Middle Eastern Population

1
Middle Eastern Population
2
Human Characteristics

• North Africa and the Middle East has served as a
  crossroads for the people of Africa, Asia, and
  Europe
• Lead to ethnic diversity- differences in people
  based on origins, languages, and culture

3
Arabs

• Largest group in the region
• Most are Muslims who practice Islam
• Arabic Language (6th most spoken)
• Ancestors
• People from the Arabian Peninsula
• Canaanites
• Babylonians
• Egyptians

4
Israelis

• People that live in Israel (4.1 million are
  Jewish and .9 million are Arab)
• Many Jews trace their heritage to the Hebrews
• Believe that God gave them the land
• Kicked out of their homeland through war and
  persecution

5
Arab-Jewish Conflict

• Israel was created in 1948
• Caused a conflict between the Palestinians
  (Arabs) and the Jews

Different sections of the city are reserved for
Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
6
Turks

• Area is a blend of many people
• Ottoman Empire- ruled most of the Eastern
  Mediterranean

7
Iranians and Afghanis

• People believe they are descendents of the Aryans
• Speak Farsi
• Practice a part of Islam called Shiism
• Iran is still a theocracy-government ruled by
  religious leaders

Ayatollah Khomeini
8
Cypriots

• Last non-Arab nation
• People that live in Cyprus
• Contain Greek and Turkish ethnicities

Wearing pictures of their missing loved ones.
9
Kurds

• The only ethnic group that has not obtained
  self-rule

10
Water and Population

• Most people choose to live near water
• Live near sea coast, rivers, and oasis
• Examples most Egyptians live near the Nile River
  and people in Iraq live near the Tigris and
  Euphrates Rivers