8.5 Creation and Importance of Religion in Southwest Asia and North Africa

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8.5 Creation and Importance of Religion in Southwest Asia and North Africa

3 World Religions

Southwest Asia and North Africa are centers of religious conflicts due to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam considering the region sacred. Each has deep historical ties to the land, causing struggles for control and influence. These religions share similarities, including monotheism—the belief in one god. Additionally, the city of Jerusalem, located in present-day Israel and one of the oldest cities in the world, holds great importance to all three religions.

Israel

The Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, is believed to be part of the first temple created for Judaism.

Judiasm

Map of the Holy Land around the ninth century BCE. The blue and yellow areas were under the control of the Jewish people.

Christian crusaders on a march to Jerusalem

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified and Jesus's tomb.

Painting of Jesus with angels

Christianity

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

Mecca and Medina are two of the locations that are important to the religion of Islam.

Islam

After the Crusades, Southwest Asia and North Africa continued to face conflicts among the three religions connected to the land. In the 1800s, Israelis began returning to their homeland, after being removed by the Romans. Zionists, someone who supports an independent Jewish homeland in Israel, pushed for Jewish people to return to the Holy Land.

The two flags of Israel and Palestine represent two of the groups in conflict over land in Southwest Asia.

Recent Conflict

Two women wearing hijabs in Iran

Religion greatly influences the culture of Southwest Asia and North Africa, shaping daily life, laws, and customs. For example, Islamic principles affect dietary practices like Ramadan fasting and dress codes, including hijabs worn by Muslim women.

Impact on Culture

Religious holidays and festivals are widely celebrated and influence the rhythm of life in the region. This includes holidays such as Eid al-Fitr for Muslims, Passover for Jewish people, and Easter for Christians.

Impact on Culture

Religion has influenced the region's art and architecture, with mosques, synagogues, and churches highlighting intricate designs and community life. Religious texts shape cultural heritage, morals, and worldviews across generations.

Impact on Culture

Exit Ticket

Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all have great importance to the region of Southwest Asia and North Africa, particularly in the city of Jerusalem. Not only were they created in the region, but they have influenced conflicts and culture.

Wrap Up

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict The Israeli-Palestinian conflict involves Jewish and Muslim populations fighting over holy land. Since 1967, Israel has controlled the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This struggle began in the early 20th century, leading to wars and impacting millions.

The number of Christians decreased in the country.

Israelis took back control of two Palestinian areas, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The State of Palestine was created.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

post World War II

Lebanon Civil War

Using Zoom drawing tool: Match the conflict in Southwest Asia to its significance to religion in the area.

Judaism regards Jerusalem and the land of present-day Israel that borders the Jordan River as the Holy Land given to the Jewish people by God. The Holy Land of Israel currently has several groups living within the country borders. The majority of the land is controlled by Jewish leaders, but there is also a Muslim population in control of several areas called Palestine. Palestinians inhabit the areas known as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This profound connection to the land has motivated Jewish people to maintain a presence there for thousands of years.

Fighting in Lebanon In Lebanon, religious tensions between Christians and Muslims led to a civil war from 1975 to 1990. This war devastated the country and decreased the number of Christians left in the nation. But efforts have been made to rebuild and promote peace among different religious groups.

Use Zoom Tools to match the religious site in Jerusalem to the religion.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Western Wall, or Wailing Wall

Islam

Christianity

Judaism

Post World War II After WWII in the 1940s, conflict arose over land between Jewish, Muslim, and British forces. In 1947, the UN proposed dividing Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, which the Arabs opposed. The image shows British officers checking passports in Jerusalem. A year later, after the British left, the Jewish proclaimed Israel as an independent state.

Judaism began with a small group in Southwest Asia known as the Israelites, now called Jews. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions. They believe they descended from Abraham and Sarah, herders from Iraq over 3,700 years ago. In 1050 BCE, the Jewish people established the kingdom of Israel, which later split into Israel and Judah.

Christianity sees Southwest Asia and North Africa as sacred. Around 30 CE, Jerusalem became home to Jesus Christ, believed by Christians to be the son of God. He lived, preached, died, and was thought to be resurrected here, making it vital to their faith. This connection has led Christians to fight for these holy sites, especially during the Crusades.

Islam regards Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem as sacred. Jerusalem hosts the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site, believed to be where Prophet Muhammad ascended. The religious importance of these locations has led to conflicts with other faiths.

Using Zoom Stamp Tool show me: Which hotspot location is connected to the foundation of Islam?

Islam began in 610 CE with Muhammad receiving teachings from God while he was a merchant in Mecca. By 700 CE, Islam spread across Southwest Asia, North Africa, and into Europe. Today, it remains the main religion in North Africa, shaping the culture and daily life of its people.

The Crusades were a major conflict from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries, where European Christian armies sought to reclaim Jerusalem and holy sites from Muslim control, causing destruction and altering the region's political landscape.

The city of Jerusalem is an important location for three different religions. These religions have fought over the the same area of land for many years because of it's importance.

Learners can: identify the three major world religions founded in Southwest Asia and North Africa explain the religious conflict over land in Southwest Asia and North Africa describe the impact religion has had on the culture of this region

monotheism

Jerusalem

Zionists

hijab