ReligionsReligionsof theof the

Middle EastMiddle East

Copy and fill in this KWL chart:Copy and fill in this KWL chart:

KK

(What do (What do you already you already

KKnow?)now?)

WW

(What do you (What do you WWant to ant to know?)know?)

LL

(What did (What did you you LLearn?)earn?)

IslamIslam

ChristianiChristianityty

JudaismJudaism

Enduring Understanding

Students will understand that the culture of a

society is the product of the religion, beliefs,

customs, traditions, and government of that

society.

Georgia Performance StandardsGeorgia Performance StandardsThe student will describe the diverse The student will describe the diverse

cultures of the people who live in cultures of the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle East).Southwest Asia (Middle East).

c. Compare and contrast the prominent c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in SW Asia: Judaism, Islam, religions in SW Asia: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.and Christianity.

d. Explain the origin of the division d. Explain the origin of the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims.between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

Vocabulary TermsVocabulary Terms

1.1. MonotheismMonotheism-belief in one god-belief in one god2.2. PolytheismPolytheism-belief in many gods-belief in many gods3.3. Exile- Exile- forced removal from one’s native countryforced removal from one’s native country4.4. The Diaspora-The Diaspora- the scattering of the Jews to other the scattering of the Jews to other

parts of the worldparts of the world5.5. ResurrectResurrect- to bring back to life- to bring back to life6.6. ProphetProphet- a messenger of God- a messenger of God7.7. Sects-Sects- groups groups

JudaismJudaism a monotheistic religion founded by a monotheistic religion founded by AbrahamAbraham

and whose followers are called and whose followers are called JewsJews OldestOldest of the 3 religions of the 3 religions Began as a set of beliefs & laws practiced by Began as a set of beliefs & laws practiced by

ancient Hebrew people (Israelites) in ancient Hebrew people (Israelites) in Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia

They believe that a human leader will come as They believe that a human leader will come as a messenger of God and bring about a golden a messenger of God and bring about a golden age age (Messiah(Messiah).).

Hebrew Bible Hebrew Bible is the sacred text of Judaism. It is the sacred text of Judaism. It contains the contains the TorahTorah (the first 5 books of the Old (the first 5 books of the Old Testament, Psalms, and a few other Old Testament, Psalms, and a few other Old Testament books)Testament books)

Is both an ethnic group and a religious groupIs both an ethnic group and a religious group

JudaismJudaismLeader: Leader: AbrahamAbraham-father of the Jews-father of the Jews

2000 BC -Born in 2000 BC -Born in UrUr (present day Iraq) (present day Iraq) Moved to Moved to Canaan Canaan (present day Israel) when told to (present day Israel) when told to

leave his native land by leave his native land by YahwehYahweh (God) (God) CanaanCanaan-land promised to Abraham & his -land promised to Abraham & his

descendents by God. descendents by God. If he moved to Canaan, Abraham and his family If he moved to Canaan, Abraham and his family

would be blessedwould be blessedMosesMoses-prophet that led the Israelites out of slavery in -prophet that led the Israelites out of slavery in

EgyptEgypt He received He received God’s laws God’s laws (the Ten Commandments) ,(the Ten Commandments) , which were different from existing laws because they which were different from existing laws because they

were based on the worship of were based on the worship of one Godone God. . (monotheism)(monotheism)

JudaismJudaism First Temple for Jewish worshipFirst Temple for Jewish worship

Built around 1000-900 BC by Built around 1000-900 BC by King DavidKing David 586 BC-destroyed by 586 BC-destroyed by BabyloniansBabylonians Jews were Jews were exiledexiled for 50 years. for 50 years. Persians Persians allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to

rebuild temple.rebuild temple. Second templeSecond temple

Built on the site of first temple in 20 BCBuilt on the site of first temple in 20 BC Destroyed by Destroyed by RomansRomans attacking Jerusalem in 70 AD attacking Jerusalem in 70 AD Jews moved away from the land after temple was Jews moved away from the land after temple was

destroyed (destroyed (The DiasporaThe Diaspora)) Has never been rebuilt (the only remaining wall is the Has never been rebuilt (the only remaining wall is the

Wailing WallWailing Wall))

ChristianityChristianity a religion that developed out of a religion that developed out of Judaism Judaism and and

based on the life and teachings of based on the life and teachings of JesusJesus (leader)(leader)

World’s World’s largest religion largest religion (2.1 billion followers)(2.1 billion followers) BibleBible-- the sacred text of Christianity the sacred text of Christianity 30 AD-began preaching new ideas about 30 AD-began preaching new ideas about

JudaismJudaism Jesus’ teachingsJesus’ teachings

Believed that the old laws of Judaism should Believed that the old laws of Judaism should be replaced by a simpler system based on be replaced by a simpler system based on lovelove of one’s fellow human beings. of one’s fellow human beings.

Jesus preached for 3 years.Jesus preached for 3 years.

ChristianityChristianity 33 AD33 AD Romans found him guilty of Romans found him guilty of treasontreason and was and was

sentenced to death by sentenced to death by crucifixion.crucifixion. Jesus died, but was Jesus died, but was resurrectedresurrected .. Jews Jews do not do not acknowledge Jesus as the acknowledge Jesus as the

Messiah .Messiah . DisciplesDisciples

12 close 12 close followers of Jesusfollowers of Jesus Spread his teachings and their belief that he Spread his teachings and their belief that he

was the Messiah promised in Jewish scripturewas the Messiah promised in Jewish scripture

ChristianityChristianity Christianity spread because of Christianity spread because of Paul of TarsusPaul of Tarsus

Never met JesusNever met Jesus Told to teach Jesus’ ideas to non-Jews in a vision after Told to teach Jesus’ ideas to non-Jews in a vision after

the crucifixionthe crucifixion Traveled to build churches throughout the ancient worldTraveled to build churches throughout the ancient world Followers of Jesus’ teachings were now called Followers of Jesus’ teachings were now called

Christians .Christians . 100 AD – Romans fought the growth of Christianity100 AD – Romans fought the growth of Christianity

-Many Christians were arrested and killed, so many -Many Christians were arrested and killed, so many worshipped in secret to avoid worshipped in secret to avoid persecution .persecution .-Despite this, Christianity continued to spread-Despite this, Christianity continued to spread

325 AD – Roman 325 AD – Roman Emperor Constantine Emperor Constantine called for a called for a meeting to discuss how Christianity should be practiced .meeting to discuss how Christianity should be practiced .-Catholic Church was created (Catholic means universal).-Catholic Church was created (Catholic means universal).

IslamIslam a religion that teaches that there is a religion that teaches that there is one god and one god and

that Muhammed is his prophetthat Muhammed is his prophet MuslimMuslim-a follower of the religion Islam-a follower of the religion Islam AllahAllah-Arabic for God-Arabic for God Leader: Muhammad-born in 570 A.D. in Mecca, Leader: Muhammad-born in 570 A.D. in Mecca,

S.A.S.A. 610 AD-had a vision of an angel who told him to preach 610 AD-had a vision of an angel who told him to preach

about one god, Allahabout one god, Allah These messages from Allah were written down and have These messages from Allah were written down and have

become the Qur’an.become the Qur’an. 622 AD-He was forced to flee Mecca.622 AD-He was forced to flee Mecca. 632 AD-died632 AD-died

After his death, Muslims fought over who would be After his death, Muslims fought over who would be his successor which caused a split (will discuss his successor which caused a split (will discuss later).later).

IslamIslam Islamic Islamic Golden Age Golden Age began in 700 A.D.began in 700 A.D.

Muslim scholars led to advances in math, astronomy, Muslim scholars led to advances in math, astronomy, and medicine .and medicine .

Muslim business practices led to modern day Muslim business practices led to modern day banking.banking. They introduced the They introduced the compasscompass and foods, such as and foods, such as ricerice

and sand sugarugar to Europe (via the to Europe (via the Silk RoadSilk Road)) Our old friend, Our old friend, Genghis Khan Genghis Khan and his Mongols, invaded and his Mongols, invaded

the area and controlled until the late 1200s when the the area and controlled until the late 1200s when the Ottoman Empire began (we will discuss later).Ottoman Empire began (we will discuss later).

Five Pillars of Islam Five Pillars of Islam (Main beliefs)(Main beliefs)1.1. Believe in only one God and Muhammad is his Believe in only one God and Muhammad is his

messenger.messenger.2.2. Pray in the direction of Mecca five times a day.Pray in the direction of Mecca five times a day.3.3. Give money to the poor and needy.Give money to the poor and needy.4.4. Fast (from sunrise to sunset) during the month of Fast (from sunrise to sunset) during the month of

Ramadan.Ramadan.5.5. Make a hajj to Mecca at least once in your lifetime.Make a hajj to Mecca at least once in your lifetime.

What are Sunni and Shia Muslims?What are Sunni and Shia Muslims? The The Sunni Sunni accepted Muhammad’s father-accepted Muhammad’s father-

in-law as the new leader. They think the in-law as the new leader. They think the community should community should choosechoose the best leader the best leader for Islam. They believe that Muslim for Islam. They believe that Muslim scholars should be respected, but should scholars should be respected, but should not have supreme power. They arenot have supreme power. They are lessless strict in their beliefs than the Shia.strict in their beliefs than the Shia.

The The ShiaShia believed that Muhammad’s son- believed that Muhammad’s son-in-law should have been leader. Today, in-law should have been leader. Today, they follow a supreme they follow a supreme imamimam as their as their spiritual guide and interpreter of faith.spiritual guide and interpreter of faith.

Why is there division between Why is there division between Sunni and Shia Muslims?Sunni and Shia Muslims?

Many Sunni rulers perceived the Shia as a Many Sunni rulers perceived the Shia as a threatthreat, , both to their political and religious authority.both to their political and religious authority.

Their basic beliefs are the same (Qur’an and Their basic beliefs are the same (Qur’an and Muhammad), but their Muhammad), but their practices and interpretations practices and interpretations are different.are different.

The Shia remain an oppressed community in many The Shia remain an oppressed community in many countries without the right to practice their religion countries without the right to practice their religion or organize and have been the target of violence.or organize and have been the target of violence.

85%85% of all Muslims are of all Muslims are SunniSunni. Based on our notes . Based on our notes on government, which country do you think has a on government, which country do you think has a Shia majority?Shia majority?