- Teaching the Middle East in 10 Quiz Questions by Professor Charles Kurzman, UNC. Take the quiz yourself, or use this printable versionwith your students!
- Who Conquered the Middle East?: 90-second animated map
- Where is the Middle East? 8-minute video with maps to show areas that have been part of the “Middle East” over time and whether to even use that term.
- Islamic History Sourcebook by Fordham University with primary sources, maps, suggested links, etc.
- Our Shared Past in the Mediterranean: World history resources for teaching about the role of the Mediterranean as a commercial and cultural ecosystem in past eras, as well as lesson materials on the present and prospects for the future.
- Rethinking the Region: New Approaches to 9-12 U.S. Curriculum on the Middle East & North Africa: 5 lessons for World History high school teachers: Women & Gender, Plural Identities, Empire & Nation, Political & Social Movements, and Arts & Technology.
- TeachMideast Digital Book Chapter on Arab countries gaining independence, nationalism, and the Cold War
- Homeland Afghanistan: Asia Society site featuring history and cultures of Afghanistan by era and theme, from pre-history to the present time.
- MEE Video: Women in the Middle East & Student Viewing Guide
Ancient Middle East
- Virtual archaeology dig in Iraq
- Interactive website on Mesopotamia from the British Museum
- Byzantium 1200 project aimed at creating computer reconstructions of Byzantine Monuments located in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Babylon 3D, a digital reconstruction of by the Royal Ontario Museum.
- The River Valley Civilization Guide
Golden Age of Islam & Exchange
- 1001 Inventions: International science and cultural heritage organization that raises awareness of the golden age of Arabic science. Great articles and short film, 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets, on Muslim scientists.
- Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain: Developments in science, culture, arts, and literature from Islamic Spain & Muslim world that paved the way for European discoveries and the Renaissance.
- Along the Silk Road: A Journey of Global Exchange Lesson for Elementary School or Middle/High School.
- Network of Silk Road Cities Interactive map
Ottoman Empire
- Ottoman History Podcast: One of the largest digital resources for academic discussion concerning the Ottoman Empire and the modern Middle East.
- The Afternoon Map: An Ottoman/Turkish/Middle Eastern/Balkan cartography blog with maps collected from archives and libraries around the world.
World War i
- WWI & the Transformation of the Middle East LiveBinder with lesson plans, vocabulary, articles, suggested books, relevant maps and more.
- Impact of World War on the Middle East (4-video series from Khan Academy)
- TeachMideast Digital Book Chapter on the Middle East between the World Wars
Israel and Palestine
- PRIME: Textbook created by Palestinian and Israeli educators. Includes both Palestinian and Israeli historical narratives on the creation of Israel.
- Is Peace Possible?: Four short videos on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from The Atlanticand the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace.
- BCC Timeline of the Conflict: This timeline covers ancient times up until the present day (as far as 2005). It includes key dates of recent Middle East history, and looks back at the origins and development of the conflict.
- Just Vision: Resources highlighting the power and potential of Palestinians and Israelis working together through nonviolent means.
The Arab Spring
- TeachMideast Digital Book Chapter on the Arab Uprisings and their Aftermath
- Here’s How the Arab Spring Started and How It Affected the World: 4-min video from the History Channel
- Lesson Plan: Exploring the Arab Spring through Hip Hop: Lessons and activities that can be modified to last from one day to four class periods
- Using Hip Hop for Global Literacy: Teaching About the Arab Spring
- Egyptian Revolution: Fifty-minute NCVPS Culture Café by Andrew Simon, Duke graduate who witnessed the revolution.
- The Art of Revolution: Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria Webinar with Dr. Ellen McLarney, Duke
- Telling the Story of the Arab Spring: an Interactive Graffiti Map: Thirty-two examples of graffiti from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain.
Terrorism
- Culture Under Threat Map mapping the destruction of cultural heritage and artifacts in the MENA region by terror groups.
- Project Mosul: an effort to restore destroyed antiquities using 3D modelling.
- Classroom Activities for Teaching about Terrorism
Arab Refugees
- MEE Video: The Historical Roots of the Syrian Refugee Crisis & Student Viewing Guide
- Syria’s War: a 5-minute history: 5-min video by Vox
- Virtual Tour of devastation in Syria by Amnesty InternationalVr Videos by Doctors Without Borders about plight of refugees around the world
- Arab Refugee Lives: Oral History Lesson Plans: Through these two lessons, students will gain a greater understanding of the various challenges that refugees from Syria and Iraq face. Sanaa Domat’s Story (Syria), Sufyan A’s Story (Iraq). Oral histories were collected by students at Duke University, and are part of the Refugee Lives Oral History Project.
- Pulitzer Center lesson on “Syria’s Children”: The Pulitzer Center has some great lessons/materials on Syria.
- Refugee Stories: Mapping a Crisis: A free lesson by The Choices Program, Brown University.
- “I Am Syria” Website: A not-for-profit educational site made by teachers, for teachers.
- UNCHR Lesson Plans on Refugees
- Short Video (6:30) on the Refugee Crisis: This short video is titled “The European Refugee Crisis and Syria Explained.” It’s animated and high-interest – though they explain things very quickly.
- Syria’s War: a 5-minute history: This short video by Vox explains the political and diplomatic crisis around Syria chronologically in 5 minutes.
- The Washington Post’s Refugee: 18 Stories from the Syrian Exodus:These short vignettes tell the stories of 18 different Syrian refugees from all stages of life.
- Slideshow: Photographers Aim to Put a Face on Europe’s Migrant Crisis
- Frontline Article: How Europe’s Refugee Crisis Was Years in the Making… also, Frontline’s Syria at War
- Activities for Teaching about the Arab Refugee Crisis
- Divided By The Sea Short Videos: UNC’s Vimy Global Teamtraveled to southern Italy to document the complex struggles of incoming migrants and the local population so often overlooked by mainstream media. Interactive maps, stories of individuals, great photos, and short videos to use in your classroom!
- Story of a Syrian Family in Comic form: ABC teamed up with Marvel to create a free digital comic to tell this story. Click for the News Article, Comic, and Discussion Guide.
- Asia Society Resources on Immigration, Migration, and Global Education.