West Asia woman wearing
traditional clothing in
Zakho on
Mount Gerizim poling a
mashoof in the Mesopotamian Marshes men •
Semitic •
Assyrians (Āṯūrāyē / Sūrāyē / Sūryāyē) originally spoke
Akkadian, an
East Semitic language, and later adopted
Aramaic, a
Northwest Semitic language, from the
Arameans. There is documented historical
continuity between ancient and modern Assyrians, particularly among those who have remained in the
Assyrian homeland since antiquity, prior to the
Arab conquest of Mesopotamia. Not all Assyrians identify under this designation, and some groups have adopted an Assyrian identity at later points . •
Central Semitic •
Northwest Semitic •
Arameans (Āramayē): Central and Western
Syria, ancient land of the
Aramaeans (
Aram) in the
Levant, an
Aramaic-speaking people that descends from ancient
Aramaeans. In recent years, there has been an attempt to revive
Western Aramaic among
Aramean Christians living in the
Israeli village of
Jish. •
Mandaeans •
Canaanites •
Samaritans (
Samerim): of
Samaria. An ethno-religious group of the Levant, closely related
genetically and culturally to the
Jewish diaspora and are understood to have branched off from the latter around the time of the
Assyrian exile. The Samaritans are adherents of
Samaritanism, an
Abrahamic religion closely related to
Judaism. Their sole norm of religious observance is the
Samaritan Pentateuch. •
Jews: along with
Samaritans, descend from the
Israelites of the southern Levant, who are believed by archaeologists and historians to have branched out of the Canaanite peoples and culture through the development of a distinct monolatrous—and later monotheistic—religion centered on
El/
Yahweh, one of the Ancient Canaanite deities. A
Jewish diaspora existed for several centuries before the fall of the
Second Temple, and their dwelling in other countries for the most part was not a result of compulsory dislocation. Following the
Roman Siege of Jerusalem, destruction of
Herod's Temple, and
failed Jewish revolts, some Jews were either expelled, taken as slaves to Rome, or massacred, while other Jews
continued to live in the region over the centuries, despite the conversion of many Jews to Christianity and Islam as well as persecution by the various conquerors of the region, including the
Romans,
Arabs,
Ottomans, and the
British. Additionally, a substantial number of diaspora Jews
immigrated to Palestine during the 19th and 20th centuries (mainly under the
Zionist movement), as well as after the modern
State of Israel was established in 1948. This was coupled with the
revival of
Hebrew, the only
Canaanite language still spoken today.
Genetic studies of Jews show that many major diaspora Jewish communities derive a substantial portion of their ancestry from
ancient Israelites. • Due to changes in the
demographic history of Palestine, there are competing claims that
Jews and
Palestinian Arabs are indigenous. The argument entered the
Israeli–Palestinian conflict in the 1990s, with Jews claiming indigeneity based on
historic ties to the region. Palestinians claim Indigenous status as a pre-existing population displaced by Jewish settlement, and currently constituting a minority in the State of Israel. In 2007, the
Negev Bedouin were officially "recognized as an indigenous people of Israel" by the United Nations. This has been criticized both by scholars associated with the Israeli state, who dispute the Bedouin's claim to indigeneity, and those who argue that recognising just one group of Palestinians as Indigenous risks undermining others' claims and "fetishising" nomadic cultures. •
Arab •
Bedouin (Badawī) of the interior deserts of
Arabia and
Syria. •
Druze (Al-Muwaḥḥidūn/Al-Muwaḥḥidīn/Ahl al-Tawḥīd): of
Jabal al-Druze,
Syria,
Lebanon,
Jordan and
Israel. The faith of the Druze is a blend of
Islam's
Ismailism,
Judaism,
Christianity,
Neoplatonism,
Pythagoreanism,
Gnosticism and
Greek philosophy. The foundational text of the faith is the
Epistles of Wisdom. Even though they have been a minority for their entire history, they have played a significant role in shaping the history of the
Levant. Although the faith originally developed out of
Ismaili Islam, Druze are usually not considered Muslims. The oldest and most densely populated Druze communities exist in
Mount Lebanon and in the south of Syria around
Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druze"). •
Marsh Dwellers/
Marsh Arabs (Ma'dan/ʻArab al-Ahwār): An Arabic-speaking people living in the
marshes of southern Iraq or on the Iranian side of the
Shatt al-Arab. •
South Semitic peoples •
Bathari people:
Dhofar, Southern
Oman. Descendants from the original people of
Dhofar before
Arabization. •
Harasis:
Jiddat al-Harasis, Central
Oman. Descendants from the original people of
South Arabia before
Arabization. •
Hobyót people:
Dhofar, Southern
Oman, Far Eastern
Yemen. Descendants from the original people of
Dhofar before
Arabization. •
Mahris:
Al-Mahra, Eastern
Yemen,
Dhofar, Southern
Oman. Descendants from the original people of
Dhofar before
Arabization. •
Shehri people/
Jibbali people:
Dhofar, Southern
Oman. Descendants from the original people of
Dhofar before
Arabization. •
Soqotrans:
Soqotra island and group of islands, southeast of mainland
Yemen,
Indian Ocean. Descendants from the original natives of
South Arabia before
Arabization. wearing
traditional clothing festival at
Lalish of
Nimruz Province, Afghanistan •
Iranian peoples •
East Iranian peoples •
Northeast Iranian peoples •
Ossetians (Iræттæ):
South Ossetia,
Georgia, Southern
Caucasus Mountains •
West Iranian peoples •
Caspian/
South Caspian peoples •
Gilaks:
Gilan, North
Iran, South
Caspian Sea coast and
Elburz Mountains •
Mazanderanis/
Mazanis/
Tabaris:
Mazanderan,
Tabaristan, Northern
Iran, South
Caspian Sea coast and
Elburz Mountains •
Northwest Iranian peoples • Northwestern I •
Kurds (Kurd/Kurmandzh):
Kurdistan, Northwestern and Western
Iran, Northern
Iraq, Northeast and Northern
Syria, Southeast
Turkey,
Zagros and East
Anatolian Plateau •
Yazidis (Êzidî):
Nineveh Governorate, Northern
Iraq •
Lak people (Iran): Southwestern
Iran,
Zagros Mountains •
Zaza-Gorani peoples •
Shabaks:
Sinjar District of the
Nineveh Governorate in northern
Iraq. •
Zazas: Southeastern Turkey, Upper
Euphrates river, East
Anatolian Plateau • Northwestern II •
Baluchis (Baloch/Baluch):
Baluchistan, Southeastern
Iran, Southwestern
Pakistan, Extreme Southern
Afghanistan • Tatic peoples •
Talysh (Talyshon):
Talish region (Northwestern
Iran, South
Azerbaijan, South
Caspian Sea coast and
Elburz Mountains) •
Tats (Iran)/
South Tats (Irünə Tâtün): Northwest
Iran •
Southwest Iranian peoples •
Persians:
Iran,
Afghanistan,
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan •
Hazaras:
Hazarajat,
Afghanistan • Larestani–Gulf peoples •
Kumzaris: Northern
Musandam,
Oman • Lurs and Bakhtiaris •
Lurs (Lur):
Luristan, Western and Southwestern
Iran,
Zagros Mountains •
Bakhtiaris (Bakhtiar): Southwestern
Iran,
Zagros •
Tats (Caucasus):
Republic of Azerbaijan,
Dagestan (
Russia)
Caucasus women in
Diyarbakır • Indo-European peoples •
Armenians (Hayer) •
Iranian peoples •
East Iranian peoples •
Northeast Iranian peoples •
Ossetians (Iræттæ):
Ossetia (Iryston),
North Ossetia (Cægat Iryston), a Republic of
Russia, and
South Ossetia (Khussar Iryston), a
De Jure autonomous region of
Georgia (Sakartvelo), self-proclaimed sovereign country, North and South slopes of Central
Caucasus Mountains. •
West Iranian peoples •
Southwest Iranian peoples •
Persian peoples •
Tats (Caucasus) (Tati/Parsi/Lohijon/Daghli): East
Caucasus Mountains,
Azerbaijan • Talysh (Caucasus): Caucasus Mountains •
Kartvelian peoples •
Georgians (Kartvels) •
Zan •
Mingrelians •
Lazs (Lazepe): Southwestern
Georgia, Far Northeastern
Turkey •
Svans •
Northeast Caucasian peoples •
Avar-Andic peoples •
Avar people (Caucasus) (Magharulal/Avaral):
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Andic peoples •
Akhvakh (Ashvado/Atluatii) •
Andis (Qhvannal/Khivannal) •
Bagvalal (Bagval) •
Botlikhs (Buykhal'ida/Buykhalyi) •
Chamalals (Chamalaldu) •
Godoberis (Giybdiridi) •
Karatas (Khkhiridi) •
Tindis (Idarab) •
Dargins (Darganti):
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Khinalug (Kettiturdur/Kayttiodur/Ketid/Ketsh Khalkh) •
Lak people (Dagestan):
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Lezgic peoples •
Aghul (Agular):
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Archins (Arshishttib) •
Budukh (
Budad) •
Jeks (Cekad/Dzhekad) •
Kryts (Kh'rytsha'/Kyrtuar) •
Lezgians (Lezgiyar/Leqer):
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Rutul (Mykhabyr):
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Tabasarans:
Dagestan,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Tsakhur (Yiqby):
Azerbaijan, Southern
Caucasus Mountains •
Udins (Udi/Uti): Northern
Azerbaijan, Southern
Caucasus Mountains •
Nakh peoples •
Bats (Batsbi) •
Vainakh peoples •
Chechens (Nokhchiy):
Chechnya,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Ingush (Ghalghay):
Ingushetia,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Tsezic (Didoic) peoples •
Bezhtas •
Hinukh (Hinuqes) •
Hunzibs (Hunzib) •
Khwarshi (Khuani) •
Tsez/
Dido people •
Northwest Caucasian peoples •
Abkhaz-Abaza peoples •
Abazins (Abaza) •
Abkhazians (Aphsua):
Abkhazia (
Aphsny) - a
De Jure autonomous region of
Georgia (
Sakartvelo), self-proclaimed sovereign country. •
Circassian peoples •
West Circassian peoples •
East Circassian peoples •
Cherkess (Cherkes):
Karachay-Cherkessia,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Kabardians (Qeberdeykher):
Kabardino-Balkaria,
European Russia, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Karachays (Karachai):
Karachay-Cherkessia,
North Caucasian peoples, Northern
Caucasus Mountains •
Ubykh (Tʷaχ): were indigenous to the mountains of West Caucasus,
Sochi area,
Krasnodar Krai,
Russia, later migrated to
Turkey.
Central Asia of
Tajikistan • Indo-European peoples •
Iranian peoples •
East Iranian peoples •
Northeast Iranian peoples •
Pamiris (Pomir):
Badakhshan (
Afghanistan,
Tajikistan),
Pamir Mountains,
Tashkurgan (in
Xinjiang) •
Tajiks:
Tajikistan •
Yaghnobi (Yaγnōbī́t):
Tajikistan •
Turkic peoples •
Kipchak Turks (
Northwestern Common Turkic peoples) •
Kazakhs:
Kazakhstan,
China,
Mongolia,
Russia == South Asia ==