Human Geography Review

Difference between an ethnic group and a religious group: Members of an ethnic group share many cultural traits such as language, ancestral place of origin, traditional foods, clothing, dance, life traditions, etc. Members of the same religious may share nothing except the religious belief system and the religious practices that go with it. They may come from different parts of the world, speak different language, and have very different traditional practices and lifestyles, making them members of different ethnic groups. If, however, they share the same faith, they are members of the same religious group.

Sunni vs. Shia Muslim Sunni Muslims – believed that the leader should be the people who could keep the community together and did not have to be a descent of Muhammad Shia Muslims- believed that the leader should be a descendant of Muhammad They are other differences in practices and interpretation of teachings as well. Sunni Muslims are the majority with about 85% and Shia are the minority and are mainly in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.

Ethnic Groups Africa/Middle East Africa Location (Where are they Language Spoken Religion Practices found) Arab North Africa came late 600 Arabic Islam AD from the Middle East traders and invaders\ Also found in Mediterranean coast and some countries along the Indian Ocean Ashanti (Believe in Golden Ghana in West Africa Many( speak language of Traditional, Christianity, and Stool) their ethnic group) Islam Bantu (brought iron tools, Migrated from Central Africa Hundreds of different Bantu- Christianity, Islam, and new farming techniques, to the southern tip of Africa Languages and many Animist (believe that spirits and language) different ethnic groups are found in natural objects Both a language and an and surroundings) group of people Swahili East Coast from Arab and Swahili a combination of Most practice Islam Both a language and an Persian traders Bantu and Arabic Some also practice Mila a ethnic group local belief Middle East Arab (Ethnic groups with Throughout the Middle East Arabic Most practice Islam but many religious diversity) are Christians or other faiths Kurds (They do not have Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq Kurdish Islam: Sunni Muslim and a their own homeland to (this area is called Kurdistan) small minority Shia Muslim live in) Persians Iran (ancient name Persia) Farsi Islam: Most are Shia Muslims

Literacy Rate and Standard of Living

Literacy- ability to read and write.

Literacy has a big effect on standard of living because people who can’t read and write will have a hard time getting jobs. Lack of education means less jobs like doctors, scientists, etc… Rural and undeveloped nations have lower literacy rates than urban and developed counties. Gender plays a role in the access to education in some Middle East, African, and Asian countries. Education is often only available to those who can afford it which make the literacy rate low in those places.

Standard of Living can be measure by the GDP per capita (value of all good and services produced with a country in a given year divided by the number of people) this is used to measure living condition Judaism Islam Religions of Middle East Christianity Followers are Called Jews Christians Muslims Abraham/ VERY Person who Initiated/ approximate: Jesus/ (Approx.) 30 AD/ Mohammed/ 622 AD/ Start Date/ where it 2000 BC/ Where Israel is Jerusalem Mecca started today Monotheistic Believe in Yes, the world’s first/ only one Yes/ God Allah (means surrender) Yahweh God/ Name for God Quran Torah, Tanakh (Talmud-not Bible (Old and New Holy text (Hadith-not sacred) sacred) Testaments) Sharia=Islamic Law) Yes, including Abraham, Belief in prophets of Yes, including Abraham, Yes, including Abraham, Moses, and others Old Testament/Torah/ Moses, and others/ A Moses, and others/ the Son Mohammad is FINAL Belief about Jesus religious teacher (only) of God prophet/ a prophet of God/Allah Holy place (s)/Building of Jerusalem/ Synagogue, Jerusalem/ Church, Mecca, Jerusalem/ Mosque, Worship temple cathedral masjid Sabbath: sundown Fri Every day, but gather at Day of worship/ Important through sundown Sat/ mosque for Friday Sunday/ Easter, Christmas Holidays Rosh Hashanah, Yom prayers/ Ramadan(entire Kippur, Passover month), The Hajj Rabbi, Cantor/ Pastor, Priest / Worship service leaders are Mullah, Imam/ Orthodox (most strict Roman Catholic, called/ Branchs/ Groups Sunni interpretation of Torah) Eastern Orthodox Groups (Sects) Shi’a or Shi’ite ConservativeReform Protestant Groups no pork, shellfish, no No pork, no alcohol Dietary restrictions Some fasting for Lent meat/dairy combination Ramadan fasting

Religions of Asia Buddhism Hinduism Shintoism Confucianism

Origins/ Person: Siddhartha Person :Unknown Person: Indigenous Person: Founded by Followers Gautama (the Buddha) Date:Ancient times – religion of Japan. Confucius Date: (551– Date: 520 BCE, NE unknown Approx. # Date: 479 BC), China Approx. India.Approx. # Followers: 900 million Approx. # # Followers: 5-6 million Followers: Followers are called: Followers: Followers are called: 360 millionFollowers are Hindus Holy Text: The 3-4 million Holy Texts: Analects called: Buddhists Holy Vedas, Upanishads, Followers are Text: Tripitaka (Pali Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, called: Holy Canon); Mahayana sutras etc. Texts: are Kojiki or like the Lotus Sutra; 'Records of Ancient Tibetan Book of the Dead Matters' and Nihon- gi or 'Chronicles of Japan' Views God(s): It Varies: God(s):One Supreme God(s): Polytheism God(s): Not addressed Theravada Buddhists are Reality (Brahman) based on the kami, Universe:Not addressed atheistic; Mahayana manifested in many gods ancient gods or Buddhists more and goddesses Universe: spirits. Universe: polytheistic. Universe: Buddha taught nothing is permanent.

Life’s Purpose is to avoid Humans are in bondage to Humans are pure by Purpose of life is to fulfill Purpose suffering and gain ignorance and illusion, but nature and can one's role in society with enlightenment and are able to escape. Purpose keep away evil propriety, honor, and release from cycle of is to gain release from through purification loyalty. rebirth, or at least attain rebirth, or at least a better rituals and attain a better rebirth by gaining rebirth. good things by Not addressed merit. calling on the kami. Afterlife Reincarnation until gain Reincarnation enlightenment. Death is bad and (understood differently impure. Some than in Hinduism, with no humans become surviving soul) until gain kami after death. enlightenment General Meditation, mantras, Yoga, meditation, worship Worship and Honesty, politeness, Practices devotion to deities (in (puja), devotion to a god or offerings to kami at propriety, humaneness, some sects), mandalas goddess, pilgrimage to holy shrines and at perform correct role in (Tibetan) cities, live according to one's home. Purification society, loyalty to family, dharma (purpose/ role). rituals. nation