History and Culture of the Middle East
The Middle East provides a rich history for students to delve into.
By Daniella Garran
The history and culture of the Middle East is one of the most complex in the world. The geography, traditions and history of the region can be studied from a variety of perspectives and in several different disciplines. Certainly, geography teachers will teach about the Middle East in terms of its natural resources and geographic features, but art teachers may choose to explore specific artists or movements from the region as well. Social studies teachers will want to convey the idea that the history of the Middle East has had a significant impact on world history from ancient times until today. However, any study of the Middle East should begin with an overview of the region's location, geography and the religions of the people. It is imperative that teachers educate students about the basic tenets of Islam because of the tremendous misunderstandings about the religion. It is also important to provide students with a basic knowledge of Judaism and Christianity as well since much of the region’s history is inextricably tied to religion.
The cultural heritage of each country in the Middle East is fascinating. You may choose to assign students a single country to research to narrow their focus as there is a great deal of information to cover. For example, students researching Saudi Arabia can explore the rise of Islam and the importance of Mecca and Medina, while students researching Egypt may want to focus on the ancient history and cultural landmarks throughout the country.
Students can enjoy researching and making models or drawings of the numerous landmarks throughout the Middle East. Using clay, Model Magic, Sculpey, clay or a similar material, have students create a small model of some of the Middle East’s most important sites, such as the Great Pyramid, Mount Masada, the Dead Sea, Petra, the Western Wall and Bethlehem. You may also choose to have them write a brief report on the site to reflect their research.
Older students may enjoy participating in a Middle East Peace Summit in which they represent different nations and their interests as they work together to formulate a peace plan for the future of the Middle East that includes a more peaceful coexistence. What follows are more ideas for lessons about the Middle East.
Middle East Lesson Plans:
This lesson from PBS focuses on the geography of the region and its changing borders throughout history. It provides a solid background for students who may be unfamiliar with the Middle East, its ethnic groups and its natural resources.
This lesson allows students to research and analyze different issues in the Middle East. The class then synthesizes their findings into a newscast which may be videotaped and presented to the rest of the student body, teachers, and even parents. Some of the potential issues for research include the conflict over Israel’s borders, the Middle East’s oil resources, and Muslim fundamentalism.
Students learn about the basics of theocracies and how they have played significant roles in the history of the Middle East. The lesson culminates with the creation of a model of a mosque of students’ choosing. This lesson provides an excellent opportunity to collaborate with art teachers.
East Meets West: Effects of the Crusades
Another aspect of Middle Eastern history that is essential to students’ understanding of the region is the Crusades. Students learn about the causes and effects of the Crusades and the cultural diffusion that resulted from them. This lesson serves to reinforce knowledge of geography, as well as the basic tenets of Christianity and Islam as they impacted history.