California H-SS Curriculum & Study of Turkey
Turkey-H-SS.pdf
A study of Turkey and peoples of the Anatolian Peninsula enhance the understanding of history, geography, culture, economics and government at grade 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12.Turkish Culture Portal
http://www.turkishculture.org/
This portal links to resources on literature, cuisine, philosophers, music, architecture, fine and applied arts, drama, and lifestyles in Turkey.
Ancient Anatolia: Exploring the Lost Worlds of Anatolia
http://www.ancientanatolia.com/
Here are maps, timelines, a bibliography, and brief histories of the various peoples who have conquered and settled in Asia Minor from ancient to modern times.Çatalhöyük
http://www.catalhoyuk.com/
Here is access to photos and descriptions of the ongoing excavations of a Neolithic site in central Turkey. There are links to other classroom appropriate sites that have been reviewed by the archaeologists for accuracy.Civilizations – 1000 BCE to 500 CE
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/civil_n2/hist_1.html
These three sequenced Hyper History timeline pages link to maps and brief text showing how Asia Minor was important through a number of ancient empires including Persia, the empire of Alexander, and Rome through early Christian times.
Byzantine State under Justinian I
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/just/hd_just.htm
This Metropolitan Museum of Art site has a slide show of Byzantine art and a short essay about Byzantine society at the time of Justinian I.Justinian Code
justinian-code-worksheet.pdf
In A.D. 528 the Emperor Justinian began a review of the old Roman laws. There were thousands of Roman laws that ordered life in the empire. The emperor chose ten men to review 1,600 books full of Roman Law and create a simpler legal code. These men were able to create the Justinian Code with just over 4,000 laws. Read these two laws from the Justinian Code. Think about what they tell you about the Roman and Byzantine empires.12 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire
http://www.12byzantinerulers.com/
This history lecture podcast by Lars Brownworth covers the little known Byzantine Empire through the study of twelve of its greatest rulers. Mr. Brownworth is an educator and author of Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization.Golden Age of the Ottoman Empire: Suleiman the Magnificent
http://www.world-affairs.org/globalclassroom/resources/2008-01-29-Turkey-CBA.htm
This Washington State Classroom Based Assessment asks students to use primary sources to describe and evaluate the strength and contributions of the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman (Suleyman) the Magnificent in the 16th c.Suleymaniya Mosque Virtual Tour
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200605/suleymaniye/default.htm
This Turkish gen of architecture has an online narration and the option for panoramic views as if the viewer were seeing the site themselves.Renaissance Man Comparison Poster
Renaissance Man Comparison Poster.pdf
Using Video Three of the PBS video series Islam: Empire of Faith and the Discovery Education film Suleiman the Magnificent, both available through You Tube, students learn about both the Sultan Suleiman (b. 1494 AD) and another Renaissance character. After they make comparisons, they create a poster showing the accomplishments and many facets of Suleiman and another character's life that make them worthy of the term "Renaissance Man."
Transformation of Turkey: From Islamic Empire to Modern State - A Readers Theatre
Transformation of Turkey.pdf
Using character roles of experts on various aspects of history and political science, five groups of students perform a section of a longer radio transcript the Ben Wattenburg Think Tank show on PBS. After each segment, the class discusses the key ideas about the history and important roles of Turkey in the world today and as a U.S. ally in the Middle East..Where East Meets West: An Introduction to the Caucasus and the BTC Oil
www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/creees/outreach/curriculum/CREES-developed_units/caucasus_10gr.pdf
The activities in this high school unit of study are intended to introduce students to the geopolitical issues that surround a highly debated infrastructure project: the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. In studying the BTC pipeline, students will: 1) work collaboratively to learn more about the Caucasus and the BTC pipeline through Internet-based research; 2) explore the varied geopolitical issues which the construction of the pipeline has created; 3) view a documentary film about the BTC pipeline which explores both its global and local impact; 4) thoughtfully and critically examine the interests that various stakeholders have in the BTC pipeline; and 5) defend the interests of a particular interest group in a conflict-resolution activity.Water Project in Turkey: An International Conflict
TurkeyWaterProjectsLesson.pdf
After students analyze the causes of regional conflict over water in Southwest Asia through reviewing National Public Radio materials and maps on the project, they take on the roles of various players in the conflict and attempt to negotiate a settle to which all can agree.Got Water?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/educators/resource/lesson2.html
Already troubled by economic woes and sectarian conflict, the Middle East is facing an imminent new danger that could plunge the region into famine and war. Water resources, historically in short supply, are on the verge of being overwhelmed by runaway population growth, placing a huge strain on fragile political and ecological systems. Learn the geography and perspectives on this issue at this PBS lesson.Istanbul: Queen of Cities Spanning two continents, two religions, and three of the world's great empires...
Istanbul-Queen of Cities.pdf
Explore the city of Istanbul in pictures and text to experience the blend of cultures, religions and historical eras that are represented in one of the world’s most remarkable cities. Classify the sites described and what see that many sites span multiple eras in history.Turkish Court and Religious Freedom
Turkish Court and Relig Lesson.pdf
Using a New York Times article “Turkish Court Blocks Islamist Candidate” describing a ruling of the Turkish Supreme Court, and a section of Thomas Jefferson’s “Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,” students analyze the differences between secularism and freedom of religion. In the end they offer up advice to Abdullah Gul, who was blacked from a bid for the presidency.Why Are Head Scarves Feared and Banned in Turkey?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/portraits/turkey.html
Although secular, democratic Turkey is overwhelmingly Muslim, for almost eight decades its legal and political systems have shown a deep-seated fear of Islam as a political force. The government monitors and regulates how Islam is preached and practiced. In recent years, one of the many restrictions on religion has included a ban on head scarves at public universities and in government buildings. In this clip, three university students who became victims of the crackdown talk about what head scarves mean to them, and the Vice Rector of their university explains the reasons for the ban. There is also an interview with professor Nilifer Gole who provides perspectives from Muslim women.Turkey and the EU: To Be or Not To Be… A Member Nation
Turkey and Admission to EU.pdf
After gathering, recording, and analyzing information from a set of reviewed websites, students come to a conclusion about whether or not they think that Turkey’s bid to join the European Union should be accepted. They then write a persuasive letter regarding their position to Jose Durao Barroso, the President of the European Commission.Reconciling Turkey, Armenia and Genocide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nhqlY7b7UY
This is a 5 Minute National Public Radio program on current Turkish-Armenian relations.