BBC
Bbc: Sunni and Shia Muslims
An informative site to help explain the differences between Sunni and Shia (Shiite) Muslims. Discusses their beginnings and their split into two differently thinking groups.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Yoruk
The Yoruk are an ethnic-tribal grouping found widely throughout Turkey but primarily along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. The Yoruk are not linguistically distinct from most of the rural populations among whom they live. They speak...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Swahili
The people known as Swahili live along the narrow East African coastline and the adjacent islands between southern Somalia and northern Mozambique; they also live in the Aomoro Islands and northwestern Madagascar, and there are Swahili...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Pashai
The Pashai are an ethnic group located in the northeast corner of Afghanistan. They are estimated to number about 108,000 (1982). "Pashai" is the term used to refer to a specific language, to the speakers of that language, and to the...
Other
New Internationalist Magazine: Muslims: The Facts
Facts and statistical data of Muslim populations around the world. Includes geographical distribution of different groups and sectors.
BBC
Bbc: Sunnis and Shias
A quick guide to discovering the differences between Sunnis and Shias, both members of the Muslim religion. Describes what each branch believes in; both their shared beliefs and their differences.
Other
Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project: A Shi'ite Encyclopedia
This collection of information relies on the Quran as well as Sunni and Shia sources. Unlike with a traditional encyclopedia, one must use the table of contents to locate particular topics. Includes a brief bibliography of books in...
Curated OER
University of Texas: Iran: Ethnoreligious Distribution
This is a fascinating map of Iran showing the religious distribution of the Sunni and Shi'a sects of Islam. It also shows the many ethnic groups that make up this country. From the Perry-Castaneda Collection.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Qashqa'i
The Qashqa'i are tribally organized, Turkic-speaking, nomadic pastoralists and agriculturists who live in southwestern Iran. They are Shia Muslims, unlike most of Iran's other minorities, who are either Sunni Muslims, Christians, Jews,...
PBS
Pbs News Hour: The Role of the Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites in Iraq
A way to discuss the complex formation of the Iraqi government with students. This lesson plan shows students the different ethnic groups within Iraq and how their views and opinions effect not only Iraq but the surrounding countries and...
Library of Congress
Loc: Pakistan's Religious Life
This article discusses the dynamics of religious life in Pakistan including basic tenets of Islam, as well as non-Muslim minorities.
University of Calgary
University of Calgary: The Safavid Empire
The "Shah Ismail" section of the Safavid Empire history describes how the Safavid Empire differed from other Muslim empires and how Shi'ite Islam contributed to that.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Nubians
The Nubians are a non-Arab Muslim population who lived in the geographical region known as Nubia in southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Aswan High Dam Lake forced relocation for 120,000 beginning in 1964. Among the Egyptian Nubians this...
Other
Fasting, According to the Five Schools of Islamic Law
This website discusses how the Five Schools of Islamic Law view fasting, which is one of the Pillars of Islam. Shows how each School of Islamic Law has different views towards an obligatory task of all Muslims. Specifically talks about...
BBC
Bbc: 'Bin Laden' Warning to Iraq Shias
Relates Bin Laden's opinion that it is important that the Iraqi Shias do not continue to attack the Iraqi Sunni Muslims. Discusses the tensions between the two groups, and why they are attacking each other. (2 July 2006)
Council of Foreign Relations
Terrorism Havens: Lebanon
This resource answers questions regarding Lebanon, terrorism, and states implications for the United States.
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Mauritania: Religion
Brief description of the religious beliefs of the people of Mauritania. Be sure to click on the topics to find out more about Islam in general and the sects that are prevalent in Mauritania.
TES Global
Tes: Peace Corps: Discovering New Perspectives on Life
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson plan allows learners the opportunity to read about the experiences of a Peace Corps volunteer and how his worldview changed from learning more about another culture.
BBC
Bbc: Week of 6 23 14: Is This the End of Iraq?
Learn about the most recent attacks that Iraqi citizens have been under, and why this is putting the nation in peril.
US Department of State
U.s. Department of State: United Arab Emirates
This resource offers information on both the history of the United Arab Emirates as well as its relationship with the U.S. It gives a very complete and informative description, and focuses on respect for human rights in United Arab...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Aimaq
In western Afghanistan and far eastern Iran, "Aimaq" means "tribal people," which distinguishes the Aimaq from the nontribal population in the area, the Persians (Fariswan) and Tajiks. Most of the population of live in Afghanistan; those...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Kurds
The Kurds have inhabited an area of rugged mountains and high plains at the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for over two thousand years. Their traditional mode of subsistence is pastoralism and agriculture. The territory...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Palestinians
Palestinians inhabit an area east of the Mediterranean Sea and south of Lebanon. The Jordan River, Lakes Huleh and Tiberias, and the Dead Sea separate Palestine from Jordan. Christians refer to Palestine as "the Holy Land." Today...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Arabs
The Arab world is usually considered to be comprised of the following nineteen countries: Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi...