Resources for Studying and Teaching the Middle East

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Resources for Studying and Teaching the Middle
East

• Key information sources and instructional tools.

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OSU Main Library - location
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library (Main
Library) LI 1858 Neil Ave Mall Columbus, OH
43210-1286 Telephone [phone]
Under Construction
Collections will be moved to temporary locations.
The Middle East Collection will be at the new
Ackerman Library
Ackerman Library 600 Ackerman RoadColumbus,
Ohio 43202
HoursMon-Fri 730 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sat 8 a.m.
- 8 p.m.Sun 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.Check Library
Locations and Hours for Quarter breaks and
holidays.
Phone [phone]Fax [phone]
Parking and bus service to the Book Depository
and the Ackerman Library Free Bus Service to
the Book Depository and the Ackerman Library,
(the Library/Buckeye Village bus) leaves from and
returns to the Recreation and Physical Activity
Center (RPAC). There is also parking available
at the Ackerman Library. The Ackerman parking
lots require at least a CX parking tag.
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OSU Library Access

• OSU Main library will be closed for 7 years for
  renovation.
• For further information on the Library
  Renovation http//library.osu.edu/sites/renovatio
  n/index.php
• The Jewish Studies, and Middle East Studies
  collections are temporarily located at 600
  Ackerman Rd.
• The Cartoon Library is available on Main campus
  at 27 West 17th Avenue Mall, near the Wexner
  Center.
• Books can be ordered at the Sullivan Hall
  Library 110 Sullivant Hall1813 N. High St.
  Hours Mon-Thu 8 a.m. - Midnight Fri and Sat 8
  a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun 11 a.m. - Midnight
• Check Library Locations and Hours for Quarter
  breaks and holidays. Phone [phone]
  (Circulation and Reserves) [phone]
  (Reference) Fax[phone]

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OSU Library Access

• Some teachers have access OSU libraries through
  their local library via OhioLink. Westerville
  Public Library and Upper Arlington Public library
  are both members of OhioLink.
• OhioLINK is a state-funded consortium of Ohio
  university and college libraries and the State
  Library of Ohio. Students, faculty members, and
  staff members affiliated with OhioLINK
  institutions can request books online, view
  journal articles online, search authoritative
  databases, and make use of other OhioLINK
  services that enhance research and education.
• See http//www.ohiolink.edu/help/catalog-faq.html
  for instructions on how to order materials
  through Ohiolink and pick them up at your
  library.
• Teachers can go directly to the Main Library at
  OSU and request access to the collection.

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Middle East Studies Center (MESC) Educator
Resource Lending Library

• MESC has a variety of lesson plans, videos, books
  and music CDs available to educators to borrow on
  a one week basis. Please refer to our web site
  on the resources page for a complete listing
  (http//mesc.osu.edu/resource_library.shtml), and
  e-mail Mary Beth Benecke (benecke.3_at_osu.edu) for
  further information. You can also call me or
  Catalina for recommendations, or suggestions for
  your research.
• Recommended item The Modern Middle East lesson
  plan created by History Alive provides
  excellent scholarship on Middle East history and
  culture, but it is practical too, providing a
  variety of hand-outs, audio, and visual
  materials. Classroom activity 1.1 Impressions
  of the Middle East is especially recommended for
  its visual approach, and its inclusion of
  geography. Should you decide to try it, please
  send us your opinion and share your experiences
  with this lesson plan.

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Scholarship of Sources and Title VI National
Resource Centers

• The Middle East Studies Center at The Ohio State
  University is a US Department of Education
  Undergraduate Title VI National Resource Center
  (NRC). Since its designation as a National
  Resource Center in 1988, it has been consistently
  renewed in the 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2003
  cycles, for a total of 18 years. A major part of
  the Centers function is to provide a reliable
  source of information to the public. Many
  sources are now internet-based and it can be
  difficult or simply time consuming to research
  the organizations or people behind the site, let
  alone the accuracy of the information on the
  site. Obviously nothing can replace critical
  thinking skills, but MESC can provide an
  verification for a sites authenticity, as well
  as make suggestions for resources in other
  formats. Please see the MESC web site for
  further information about the Center
  http//mesc.osu.edu

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Scholarship of Sources and Title VI National
Resource Centers

• In addition to Ohio State, 18 other universities
  across the country have Middle East Studies
  Centers designated as Title VI National Resource
  Centers
• Columbia University, The Middle East Institute -
  National Resource Center
• Emory University, Georgia Middle East Studies
  Consortium - National Resource Center
• Georgetown University, National Resource Center
  on the Middle East - National Resource Center
• Georgia State University, Georgia Middle East
  Studies Consortium - National Resource Center
• Harvard University, Center for Middle Eastern
  Studies - National Resource Center
• New York University, Hagop Kevorkian Center -
  National Resource Center
• Princeton University, Program in Near Eastern
  Studies - National Resource Center
• University of Arizona, Center for Middle Eastern
  Studies - National Resource Center
• University of California, Berkeley, Center for
  Middle Eastern Studies - National Resource Center
  
• University of California, Los Angeles, Center for
  Near Eastern Studies - National Resource Center
• University of California, Santa Barbara, Center
  for Middle East Studies - National Resource
  Center
• University of Chicago, Center for Middle Eastern
  Studies - National Resource Center
• University of Michigan, Center for Middle Eastern
  and North African Studies - National Resource
  Center
• University of Pennsylvania, Middle East Center -
  National Resource Center
• University of Texas at Austin, Center for Middle
  Eastern Studies - National Resource Center
• University of Utah, Middle East Center - National
  Resource Center
• University of Washington, Middle East Center -
  National Resource Center
• Yale University, Middle East Studies Council -
  National Resource Center

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Online teaching tools and resources.

• TeachGlobalEd.net. A global education resource.
  Provides a web site index and guide tailored to
  suit teachers needs. http//www.coe.ohio-state.ed
  u/globaled/home.cfm
• Outreach World. A global education resource.
  Provides numerous lesson plans, guides, and
  educational opportunities for teachers.
  http//www.outreachworld.org/

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Teaching current events.

• Great Decisions. A program by Foreign Policy
  Association and it provides guides to information
  and lessons plans based on current affairs in the
  Middle East.
• Example of a current topic Turkey
  http//www.fpa.org/topics4707/topics_show.htm?doc_
  id357618
• It provides links to useful information on
  reputable web sites.
• The article to be read and discussed comes in an
  annual 15 publication, with all of the Great
  Decisions topics for that year.
• Newshour Extra A teacher resource on PBS.
  Provides lesson plans and other resources on
  current events. Lesson plans on Iraq are updated
  daily. http//www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/
  world/
• Global Connections another excellent
  educational resource on the PBS web site to
  enhance current events lesson plans. Here is a
  link to the main page for Middle East
  http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/
  index.html

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Web sites on ME cultures.

• The Arab Culture and Civilization web site by the
  National Inst. For Technology and Liberal
  Education http//arabworld.nitle.org/
• The www.persia.org site was originally
  recommended by the Middle East National Resource
  Center at the University of Texas. This page is
  very useful http//www.persia.org/Culture/cul.htm
  l
• This site on Zionism provides a nice overview of
  origins of the modern state of Israel
  http//www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/zion.h
  tml
• This page on the Turkish Embassy web site gives a
  nice overview of Turkish culture through visual
  traditions, arts and crafts, and literature
  http//www.turkishembassy.org/index.php?optioncom
  _contenttaskviewid46Itemid68
• Turkish tutor online (http//www.international.ucl
  a.edu/turkishtutor/pages/home/blackborder-fs.html)
  provides a view into Turkish popular culture and
  a basic introduction to Turkish language through
  the popular Turkish TV show, BIZIMKILER .
• A comprehensive site on Kurdish culture is still
  lacking. However, the official web site of the
  Kurdish regional government in Iraq is a good
  source http//www.krg.org/ (click on Kurdish
  culture on the right-hand side).

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Bibliography

• On the Middle East
• Goldschmidt, Arthur A Concise History of the
  Middle East, 2005.
• Anderson, Roy, Robert Seibert, Jon Wagner
  Politics and Change in the Middle East, 2004.
• On Islam
• Hodgson, Marshall The Venture of Islam, 1974.
• Denny, Frederick Mathewson An Introduction to
  Islam
• Peters, F.E. Muhammad and the Origins of Islam,
  1994
• Esposito, John L. Islam The Straight Path, 1988
• On Judaism
• Fishbane, Michael Judaism, 1987.
• Cohen, Abraham Every Mans Talmud,1975.
• de Lange, Nicholas An Introduction to Judaism,
  2000.
• Solomon, Norman Judaism A Very Short
  Introduction, 1996.
• On Eastern Orthodox Christianity
• Kallistos, Bishop of Diokleia The Orthodox
  Church,
• Meyendorff, John Byzantine Theology historical
  trends doctrinal themes,
• On Christian traditions of the modern Middle East
• Dalrymple, William From the holy mountain a
  journey among the Christians of the Middle East,
  1998.

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Bibliography (cont)

• On Arabs
• Hourani, Albert A History of the Arab Peoples,
  2002.
• Versteegh, Kees The Arabic Language, 2001.
• On Jews
• Scheindlin, Raymond P A Short History of the
  Jewish People Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Potok, Chaim Wanderings. Ballantine Books, 1978.
  
• Kugel On Being a Jew 1990.
• On Turks
• Findley, Carter The Turks in World History,
  2005.
• Inalcik, Halil The Ottoman Empire The classical
  age 1300-1600, London, 1973.
• Quataert, Donald The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922,
  New York, 2000.
• On Persians (and Iranians)
• Browne, Edward G Preface of The Persian
  Revolution, edited by Abbas Amanat,  pp. xi-xxi
  and 31-58, Washington, 1995.
• Bill, James A The Eagle and the Lion The
  tragedy of American-Iranian relations,
  Binghamton, 1988.
• On Kurds
• Özuglu, Hakan Kurdish Notables and the Ottoman
  State Evolving Identities, Competing Loyalties,
  and Shifting Boundaries, Albany, 2004.

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Notes on Books The Middle East

• A Concise History of the Middle East A pleasure
  to read in its entirety, but also an excellent
  quick-look-up reference.
• Politics and Change in the Middle East
  Recommended by faculty as a good introduction to
  the region.

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Notes on Books Islam

• Venture of Islam Recommended by Professor
  Michael Zwettler, a faculty member of the
  Department of Near Eastern Languages and
  cultures. This book coherently presents the
  history of Islam as a part of world history. It
  covers the full breadth and depth of the
  development of Islam and Islamic civilizations.
  Well-written and enjoyable to read. Available
  online at Ohio State.
• An Introduction to Islam Comprehensive and
  well-organized. Includes Information on
  Christianity, Judaism, and ancient civilizations
  important to understanding the origins of Islamic
  theology. In addition, informative on modern
  movements.
• Islam the Straight Path A comprehensive source,
  key to understanding Islams origins as well as
  modern times.
• Muhammad and the Origins of Islam Provides the
  prophets biography as well as important insights
  into the meaning of the Quran.

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Notes on books Judaism

• An Introduction to Judaism. Recommended by
  Professor Adena Tanenbaum, faculty member of the
  Near Eastern Languages and Cultures Department at
  OSU.
• Judaism A Very Short Introduction. Recommended
  by Professor Adena Tanenbaum, faculty member of
  the Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
  Department at OSU.
• Everymans Talmud. A summary of the teachings of
  the Talmud on religion, ethics, folk-lore, and
  jurisprudence. Recommended by Professor Sam
  Meier, faculty member of the Near Eastern
  Languages and Cultures Department at OSU.
• Judaism. A foundational work. Recommended by
  Professor Sam Meier, faculty member of the Near
  Eastern Languages and Cultures Department at OSU.

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Notes on Books Eastern Orthodox Christianity

• The Orthodox Church. The author is the former
  Timothy Ware. Because he converted to Eastern
  Orthodoxy, it was necessary for him to "learn"
  and "understand" the lengthy and complicated
  history, both of the Church, and its Doctrine.
  Therefore, many, including myself, have found
  this book in English to be the most
  understandable and comprehensive. Professor
  Predrag Matejic, faculty member of the Department
  of Slavic and East European Languages and
  Literatures strongly recommends it and the
  following source.
• Byzantine Theology historical trends doctrinal
  themes. This work provides an excellent, and
  rather brief, synopsis.

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Notes on Books Christian traditions of the
modern Middle East

• From the Holy Mountain a journey among the
  Christians of the Middle East. Recommended by
  Professor Sam Meier, of the Near Eastern
  Languages and Cultures Department

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Notes on Books Arabs

• A History of the Arab Peoples. Essential
  information for understanding Arab culture, but
  also tells the history as a story in an engaging
  style.
• The Arabic Language. Considering the
  significance of language to the development of
  Arab and Islamic culture, Arabic and its
  evolution is essential knowledge for
  understanding the relation between the two. This
  is the authoritative work.

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Notes on Books Jews

• A Short History of the Jewish People.
  Recommended by Professor Adena Tanenbaum, and
  Professor Daniel Frank, faculty members of the
  Near Eastern Languages and Cultures Department at
  OSU. Its very clearly written, and extremely
  informative.
• Wanderings. Recommended by Professor Adena
  Tanenbaum, faculty member of the Near Eastern
  Languages and Cultures Department at OSU.

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Notes on Books Turks

• The Turks in World History. Carter Findley is an
  OSU faculty member. This work provides a
  comprehensive history of the Turkic world from
  ancient times to the present. It is essential to
  understanding the modern Turkic states, in
  addition to the Turkic peoples in world history.
• The Ottoman Empire The classical age 1300-1600.
  Although it was published in 197(?) It is a
  fundamental resource for teaching Turkish Ottoman
  history from the 13th century until the beginning
  of the 17th century i.e., the origins until the
  peak of Ottoman power. It explains the
  institutions, the power of the Sultan, the
  governing of the provinces, and Ottoman society
  in general. It is best completed by Ottoman
  Empire and Islamic Traditions, Norman Itzkowitz,
  1972.
• The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922. This book is the
  perfect extension from the previous two.

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Notes on Books Persians

• The Persian Revolution (The Preface). This
  article is recommended by Professor Parvaneh
  Pourshariati of our Near Eastern Languages and
  Cultures Department. It is a concise yet
  thorough description of Persian history and
  culture major players from ancient times until
  now are noted and their roles explained.
• The Eagle and the Lion The tragedy of
  American-Iranian relations. Recommended by MESC
  director, Dr. Alam Payind. This is an insightful
  analysis of Iranian-American relations in the
  20th century. It provides the background
  information which allows the reader to more fully
  understand current events.

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Notes on Books Kurds

• Kurdish Notables and the Ottoman State Evolving
  Identities, Competing Loyalties, and Shifting
  Boundaries. This book is well-organized,
  provides a summary of theories on nationalism,
  and discusses the impact of Kurdish nationalism
  on the formation of the modern Turkish state.
  Useful for understanding the history of the
  status of the Kurds.

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Annotated list of Films

• On the Middle East
• Ancient and Modern Fall and Rise of the Middle
  East.  Britannica (25 min)
• On Islam
• Islam today. Films for the Humanities
  Sciences. Part of The World of Islam series.
• Islamic Art. Films for the Humanities
  Sciences. Part of The World of Islam series.
• On Eastern Christianity
• The Forgotten Faithful, Produced by Lois Pinneo
  and George Conklin in cooperation with the
  Anglican Diocese of Jeruselem, 1988.
• On Arabs
• Introduction to the Arab World (Part I only
  15 min). Amideast
• The Arabs Make Their Entrance Islam and Empire.
  Films for the Humanities Sciences. Online
  version from OSU libraries. Part of the Lorsque
  Le Monde Parlait Arabe series.
• On Turks
• Ayasophia. (199?, 26 minutes)
• On Iranians
• Struggling with Modernity. Ambrose Video, 1993.
• Persian Miniatures from the Shahnameh. Films for
  the Humanities and Sciences.
• On Israelis
• From the series Takuma The First Fifty Years
• The Conflict, 1998.
• Takuma The Ingathering, 1998.

Online version available via OSU Libraries.
non-electronic version available via OSU
libraries.
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Notes on films Middle East

• Ancient and Modern Fall and Rise of the Middle
  East. This film is recommended by Center
  Director, Alam Payind. From the University of
  Pennsylvania This film probes the question
  "Why did the Middle East begin to decline just as
  the Renaissance in Europe began?"

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Notes on films Islam

• Islam Today.
• From the publisher Oil is, of course, the
  impetus that brought Islam into the late 20th
  century. The conflicts between traditional values
  and modern lifestyles, between vast wealth and
  indigenous poverty, between the civilization once
  believed eternally monolithic and the thousands
  of voices each demanding satisfaction on a
  different level--these are the seismic fracture
  points of the Islamic scene today. (30 minutes,
  color)
• Islamic Art. Beautiful examples of the Islamic
  visual tradition, with an explanation of its
  development and uses for decoration.
• From the publisher Forbidden by Islamic law to
  represent the human form, Moslem art burst forth
  in the characteristic decorative style we know as
  arabesque. This program discusses the
  architecture and sculpture of mosques and Koranic
  schools, the illumination and calligraphy of
  sacred texts, music, the art of the garden, and
  the influence of the abstract arabesque on
  Western art. (32 minutes, color)

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Notes on films Eastern Christianity

• The Forgotten Faithful. Recommended by the
  Director of the Center, Dr. Alam Payind. This
  film provides a view of Palestinians which is not
  as well known, while also documenting
  Christianity in the Middle East. This film is
  shown during the Summer Institute on Middle
  Eastern Cultures.

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Notes on films Arabs

• Introduction to the Arab World. Recommended
  because it provides the essentials about Arabs,
  including who they are and who they are not.
• The Arabs Make Their Entrance Islam and Empire.
  Very useful for giving a comprehensive history of
  the Arabs in a short amount of time.
• From the publisher As the shadow of the Dark
  Ages fell across Europe, the scene for the
  advancement of Western civilization shifted to
  the Near East. This program charts the rise of
  the Arab empire, from its roots in the
  long-standing rivalry between the Byzantines and
  the Sassanids. Nodes along that timeline include
  the dual role of Mecca as a place of worship and
  as a center for trade, the life of Muhammad and
  the birth of Islam, the rapid expansion of Arabia
  at the expense of Byzantium and the Sassanid
  kingdom, and the internecine struggle between
  Arab factions that led to the founding of the
  Umayyad dynasty. Portions are in French with
  English subtitles. (26 minutes, color)

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Notes on Films Turks

• Ayasofia
• This is recommended by the Hagop Kevorkian
  Center, NYU.
• Topics and materials include a visit to Ayasofia,
  a historical overview of this great monument,
  completed in 537 for the Emperor Justinian as a
  church, and converted to a mosque after the
  Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It
  explores the treasures and tales of the
  spectacular building in Istanbul, now a museum
  whose gardens house the largest Ottoman royal
  tombs, containing the bodies of a number of
  sultans and princes. This video is available
  through the University of Arizona (see slide
  National Resource Centers on the Middle East
  for more information.) Review by Melek Oyman.

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Notes on Films Persians (and Iranians)

• Persian Miniatures from the Shahnameh
• This film is recommended by the Near Eastern
  Languages and cultures Department at OSU.
• From the publisher The Shahnameh, Irans
  national epic, has been illustrated again and
  again over the course of Persian history. This
  epic poem, written by the poet Firdausi in the
  early 11th century, recounts Persias
  mythological and historical past. This program
  traces the development of Shahnameh painting over
  three centuries and under the patronage of three
  distinct Persian dynasties. Parallels between
  miniature painting and other art forms of the
  time are drawn, and the cultural settings in
  which this art flourished are examined. This
  fascinating look at a unique art form was
  produced with the assistance of the Fogg Art
  Museum. (30 minutes)

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Notes of Films Israelis

• Takuma The First Fifty Years
• Both of these films are recommended by Professor
  Adena Tanenbaum, of the Near Eastern Languages
  and Cultures Department at OSU. Dr. Tanenbaum
  uses them in her Israeli Culture courses, and the
  Middle East Studies Center uses them in the
  course Introduction to the Middle East.
  Originally intended for an Israeli audience (part
  of an Israeli television series), they provide
  useful depictions and background information on
  the culture of Modern Israel.
• From the publisher May 14, 1948 David
  Ben-Gurion declared the independence of the
  Jewish state of Israel. The following day the
  neighboring Arab populations declared war. Israel
  was born from this conflict and emerged a refuge
  for a people dispersed throughout the world, yet
  still engaged in combat with its Arab neighbors
  for its right to exist. This program presents the
  history of Israel, from its founding Zionist
  fathers in the 19th century such as Theodor
  Herzl, to the war of independence and the
  emergence of Israel as a prosperous, independent
  Jewish state. (52 minutes, color)
• Takuma The Ingathering
• From the publisher Ben-Gurion's founding
  principles of the Israeli state were security and
  immigration. This program examines the history of
  Jewish immigration and the conflux of cultures
  that exist within the broader cultural/religious
  identity of the Israeli population. In addition
  to identifying as Jewish, Israelis also identify
  themselves as Polish, Russian, Hungarian,
  Romanian, Libyan, Algerian, Yemenite, and
  Ethiopian. Yet as the Jewish state prospers and
  grows, the latest wave of immigrants, the
  Ethiopians, feel unwelcome. The program explores
  the question of cultural identity and heritage in
  a multicultural society founded on a principle of
  inclusion for all Jewish people. (52 minutes,
  color)

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Depictions in Popular Culture and Stereotypes

• Bernstein, Matthew, Gaylyn Studlar Visions of
  the East Orientalism in Film, New Brunswick,
  1997. Provides colonial background information
  and 20th history of Middle Eastern images in
  Western popular culture.
• Middle Eastern Americana on the website of the
  Center for Near Eastern Studies at the university
  of California, Los Angeles. Part of a long-term
  project to collect, record, and interpret Middle
  Eastern representations in American culture.
  http//www.isop.ucla.edu/cnes/home/article-meus.as
  p?parentid14972 This project has been developed
  and lead by Jonathan Friedlander, the Outreach
  Director of the that center. For a list of
  Middle East National Centers, please see the next
  slide.
• Michalak, Laurence Cruel and Unusual Negative
  Images of Arabs in American Popular Culture,
  Washington, D.C., 1988. This source provides
  solid data and good examples of negative
  portrayals of Arabs in American media. A copy
  can be ordered for 2.00 through the American
  Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee web site
  http//www.adc.org/education/adcpub.htm , or
  accessed for free on line through the Educational
  Resource Information Center (ERIC) do a title
  search.