¢ They make up the majority of those who live throughout the region known as the Middle East, though there are many differences among them.ā¢ Most Arabs practice the religion of Islam and call themselves Muslims.
4. ā¢ Those who call themselves Muslims are further divided, as some call themselves Sunni Muslims, while others are Shia Muslims.ā¢ Some Arabs are Christians.ā¢ Most Arabs, whether they are Muslim or Christian, speak the Arabic language.
5. Persiansā¢ Persians are those who live in the modern country of Iran.ā¢ The Persian people are descended from a different group than those who are Arabs and Jews.ā¢ Their ancestors were Indo-Europeans from Central Europe and Southern Russia.ā¢ The country of Persia became known as Iran after World War I.ā¢ Persians, or Iranians, speak Farsi, a language that uses the Arabic alphabet but is actually a different language.ā¢ They practice Islam, but most belong to the Shia group of Muslims.ā¢ About 15 percent of Muslims in the world are Shia. The other 85 percent are Sunni Muslims.
6. Kurdsā¢ The Kurds are an ethnic group the lives in several different countries in the Middle East.ā¢ Most Kurds are found in the mountainous areas where Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq come together.ā¢ The Kurds see themselves as a distinct ethnic group from others in the area.ā¢ They speak their own language, known as Kurdish, and have a separate history, literature, music, and set of traditions.ā¢ Many Kurds hope to have a nation o their own some day, a hope that has caused conflict with the countries in which Kurdish people live.ā¢ Most Kurds are Sunni Muslim, though there is a small minority who are Shia Muslims.
7. ļThe Middle East has a common culture whichincludes the Arabic language and the Islamic religion.ļ For centuries, kingdoms and empires have battledfor control of the region.ļThree continents (Europe, Asia, & Africa) meet in theMiddle East.ļImportant trade routes have long passed through theregion.ļFor many years, whoever controlled the Middle Eastheld great influence over much of the worldāseconomy.
thats what i looked up and got