The Middle East Culture
Most of the people in the middle east are Bedouin, used to
live in the desert. They are considered the native people of the middle east, however, now
most of them have moved into the city. Lets talk about what shaped the culture
in Middle East: living in the harsh
desert, and the Islam religion, these two factors are what shaped the
culture in middle east.
Living in the
desert is rough because of the it’s harsh environment; Where the heat can be
over 50 Celsius degrees, and the sand storms can bury someone alive in a few short
minutes. The food and water resources are scarce, also the desert is full of
predators. These obstacles made the Bedouin people live by rules they honor which became
their culture eventually.
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| figure one Simulated painting of an old Bedouin |
These people
lived by helping the needy, even if it was the enemy; because living in the desert
is full of risks, if they walk cross someone who is lost or injured and needs
help, they will do what ever they can do to help whoever is in need. There are
a lot of real stories that parents keep passing to their children about how some
people helped their enemy when they were lost and injured, even though they were
at war at that time. Other stories talk about people sacrificing their last meal
for a guest, in order to remind there children to be generous to a gust. Moreover, the guest hospitality in the Arab
culture means guests have three days of hospitality not matter if they were
enemy, friends, or strangers; they will be fed and taken care of for three days.
This is how the Arabs became known for their generosity. There is a lot of old stories talk about how people sacrifice their last meal for a guest, in order to remind there children to be generous to a gust.
Other great custom is protecting thy neighbors. Having a
neighbor is a very valued in the Arab culture. If you have a
neighbor then they are considered part of your family; some people will even
share food with their neighbor if they don’t have enough.
Another custom in the
Arab culture is men take care of there family. Working in a very hot climate is
more difficult for women, so the men have to do all the hard work for their families; therefore, most of the
women work at home, and taking care of the family. This is how the people lived before they knew Islam.
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Figure two Makkah during Al-Hij pilgrimage
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After the Islam religion arise, not much has changed because Islam is encouraging them to help
the needy, protect thy neighbor, and to be good to each other. However, there
were some new customs that have been shaped from religion. For example, celebrating Eed which happens twice
a year. Eed is a religious celebration where families, friends, and neighbors will
get together to celebrate in the first Eed, which is during the end of Ramadan,
fasting month, and the second Eed celebrates the end of rights of pilgrimage. People
come from all over the world to participate in Makkah city. Also, one of the
big changes that happened after Islam was, that women and men have there own
specific customs; because men are forbidden to be alone with stranger women alone; therefore, they spend a great deal of their time with the same gender. So when they
have a celebration, or event, they will spend it with their male friends and
family.
Family is the most important of all in the Middle East culture. Most of
the people live with their parents; either in same house, or next door because
they have to take care of their parents when they get old. Just as
their parents did for them when they were young and weak. If someone is not
good to his or her family they will be rejected from the society.
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| Figure three Arabic Coffee |
Food and drinks, the Bedouin are known for there Arabic
coffee, which is different from black coffee. It’s a sample of generosity
in the Middle East. If an Arab has a guest, the first thing he will offer is Arabic
coffee. Shown as welcoming in his home. Because of the lack of plants and trees,
people tend to eat a lot of meat like sheep meat, and camel meat. Therefore, Most
of the meals contain meat and rice like these two famous dishes, Kabsah and Mndi.
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| Figure four Famous Arabic dish lamp Mndi |
Even though most of the people moved to the city they still
have the same culture and they cherish it. in conclusion, The harsh desert and the Islam religion is what made the culture in the middle East. They continue to teach
their children to keep this culture alive, by telling old stories so they keep helping who in need, be generous to the gust, protecting the neighbors, and Celebrate the two Eed with family and friends.
Work cited
1-"Bedouins in the Desert." Bedouins in the Desert. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. <http://www.tcoletribalrugs.com/resources/photos-old/126BedouinA.html>.
2"American Bedu." American Bedu. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. <http://americanbedu.com/2008/11/20/makkah-saudi-arabia-is-the-holiest-city-also-the-most-deadly-city/>.
3-"Pomegranates and Zaatar." : Qahwah (Arab Coffee). N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. <http://pomegranatesandzaatar.blogspot.com/2010/01/qahwah-arab-coffee.html>.
4-"Lamp Mndi." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. <http://www.albrari.com/vb/showthread.php?t=72747>.
