HWC Day 24 - Investigating North Africa, Southwest Asia, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia

Objective:  Examine the effect of geography on the history, culture, and development of North Africa, Southwest Asia, Central Asia, & Transcaucasia.

Task:  When you arrive to class, please get out your i-Pads and play "Things in the Middle East" - we'll start class with a friendly competition to see who knows this new map the best!  Then, we'll begin our notes on the emergence of monotheism with the Zoroastrianism video on Schoology and a flow chart detailing the origins of Judaism, Christianity, & Islam.

Finally, we'll split into groups to investigate the unique geographic features of North Africa & Southwest Asia and Central Asia, & Transcaucasia.  You'll use Thinglink and the provided username/password to create an annotated image to detail the geography of the region.

1. SW Asia & N. Africa - Environmental Geography and Population & Settlement (pp. 185-200)
2. SW Asia & N. Africa - Cultural Coherence & Diversity, Geopolitical Framework, and Economic & Social Development (pp. 200-216)
3. Central Asia - Environmental Geography and Population & Settlement (pp. 285-294)
4. Central Asia - Cultural Coherence & Diversity, Geopolitical Framework, and Economic & Social Development (pp. 294-305)

Homework:

• TODAY - Unit 3 map due
• Tuesday, October 6 - "West Comes East" discussion (summary & 2 discussion questions posted to Schoology discussion thread by 7:00 am)
• Wednesday, October 7 -Part I of Regional Study (Armenian Genocide) due in class
• Thursday, October 8 - Unit 3 Map Quiz (study hints posted on Schoology)
• Thursday, October 8 - Part II of Regional Study (Orientalism) due in class
• Friday, October 9 - "Roots of Muslim Rage" reading quiz
• Friday, October 9 - Unit 3 PDPs due on class blog by 3:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 13 - "Perspectives in History" charts due in class (submit reflections by 8:00 pm October, 12)
• Wednesday, October 14 - Unit 3 PDCs due on class blog by 3:00 pm
• Wednesday, October 14 - Part III of Regional Study (Comparing Saudi Arabia & Iran) due in class
• Thursday, October 15 - Part IV (Transcaucasia) and Part V (Contemporary Issues) of Regional Study due in class
• Friday, October 16 - Unit 3 Test (study guide posted on Schoology on or before Monday, October 12)
• Friday, October 16 - Unit 3 SJS's due on class blog by 11:59 pm
• Monday, November 2 - Rwanda extra credit due by 11:59 pm
• Monday, November 2 - Mid-Term Exam

Resources for Class Activities:

• Do you know the map of the Middle East?  Go to "Things in the Middle East" to see who will get the best score/time!
• "Imagining a Remapped Middle East" by Robin Wright (NYT, 9/28/2013) (Click on the Multimedia Graphic to see the map.)

For Further Information...

• Zoroastrianism - BBC Religions
• "Zoroastrianism - An Ancient, Shrinking Religion" (Tell Me More, NPR, 12/28/2009)
• "Vanishing Vultures: A Grave Matter for India's Parsis" (All Things Considered, NPR, 9/5/2012)
• Excavation ‘very likely’ to redefine the Zoroastrianism’s origin - CCTV News - CCTV.com English