PART ONE READINGS, GEOGRAPHY OF THE MIDDLE EAST, FALL 2004
1. Tuesday, August 24, Introduction to the Course
-Read your course syllabus thoroughly and be sure this course is for you!
-Read pages 6-11 in your National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East
-Know Maps: Learn the names and locations of all the countries covered in the map on page 10 of your National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East
2. Thursday, August 26, Landscapes of the Middle East
-Read: Colbert HeldÕs Middle East Patterns,Pages 3-11, 35-68.
-Know Maps: pages 36, 38, 43, 65 in Middle East Patterns; Physical Features (mountains, seas, rivers, etc) in the National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East, pp. 60-61; and climate map in the National Geographic Atlas, p. 62 (note especially the distribution of Mediterranean climates)
3. Tuesday, August 31, The Natural History of Middle Eastern Deserts
-Read, on Electronic Reserve (ERES) for the class, the posted pages between pp. 6 88 (that bookÕs page numbers) of Cloudsley-Thompson, J.L. 1977. Man and the Biology of Arid Zones. See your syllabus on how to access ERES
4. Thursday, September 2, The Ecological Trilogy, I: Village Life
-Read, on Electronic Reserve for the class, pages 17-19 (that bookÕs page numbers) of Bates, Daniel and Amal Rassam. 1983. Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East.
-and Middle East Patterns, pp. 121-131
5. Tuesday, September 7, The Ecological Trilogy, II: Pastoral Nomadism
-Read: on the electronic reserve: Hobbs, Joseph. Bedouin Life in the Egyptian Wilderness (the chapter on ÒA Desert Livelihood.Ó)
6. Thursday, September 9, The Ecological Trilogy, III: Urban Life
-Read: In Middle East Patterns, pages 16-21 (from "the Archaeological Tell" to "Mesopotamia to the Roman Conquests") and pages 189-194 (from "Urbanization" to "Urban Problems and Prospects"); and, on the Electronic Reserve, the sections on the rise of civilization and cultural heritage (pages 20-25) in BatesÕ and RassamÕs Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
-Know Maps: Use your Atlas to find locations of all cities in todayÕs lecture.
7,8. September 14 and 16. No Class, due to meeting in Vietnam.
-This would be a very good time for you to review your course materials to date, and read ahead; the first test is on September 28.
9. Tuesday, September 21. An Introduction to Islam, I.
-Read: The Middle East (Congressional Quarterly), pages 195-215.
10. Thursday, September 23. Islam, II: Field Trip to the Islamic Center.
-Please, be sure to read BEFORE you go: On ERES, "Separate but Equal," by Lisa Nipp. You can ask followup questions about this at the Islamic Center.
Meet behind (not at the front door of) the Islamic Center on 201 South 5th in Columbia, at 2:00 P.M. We might be separated into women's and men's groups. Please dress modestly (no shorts, short dresses or short sleeves for women, no shorts for men). You will be asked to leave your shoes at the door, so wear socks you can walk around in.The Field Trip is a required assignment for this course. The Islamic Center is open to peoples of all faiths, and I am not aware of any religious restriction that would keep any of you from attending. If you do not plan to attend, contact me in advance at let me know why you will not be going. We will break up at the usual end of class time (3:15), though our hosts may welcome you to stay and chat for awhile.
11. Tuesday, September 28. Test One.
Part Two Readings: 12. Thursday, September 30: An Introduction to Islam, III
-Read: Middle East Patterns, pages 92-100 (fto "Christianity")
-Know Maps: In your Atlas, pages 66-67
13. Tuesday, October 5: Sinai, The God-Walking Mountain
-Read: On the electronic reserve, Hobbs, Joseph, "Sacred Space and Touristic Development at Jebel Musa (Mount Sinai), Egypt;Ó and Lane, Beldon, "Axioms for the Study of Sacred Place" by Beldon Lane. Be prepared to identify and explain Lane's 4 axioms of sacred place.
- and read "Trashing Mount Sinai," by Lance Morrow (handed out in class)
14. Thursday, October 7: Jerusalem
-Read, on Electronic Reserve: Lev, Martin. 1989. The TravelerÕs Key to Jerusalem; and OPTIONAL READING of Van Biema, David, ÒJerusalem at the Time of Jesus.Ó
-Read: Neusner, Jacob. ÒJudaism, Jews and IsraelÓ (handed out in class)
-Know Maps: The Jerusalem maps handed out in class. It is very important that you learn to recognize the topography, street plan and sacred sites of the city.
15. Tuesday, October 12: The Arab-Israeli Conflict I
-Read: Congressional Quarterly, The Middle East, pages 11-40.
-Read, on the Web, CNNÕs special report ÒMideast: Land of Conflict.Ó The URL is http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/mideast/ and you may also get to it on my home page; http://web.missouri.edu/~grcjh by scrolling down to the ÒGeography of the Middle EastÓ section and clicking on the CNN link
-Know Maps: The maps on the Arab-Israeli conflict on pages 61-71 of your Course Manual; and in your National Geographic Atlas, pp. 80-81. For this section of the course, you should also review the timeline on pp. 82-85 in the Atlas.
16. Thursday, October 14: The Arab Israeli Conflict II
-Read: Congressional Quarterly, The Middle East, pages 40-66.
-Know Maps: as in October 12 assignment; plus the National Geographic Atlas pp. 50, 51 on the Occupied Territories and pp. 28-29 on Israel.
17. Tuesday, October 19: The Arab Israeli Conflict III
-Read: Middle East Patterns, pages 216-227 (section on ÒThe Arab-Israeli ProblemÓ) and pages 220-224 on Lebanon.
-Know Maps: The maps of Jewish settlements and of Lebanon on pages 72, 74 and 75 in your course manual; and the map of Lebanon in your National Geographic Atlas, pp. 34-35.
18. Thursday, October 21: The Peace Process I
-Read: Congressional Quarterly, The Middle East, pp. 67-76; and The Peace Process Outline, in your Course Manual pages 76-111, and pages 322-330 in Middle East Patterns; plus any updates handed out in class
-Read, on electronic reserve: ÒIsrael and Palestine: After the War is Over.Ó
19. Tuesday, October 26: The Peace Process in Pieces
-Read: Congressional Quarterly, The Middle East, pp. 67-76; and The Peace Process Outline, in your Course Manual pages 112-130, and pages 322-330 in Middle East Patterns; plus any updates handed out in class
20. Thursday, October 28
Test II
Geography of the Middle East, Fall 2004. Reading Assignments for Part III (Revised, corrected)
21. Tuesday, November 2: Problems of Population and Urbanization, I
-Read: Middle East Patterns, pp. 81-89, 185-189
-Carefully examine the population map on page 64 in your National Geographic Atlas. Study and understand the charts on the bottom of that page, and p 65.
22. Thursday, November 4: Problems of Population and Urbanization, II
-Read: Middle East Patterns, pp. 189-198
-Know Maps: Know the capital cities (most are primate cities) of all of the highlighted Middle East countries in your National Geographic Atlas, pp 16-17
23. Tuesday, November 9: Getting to Know al-QaÕida and the Militant Islamists
We will begin class by watching the Frontline film ÒLooking for Answers,Ó and will then have time for discussion. Your assignment is to explore the PBS web site relevant to the film, do some reading there Ð BEFORE CLASS Ð and come to class prepared to comment on and ask questions about what you saw on the site. The transcript of the film is also there. You may reach that site via my website: http://web.missouri.edu/~grcjh Then scroll down under the section ÒGeographies of Drugs and TerrorismÓ And open up the link entitled: ÒWhatÕs Behind the September 11 attacks?Ó Look under the dark blue box with the capitol dome. There is a line of links that starts with ÒThe New York Times on the web.Ó The third item in that line is entitled Òtapes and transcripts.Ó Click on it, and it will instruct you how to get download the film transcript.
I also encourage you to explore some of the links on Terrorism on my home page (listed above). At the very least come to class prepared to discuss your own views of al QaÕida and the U.S. War on Terrorism.
For the next three days (Nove. 11, 16, 18) it is very important that you do your readings before you come to class, and be ready to discuss them. There may also be additional readings assigned.
24. Thursday, November 11: The U.S. Occupation of Iraq
-Read, on ERES: ÒMaking War, Making Peace: The Middle East Entagles AmericaÓ and ÒMiddle East Net AssessmentÓ
25. Tuesday, November 16
Special Guest: Professor Razia Sultana on Perceptions of the United States in Pakistan and Afghanistan Post 9/11)
-Read, on ERES: ÒWashington Facing Hatred Like Never Before in Middle East,Ó ÒUS Must Tackle Anti-Muslim Perception,Ó ÒMuslim World Mistrusts America,Ó and ÒPakistan Split over US PollÓ
-Also, peruse these websites: www.dawn.com and www.pak.gov.pk
26. Thursday, November 18: Special Guest: Professor Razia Sultana on The Difficult Political Geography of President MusharrafÕs Pakistan
-Read, on ERES: ÒPakistan, the Other Rogue NationÓ and ÒMusharrafÕs Pakistan: A Nation on the EdgeÓ
Tuesday, November 23 and Thursday, November 25: Thanksgiving Break!
27. Tuesday, November 30: The Geography of Oil
-Read: Middle East Patterns, pp. 135-159
-and Congressional Quarterly, The Middle East, p. 155-193.
-Know Maps: Oil in National Geographic Atlas pages 70-71; also study and understand the charts and graphs. Bring the Atlas to class so you can use it in class on November 18.
28. Thursday, December 2: Water Problems, I: The Aswan High Dam
-Read: on ERES, pages on Aswan Dam in ÒEgypt: An Economic GeographyÓ
-Know maps (and charts and graphs): National Geographic Atlas pages 72-73
29. Tuesday, December 7: Water Problems, II: The West Bank and Anatolia
-No assignment
30. Thursday, December 9: Discussion and Preparation for the Final Exam
31. Friday, December 17, 8:00-10:00 A.M., Parker Auditorium (Stewart 100).
Final Exam. Get a wakeup call from a friend, if you need to. DonÕt miss the final!