Name:
Period:
Global Studies
Major World Religions
Founded in the Middle East
Unit EQ: What cultural and geographic features make Asia and the Middle
East a unique place?
Lesson EQ: What are the major world religions found in the Middle
East and what are their similarities and differences?
Formative Grades
1. Socrative Quiz on Judaism
2. Socrative Quiz on Christianity
3. Socrative Quiz on Islam
4. Summary Organizer
Summative Grade:
Compare and Contrast Essay
Judaism
Directions: Follow the QR Code and fill in the
appropriate information below, or follow the url
link: https://sites.google.com/site/howardworldreligions/judaism
Draw the symbol of Judaism here.
Directions: While reading the “Background” section fill in the chart below.
God



How many God’s do
Jews believe in?
Who was the
founder of Judaism?
When and where
was Judaism
founded?
Holy Book

What is the Torah?
Key Beliefs

What is the goal of
Judaism?
Practices and Rituals


What is Shabbat and
how is it practiced?
What are 3
examples of laws
Jews must follow
from the Torah?
Worship Services


What is the Jewish
hold building called?
Who leads the
services?
Sects


What are the three
main sects of
Judaism?
Why is Jerusalem
important
2
Directions: While continuing the reading, answer the following questions in
complete sentences.
1. On which holiday are Jews forbidden from eating or drinking to show sorrow for their sins?
2. On which holiday do Jews celebrate the New Year in prayer?
3. What event caused the spread of Jews out of Palestine?
4. Which of the 4 geographic principles is shown with the spread of Jewish people and culture out
of Palestine?
5. Which event, also known as the Shoah, saw the death of millions of European Jews, and led to the
creation of modern Israel?
Directions: Use the map and the chart at the bottom of page to answer the following questions.
6. How many Jews live throughout the entire world as of 2010?
7. Which nation has the largest number of Jews as of 2010?
8. Which nation has the second largest number of Jews 2010?
9. In 1939 which region had the largest number of Jews? Why after 1939 did the number of Jews in
this region decline?
10. Which region saw its Jewish population rise the most between 1948 and 2010?
3
Christianity
Directions: Follow the QR Code and fill in the
appropriate information below, or follow the url
link:
https://sites.google.com/site/howardworldreligions/christianity
Draw the symbol of Christianity here.
Directions: While
chart below.
reading the “Background” section fill in the
God




How many God’s do
Christians believe in?
Who was the founder of
Christianity?
When was Christianity
founded?
What is “the trinity”?
Holy Book


What is the
Christian holy book?
What is the old
testament and new
testament?
Key Beliefs

What is the goal of
Christianity, and
what happens if one
does not reach it?
Practices and Rituals


What is baptism?
What is
Communion?
Worship Services



What is a Christian
holy building called?
Who leads the
services?
What occurs during
the services?
Sects


What are the three
main sects of
Christianity?
Why is Jerusalem
important?
4
Directions: While continuing the reading, answer the following questions in
complete sentences.
1. What is the purpose of Christmas?
2. What does the Easter holiday celebrate, and why is it important to Christianity?
3. What is a missionary, (If you need to, look it up on google) and what is their role in spreading
Christianity?
4. How was Roman Emperor Theodosius I important in spreading the Christian religion?
5. Christianity is the world’s largest religion, how many people, and what percent of the world
follows one of the three branches of Christianity?
Directions: Use the map and the chart at the bottom of page to answer the following questions.
6. List 10 countries (you may need to consult another political map) that have Christian
populations above 50%?
7. List 3 countries in Africa that have Christian populations between 10-50%?
8. Which region of the world has the most Christians in 1910?
9. Which region has seen the largest percentage loss of Christians between 1910 and 2010?
10. Which region has seen the largest percentage gain of Christians between 1910 and 2010?
5
Islam
Directions: Follow the QR Code and fill in the
appropriate information below, or follow the url link:
https://sites.google.com/site/howardworldreligions/islam
Draw the symbol of Islam here.
Directions: While reading the “Background” section fill in the chart below.
God



How many God’s do
Muslims believe in?
Who was the founder of
Islam?
When and where was
Islam founded?
Holy Book


What is the Islamic
holy book?
What language is
used for religious
purposes?
Key Beliefs

What is the goal of
Islam, and what
happens if one does
not reach it?
Practices and Rituals

What are the “Five
Pillars” of the Islamic
faith? (List and
explain each)
Worship Services



What is a Muslim
holy building called?
Who leads the
services?
What occurs during
the services?
Sects


What are the two
major sects of Islam?
Why is Jerusalem an
important city?
6
Directions: While continuing the reading, answer the following questions in
complete sentences.
1. What is Ramadan and what are Muslims required to do (or not do)?
2. What is Eid Al-Fitr?
3. In what two major ways did Islam spread throughout the world following the death of
Muhammad?
4. Looking at the map of Muslim trade routes what three continents did Islam spread to, and what
two geographic principles are most clearly seen through the spread of Islam via trade routes?
5. Approximately what percentage of people in the world are Muslim?
Directions: Use the maps and the chart at the bottom of page to answer the following questions.
Muslim World Population
6. What two regions of the world have large populations of Muslims?
7. What region of Africa has the highest percentage of Muslims, Northern Africa or Southern Africa?
Chart: country with the largest Muslim Population
8. Which nation shown has the highest percentage of Muslims living in their country?
9. How many Muslims live in Egypt?
10. Which nation has a higher percentage of Muslims, Nigeria or Turkey?
The Spread of Islam
11. According to the key and the map, how did Islam spread between 632 and 750?
12. According to the key and the map, how did Islam spread between 750 and 1500?
13. According to the key and the map, how did Islam get to the United States?
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Summary Organizer
1. Place the three major religions on the map based
on where they were founded?
2. Place the three major religions on the time line
based on when they were founded?
2000BCE
0
600 AD
Religion Sort
Directions: Put a check in the box, if that statement pertains to that religion.
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
3. Monotheistic
Religion.
4. Holy book is the
Qur’an.
5. The oldest of the
faiths.
6. Believes in the God of
Abraham.
7. Spread throughout
the world.
8. Believes the city of
Jerusalem is important.
9. Founder was the
Prophet Muhammad.
10. Began in modern
day Israel.
11. Has the most
modern day followers.
12. Religion believes
that charity is
important.
13. Founder was Jesus
of Nazareth.
14. Spread through
conquest and trade.
15. Spread through the
diaspora.
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Summative Essay Assignment
Directions: Your task is to choose two of the religions to write a compare and contrast essay about.
Your essay will be four paragraphs long. The essay will include an introduction paragraph, a paragraph
describing three ways in which the religion are similar, a paragraph with three ways in which they are
different, as well as a conclusion paragraph.
Introduction:
 Your introduction should
o Introduce the purpose of your essay by explaining the two religions you are comparing
and contrasting.
o Explain what religion is and why it is important.
Body Paragraph One:
 Your first body paragraph should
o Explain the first way in which your religions are similar.
o Explain the second way in which your religions are similar.
o Explain the third way in which your religions are similar.
 Make sure you define all key vocabulary that you use.
Body Paragraph Two:
 Your second body paragraph should
o Explain the first way in which your religions are different.
o Explain the second way in which your religions are different.
o Explain the third way in which your religions are different.
Conclusion
 Restate your introduction.
**Use the organizer on the back to plan your essay**
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Compare/Contrast
Religion 1
Religion 2
How Alike?
How Different?
With Regard To
Conclusion
:
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