Middle East - Teachers Guide
On this Teachers Guide page you will find the itinerary for the upcoming Israel / Palestinian Territories and Turkey stay.
On this Teachers Guide page you will find:
| 1 - Title of every update the Team has posted during this part of the Trek. NOTE: You can click on this for the Teachers' Tips - quick summaries of each of the dispatches that were posted in that update, along with activity suggestions. |  |
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| 2 - A brief list of the key topics covered in the update. | ||
What's in the Current Update?
April 29, 2000: Leaving Iran: The Team's Last Insights on the Shrouded Nation
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Israel / Palestinian Territories Stay (Dec 15, 1999 - Feb 2, 2000) |
Turkey Stay (Feb 5 - Mar 4, 2000) |
Iran Stay (Mar 25 - April 22, 2000) |
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(December 15, 1999 - February 2, 2000)
An Introduction to the Conflict, Moses and Abraham (Ibrahim) - Week 1
Click here for corresponding National Standards
It's Hanukkah, Christmas, Ramadan AND the New Millenium! - Week 2
Click here for corresponding National Standards
A Tour of Old Jerusalem: One Powerful Kilometer Squared!
Plus the Romans and Crusaders in the Holy Land - Week 3
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Carving Up Palestine: New Jerusalem and East Jerusalem, two sides to a sacred coin - Weeks 4 and 5
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Modern Israel, the Emerging Palestinian State, and the Peace Process - Weeks 5 and 6
Click here for corresponding National Standards
(Updates December 15 & 18)
December 15, 1999: Shalom! The Team arrives in Israel
- An overview of the Israeli conflict
- History re-written in the Middle East
- The revitalization of Hebrew
- Discussion of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Egyptian battles with Israel, Syria, Lebanon and other Arab nations
- The divided history of Israel and Palestine
- Modern-day Cairo
- Jesus in Jerusalem
- Story of the Patriarch, Abraham
- History of Hanukkah, Ramadan, Christmas, and Kwanzaa
- Promises of the Promised Land
- City kids exploring Hanukkah
(Updates December 22 & January 5)
December 22, 1999: On the Brink of 2000, the Odyssey Explores a Religious Legacy
- Modern day Nazareth and the conflicts that exist there between Muslim and Christian Arabs
- Abeja discovers a bustling Bethlehem
- Kevin explores the birth of a Jewish state
- St. Helena Created the Stations of the Cross?
- Ramadan and the Muslim tradition of fasting for a month
- A visitor's impressions of Bethlehem
- Why the millennium is really in 2001
- Making a Difference by being a conscientious consumer
- History of Haifa, Israel (world center of the Bahá'í faith)
- Holiday of Holidays interfaith festival
- Life at Palestine's Balata Refugee Camp after the Intifadah
- Y2K celebrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
- Muslim and Jewish calendars
- Bethlehem's Church of St. Catherine's (Christmas Eve Mass)
- "Seeds of Peace" Youth Organization
(Updates January 8 & 12)
January 8, 2000: Trekking Through Time and Space, the Team Experiences Israel Past and Present
- The complex history of Jaffa and its present-day charm
- Firsthand experience of the religious fervor in Jerusalem including the "Jerusalem Syndrome"
- The life of Lawrence of Arabia
- Y2K celebrations in Jerusalem from the point of view of an extraterrestrial
- The story of the Masada fortress and the Zealots who defended it
- Role of the Holocaust in Israel (past and present)
- Four Living Quarters of Jerusalem's Old City
- Ramaden (Muslim month of feasting)
- City of Caesarea, then and now
- Visit to Crusader Castle in Acre, Israel (brief history of Crusaders)
(Updates January 15 & 19)
January 15, 2000 - Conflict and Coexistence in the Holy Land
- Different approaches to conflict resolution, and information on intentional communities
- The story of the historical town of Safed in the Galilee during the struggle for independence
- The story of Israel's road to independence
- A visit to the Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, a very holy site for both Jews and Muslims
- Old and New Jerusalem (Differences between Arab, Jewish, and Christian quarters)
- Communities of Kohav Yair and Tira
- Team Involvement in a Political Protest in Hebron
- Kibbutz History and Present-day Lifestyle
(Updates January 22, 26 & 29)
January 22, 2000: Israel's Path to Peace is Full of Obstacles
- Israel's Youth
- Israel and Syria Peace Talks
- Massacre at Deir Yassin
- The Dead Sea
- History, Culture, Politics, and Religion of the Druze
- Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian rights and spokesperson for the Middle East Peace talks
January 26, 2000: Finding a Common Ground for Peace in Israel
- Struggle of Young Israeli Artists (The Foundation for Art in the Community, Cross Cultural Dialogue)
- "Pieces for Peace" Art Project (Brings Arab Israeli, Jewish Israeli, and Palestinian Youth Together)
- Detailed History of Israel (Following One Family's Experiences)
- Jerusalem's Color Games
- Seeds of Peace Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem
January 29, 2000: More Tales of War and Its Consequences
- A day in the life of Gaza City - culture, politics, and history of the Gaza Strip
- The Israeli Defense Force, war with Lebanon, and shell shock.
- Military service, the draft, conscientious objectors, refugee camps, terrorists, etc.
- The politics of access to water in the dry Middle East.
February 2, 2000: Refugees, Extremists, and Goodbyes: A Farewell to Israel/Palestine
- Photo essay: Young Palestinian Refugee
- Palestinian Refugee Camp of Dheisheh
- Farewell to a Divided Palestine
- Informative Team Visit to Arab Side of Hebron
- Terrorist Islamic Resistant Movement--Hamas
- Jasmine's Trip Stateside for Holidays
- The Israeli-Syrian Peace Negotiations
(February 5 - March 20, 2000)
A Great and Distant Past - Weeks 1 and 2
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Influence from the West - Weeks 2 and 3
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Influence from the East- Week 3 and 4
Click here for corresponding National Standards
The Turkish State- Weeks 4 and 5
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Modern Turkey-Culture, Environment, and Challenges - Weeks 5 and 6
Click here for corresponding National Standards
(Updates February 5, 9, 12 & 16)
February 5, 2000: You Say Goodbye and I Say Hello: The Trek Hits Turkey
- An introduction to Turkey, its unique geography and language
- Introducing Andrew and Brian, new trekkers
- Farewell to Kevin, who will remain in Israel
- Interview with Dr. Saeb Erakat, chief negotiator for the PLA
February 9, 2000: Gods and Monsters in Turkey!
- Eternal Flame of the Chimera -- Cirali, Turkey (Mythological History)
- Visit to a Hamam (Turkish Bathhouse)
- History of Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent
- Wealth and Poverty in Turkey (Imaginative Comparison of "City-dwellers" and "Country Folk")
- Ancient Associations between Elements and Directions
- Olimpos
February 12, 2000: Turkey Through the Ages: The Team Tells the Tale
- The history, monuments, and great thinkers of the ancient city of Miletus.
- The complex history of the ancient city of Ephesus, with special emphasis on the temple of Ephesus, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
- The religion, laws, customs and art of the Hittites.
- Turkey's Turquoise Coast and the Lycians who lived there from 1200BC to 545BC.
- The archaeological site of Çatalhöyük, the earliest site in the world (8000BCE) showing irrigation and domestic animals.
February 16, 2000: We're walking on history!!!
- The effects of the 1999 earthquake on a Turkish high school
- An overview of ancient and modern Demre
- A journey through the many layers of Ephesian history
- A focus on Black achievers in all fields.
- The layers of civilization found at Gordion, and the legend of King Midas.
Weeks 2 and 3 - Influence from the West
(Updates: February 19 & 23)
February 19, 2000: Stories of Recent Tragedy and Ancient Mystery
- Interview with children survivors of the August earthquake in the city of Yalova.
- First-hand account of earthquake rescue efforts from a volunteer
- The value of volunteering
- 1500-year life of the monumental Chuch turned Mosque turned Museum, Aya Sophia
- The Roman ruins of Pergamum, its health spa, and its most famous citizen, Galen the physician
February 23, 2000: From Santa to Shadow Puppets - Turkey's full of cultural delights!
- The Lowdown on the Ho-meister!
- Call me Izmir?
- Life without unions was dangerous!
- The struggle to adapt to "temporary" environments
- Life without unions was dangerous
- A dream starts in one place and lands in another
February 26, 2000: Impressions of Turkey, Past and Present
- Visit Konya, learn about the Seljuk Empire and Sultans, Turkish carpets, and Turkish hospitality
- Compare Mark Twain's impression of Istanbul with those of Andrew, world trekker
- Take a tour of the streets, busses, food and daily life of Istanbul
- Visit Sultanahmet, the neighborhood with Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace
- Visit the historical Central Anatolian town of Kutahya, where Attaturk beat the Greeks and artisans produce traditional Turkish tiles
(Update: March 1 & 4)
- The history of Homer and Epic Greek Poems
- WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli (Dardanelles, Mehmet II and the Conquest of Istanbul)
- Wrap-up of Odyssey's Tribute to Black History Month
- Visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque
- Part I & Part 2 of "Karina of Circassia" (fictitious story of young girl's life in the Ottoman Sultan's harem in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul)
March 4, 2000: From the Everyday to the Bazaar, Turkey's Wonders Are Revealed
- Inside Istanbul's famous Grand Bizarre.
- History and science of the strange calcium formations at the hot springs of Pamukkale.
- History and explanation of the ancient underground cities and caves of Cappadocia.
- History of the Golden Horn, Istanbul's natural harbor, and other Istanbul landmarks.
- A fictional story about the life of one of the Sultan's concubines in the 17th-18th century.
March 8, 2000: The Power of Words, People and History in Turkey
- Mevlana (Rumi's final resting place in Konya)
- Kemal Ataturk: Father of the Turkish Republic
- Turkey's Whirling Dervishes
- Ataturk's Mausoleum
- Ankara: Growth and Development
- Modern Day Pera (Old District)
- Disintegration of the Ottoman Empire (before and during WWI)
- Rumi Poetry
(Updates: March 11, 15 & 18)
March 11, 2000: Dance, Destruction, and Dreams: The Final Days In Turkey
- Witness Turkish dance, traditions, costumes and music at a high school in Yalova, Turkey.
- Cooperation between organizations across borders inspired by the Trek
- The art of Turkish hospitality
- The labor of obtaining the team's travel visa to Iran
- Youth activism and activities in an earthquake stricken part of Turkey
- Interview with Ahmed Turan Demir, President of the HADEP-People's Democracy Party
- Kurdish Conflict in Turkey (Human rights abuses and history of political prisoners)
- Brief History of the Kurds
- Historic Turkish Wooden Houses
- Rock Formations in Cappadocia, Turkey
- Leyla Zana's Struggle for Justice in the Face of Turkey's Discrimination Against the Kurds
- Explaining the Kurdish Dilemma, the PKK and Violence as a Form of Protest in Turkey
- Visit the Ancient Christian Community Carved out of Stone in Cappadocia, Turkey
- The Fabulous Cuisine of Turkey
- Unraveling the Myths of Wealth and Poverty in one of Istanbul's Shanty Towns
- Turkey Goes on Trial Before the World for Genocide Against the Armenians
- Visit to Fertile Crescent
- Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP)
- Sanliurfa (Ancient/Modern City)
- One Girl's Efforts to Help Turkish Earthquake Victims
- Princes' Islands
- Impact of Fall of Former Soviet Union on Turkey (Mass 'Russian' Immigration)
- Center for Children Working on the Streets of Ankara (CCWSA)
(March 25 - April 22, 2000)
Ancient Persia - Weeks 1 and 2
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Influence from the East - Weeks 2 and 3
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Iran as a nation-state - Week 4
Click here for corresponding National Standards
Iran today-Culture, Environment, and Challenges - Week 4 and 5
Click here for corresponding National Standards
(Updates March 25, 29, & April 1)
March 25, 2000: A Look Behind the Shroud: First Impressions of Iran
- An ancient Zoroastrian holiday of worshipping fire, involving fire jumping and fireworks.
- Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), involving the sacrifice of rams, a reminder of the story of Abraham
- The Church Thaddeus Gharma Kelise (Black Church) pilgrimage site for Iran's Christian minority
- The bureaucracy of obtaining a visa for Iran, the adventure of crossing the border
- A look at Iranian Family life and Persian hospitality
- Tamerlane for Master of the Universe!
- The human side of apartheid
- Tonight we're gonna' party like it's 1379!
- In this war nobody's winning
- How do you fix a lose/lose situation?
- The teacher's teacher - Omar Khayyam
- The silk road trade route, caravansari (stops on the route), and cultural exchange that accompanies trade.
- General information about the people, clothing, music, television, cars, and landscape of Iran.
- First hand accounts of No Ruz, the celebration of the Persian New Year.
- The history and significance for Jewish people of the holiday of Purim.
- Experiences and information about the hejab, modest dress for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran
(Updates April 5 & 8)
April 5, 2000: The Folk Behind Iranian Folklore
- Holy Shrine of Emam Reza, Mashhad (Shi'ite Pilgrimage Site)
- Dynamics of Iranian Families
- Iran's History through the Life of Nader Shah
- The Poet Hakim Abulghasim Ferdowsi (Epic Poem: The Shahnama/Farsi Language)
- The Life of Omar Khayyam
- Can I sell you a couch? You don't seem to have any furniture
- The Mona Lisa hasn't got a chance in Iranian art
- Peace be upon us in Iran's own version of Islam
- Aliens are planting buildings in Iran!!!
- The Team gets MAD about water waste!
April 12, 2000: Exploring a Natural Way of Living in Persia
- Deserts of Dasht-é Kavir and Dasht-é Lut, City of Yazd and Desert Living
- Christianity in Iran (Vank Cathedral/Golden Age of Persian Architecture)
- History of the Third Great Persian Empire, The Safavid Dynasty
- Fictitious story of Iranian boy who goes to an American College (Discusses modern beliefs vs. old Zoroastrian traditions)
- Zoroastrian Houses (Architectural details and relation to religion)
(Updates April 15, 19, 22, 26 & 29)
April 15, 2000: Prophets, Poets, and Marvels of Persia
- Zoroastrian faith, the prophet Zarathustra, and modern day practice in Yazd, Iran
- Information about eh Masjed-e Emam Mosque, Iran's finest, in Esfahan, Iran
- The traditions of Seez Deh Bedar, the 13th day of the Persian new year
- The history of Soltaniye, a small village in the desert with a huge mosque
- The tombs and poetry of Hafez and Sa'di, two great Persian poets from the city of Shiraz
- 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran (Pahlevi Dynasty/"Westernization" of Iran by Shah Reza Khan)
- Ruins of Persepolis (Achaemenian Empire)
- Historical Importance of Kashan in Central Iran (Discusses architecture and schools)
- Reflection from Communities on the Iran/Iraq Border about the 8-year War
- Islamic Law is Put to the Test when the Trekkers' Bags are Stolen
- Dancing and Feasting in a Kurdish Village
- Earth Day: a Celebration and a Reminder
- The Jesus of Iran: Imam Hussein's Legacy
- The United States: The Great Satan?
- Failure, and What We Can Learn from It: the 1979 Hostage Crisis
- Punishing Iran: 20 Years and Counting
Central/South America Guide - Southern Africa Guide
Western Africa Guide - Middle East Guide
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