Excellent New Resource for Teaching Medieval and Renaissance Muslim and European Interactions

By Betsy Barlow

The Council on Islamic Education has published an excellent high school curricular unit on Muslim and European cultures, and their interactions, during the late medieval period and the Renaissance. This unit could be used in public or private schools in a class about Islam, in teaching about Islamic civilization, in multicultural education, and would be particularly valuable in teaching about world history.

According to world history standards now proposed or in use in many states, students are supposed to learn about the movement of people and the transfer of ideas and objects from one civilization to another. Some teachers try to tell students that much of Western civilization rests on antecedents in the Middle East, but without specifics, few students believe it or remember it. This unit in 326 pages and a slide set covers four topics thoroughly and with such interesting material that those high school age or older will learn a great deal from it. The readings, questions and activities are enjoyable and imaginative.

In the first topic, “Commerce and Travel,” readings include a vivid description of life in Baghdad about 800 C.E., travel and trade routes, cartography, and a section on words and products from Muslim lands. The second topic, “Education and Scholarship,” discusses the technology of storing ideas, the Bayt al-Hikmeh in Baghdad, the rise of universities in Muslim lands and in Europe, the transfer of ancient learning, and the relationship between the transfer of ancient and Arab learning to Europe and the European Renaissance.

One of the most interesting activities is the section on paper-making technology, and its transfer. A short story describes the market of the paper sellers in Baghdad, which is paired with another story of a print shop in Italy.

To develop skills in critical thinking, the authors have included a series of excerpts from historical documents, some of which are true, but some of which contain statements that could not possibly be true. The student is asked to be an historical sleuth and to detect the fake documents.

The third section is about “Science and Technology.” Contributions of Muslims are explained, and the transfer of botanical products (coffee, cotton, sugar, and so forth) is carefully mapped, as well as the transfer of the plague.

The fourth and final section of the unit deals with the visual arts. Textile patterns, optics and the contrast between medieval and Renaissance painting lead to an examination of Islamic and European art and architecture. The pages have many black-and-white illustrations, and the unit also includes 32 color slides.

It is apparent throughout the unit that the authors, Susan L. Douglass and Karima Diane Alavi, have a thorough knowledge of Islamic and European history, knowledge of the standards required in geography and world history, and a good sense of what interests students.

This excellent unit, which fills a gap in instructional materials, is available for $75 plus shipping from the Council on Islamic Education, 9300 Gardenia St., B-3, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; phone (714) 839-2929. Hopefully teachers will now make sure that their schools purchase this resource. The unit is already included on the list of the State of California’s Instructional Materials Approved for Legal Compliance, which means that each California school district may use up to 30 percent of its Instructional Materials Fund allocation for purchase of the unit. The authors and the publisher are to be congratulated.

Educational Video on Iraq

Another new curricular unit is the video and study guide “One Million Postcards,” suitable for elementary through high school students. The short video tells the reaction of young students to hearing about the devastating effects of bombing Iraq and the sanctions. The young children organize a campaign to send one million postcards to Washington to ask for a stop to the policy of sanctions, on behalf of the young children of Iraq.

The video does not give detailed information about what is happening in Iraq; the focus is rather on what people in the U.S., including youth, can do to challenge injustice. The video and study guide can be obtained for $13, including postage/handling, from the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.

The film has been entered in several film festivals, and has had very positive response from teachers. One teacher in Virginia explained that it gave her students the concept that there is something that can be done to challenge injustice; her class adapted the concept of citizen input to send postcards about Kosovo refugees.

The AFSC will publish in late January a large study guide with information about Iraq’s history and people. While it is designed for elementary and middle school students, there is a wealth of material in the unit which can be used by older students and adults. The cost for this expanded unit, which is also available from the AFSC, is $25.

AWAIR Workshops

AWAIR and the Middle East Policy Council will continue to present workshops for teachers throughout the country. Audrey Shabbas, the president of AWAIR, will give a workshop in San Bernardino, CA on Feb. 16, sponsored by the San Bernardino County Public Schools.

On Feb. 17 she will appear in Los Angeles under the sponsorship of the Southern California People of Color and Independent Schools. On March 11 she will give another program in Washington, under the sponsorship of the District of Columbia Public Schools. To enroll in one of these workshops, or to learn how you can sponsor a workshop in your area, call Jon Roth, Middle East Policy Council, (202) 296-6767; e-mail: <jroth@mepc.org>.

“Right of Return” Conference

A conference on “The Right of Return: Palestinian Refugees and Prospects for a Durable Peace” will take place at the Boston University School of Law Auditorium, 765 Commonwealth Ave., on April 8.

At 9:30 a.m. Dr. Edward Said will give the keynote address, introduced by Dr. Roger Owen, Department of History and former chair of the Middle East Center at Harvard University. The first panel, at l0:30 a.m., will examine the Israeli, American, European and PLO positions. Dr. Ilan Pappe, director, International Relations Division, Haifa University, will speak on Israel’s position. Dr. Noam Chomsky, Department of Linguistics, MIT, will dissect the position of the U.S. Dr. Alain Gresh, editor, Le Monde Diplomatique, will address the European position, and Mr. Shafiq El-Hout, former PLO representative in Lebanon, will talk on “The PLO from Right of Return to Bantustan.”

After a lunch break, at which the video “Children of Shatila,” directed by Mai Masri, will be shown, the second panel will address “The Right of Return and Restitution.” Speakers will be Susan Akram, associate professor, Boston University Law School; Dr. Atif Kubursi, Department of Economics, McMaster University; Dr. Salman Abu-Sitta, researcher/author in Kuwait; and Ingrid Jaradat, executive director, Badil Resource Center.

The third panel, at 3:45 p.m., will examine “Palestinian Refugee Voices and Social Conditions.” Speakers are Nahla Ghandour, education and Rehabilitation Supervisor, Kanafani Children’s Center, Mar Elias Camp, Lebanon; Khaula Dahoud Al-Azraq, Director, Women Counseling Center in Bethlehem; Lamis Andoni, journalist; and attorney Wadie Said. A discussion session at 5:15 will follow on “Refugee Rights: Looking to the Future.” Among the participants are Ali Abunimah, Arab-American Action Network; Jennifer Bing-Canar, American Friends Service Committee; Dr. Zahi Damuni, ADC Cyber Chapter; and Sam Husseini, Center for Public Responsibility.

The program will end with a light buffet and further discussion. Registration fee is $20, or $l0 for those with a student I.D. Tickets can be purchased at the conference registration desk. The event has been organized by the Trans-Arab Research Institute (TARI), whose president is Dr. Naseer Aruri. For further information, contact: Elaine Hagopian <echagop@aol.com>.

April Conferences

The Sudan Studies Association will hold its 19th annual conference, entitled “Africa’s Sudanic Core at the Millennium,” in Poughkeepsie, New York. Proposals for panels and papers should be submitted to Abdullahi Ali Ibrahim, History Department, University of Missouri-Columbia, 101 Read Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, phone: (575) 882-9492; e-mail: ibrahima@missouri.edu. The deadline for submission of proposals for papers is Feb. 15.

A seminar on “Control, Mobility and Self-Fulfillment: Learning and Culture in Egypt Since the Middle Ages” will be held April 13-15 in Cairo, Egypt. The event will explore the various facets of education, culture and learning in context with the social, economic and political conditions that bring them about. For more information, contact Nelly Hanna, Department of Arabic Studies, American University in Cairo, fax (202) 355-7565; e-mail: <nhanna@aucegypt.edu). The deadline for submission of proposals has passed.

Journal for Mideast Christians

A monthly journal, Via Dolorosa, has recently been launched to inform Americans of the difficulties faced by Middle Eastern Christians, particularly those living under Israeli occupation. This very readable, highly informative journal covers events in the Middle East and conferences, book publications, speaking tours and other news in North America of interest to those who care about Middle Eastern Christians.

In past issues the journal has forthrightly examined the issue of the aquisition by Israel of church-owned land and has reviewed recent books related to the lives of Middle Eastern Christians. The editor and publisher is Edward Calis, a former resident of Jerusalem, who is donating his time to produce the magazine because of its potential importance to the community. For more information, or to subscribe to or advertise in this journal, contact Mr. Calis at phone: (301) 587-6037; fax: (413) 451-4262.

Betsy Barlow is the program coordinator for the University of Michigan’s Center for Middle East and North African Studies in Ann Arbor.