Curated OER
Presidents and the Constitution: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and the Barbary Pirates
Pupils explore the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. In this American history lesson, students read a narrative regarding the conflict between the Barbary Pirates and the United States under the leadership of Washington, Adams,...
National First Ladies' Library
Peace in the Middle East: A Primer
Middle schoolers are introduced to the concept of three Abrahamic religions and complete the Comparative Religion Exercise. They view slides after taking their best guesses and read the article, "The Path to Peace Runs Through a History...
Curated OER
Explorers
In this explorers worksheet, students read a detailed text about the Age of Exploration from 1450 to 1700. Students then answer 7 matching or multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
Group blame after 11 September
Students read the story What does it feel like to be blamed for something you didn't do? Students discuss how they feel to be blamed for something that they did not do. They are given a list of interview questions that they ask each...
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu: Timbuktu's Golden Age of Scholarship
Students access online information regarding education in Timbuktu and the mighty Songhai Empire. They write an essay comparing and contrasting the curriculum of the university at Sankore with that of their own school.
Curated OER
Belief Systems of the Silk Roads
Students review, compare, and contrast belief systems of the Silk Roads. They analyze primary texts of sacred and philosophical writings. Finally, students recognize the rich diversity of belief systems along the Silk Roads.
Curated OER
Columbian Contexts
Students explore geo-political and economic contexts for the European Renaissance journeys of exploration, including those of Columbus, create cartographic symbols, and add those symbols to a print-out of Ptolemy's map.
Curated OER
The Patriot Act: What Is the Proper Balance Between National Security and Individual Rights?
High schoolers discuss the Patriot Act and are given questions at the end of the lesson plan to respond to.
Curated OER
Belief Systems Along the Silk Roads
Students reflect on similarities and differences among belief systems. Using excerpts of translated religious texts, they organize these quotations into broad themes. The quotations will be posted on a Silk Roads map as reminders of how...
Curated OER
Trekking to Timbuktu
Students view a television show to provide a context for conducting research into the location and culture of Timbuktu. The students complete a report on the subject in the form of a research paper.
American University
American University: Arab Spice Trade and Spread of Islam: Spice Case
A paper which deals with the premise that the spice trade led to the spread of Islam. Also discusses why spices were an important trade commodity.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Early Islamic World Trade and Commerce
Find out how people in the early Islamic world used their resources for commerce and trade.
A&E Television
History.com: 7 Facts About the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing
The attack by a group of Islamic fundamentalists announced the growing threat of terrorism on US soil. Eighteen minutes after noon on February 26, 1993, a bomb exploded in the basement parking garage below the north tower of the World...
University of California
University of California Irvine: The Silk Road
Extensive information about the oldest known trade route of the Islamic World with China.
University of Calgary
University of Calgary: Old World Contacts: Era of Military Empires
A description of the trade routes established and used in the twelfth and thirteenth century. Gives a list of goods that were traded and reasons for the trade.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: World History: Unit: 600 1450 Regional & Interregional Interaction
The World History unit is from Khan Academy. The years 600 to 1450 are included. The Byzantine Empire, European Middle Ages, origins of Islam, spread of Islam, Great Schism, Crusades, Mongols, Song China, Medieval Japan, Maya Empire,...
CNN
Cnn: Afghanistan
Excellent coverage on the state of Afghanistan through articles that range from describing its long struggles to Afghanistan Today. Articles provide information on Kabul, Caves of Afghanistan, Afghan's Civil War, as well as an...
Library of Congress
Loc: Ancient Manuscripts: From the Desert Libraries of Timbuktu
This is a collection of primary, historical documents from Timbuktu, Mali during the the 16th through 18th century. The documents cover all aspects of this advanced African civilization.
Digital History
Digital History: September 11, 2001
This site has a comprehensive overview of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., including information on Osama bin Laden's background, the formation of Al Qaeda, the attacks themselves, the US response, civil liberties and national...
Islami City
Islami City: The Abbasids
An extensive description of the accomplishments and reforms brought about by the Abbasid rulers. Discusses many governmental and societal reforms.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Mansa Musa & the Kingdom of Mali
A description of the important gold and salt trade that went on in Northern Africa for hundreds of years. Goes on to detail the emergence of Timbuktu in Mali into a great center of Islamic scholarship and culture under Mansa Musa, who...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Tuareg
The Tuareg, a seminomadic, Islamic people who speak a Berber language, Tamacheq, live in the contemporary nation-states of Niger, Mali, Algeria, and Libya. They are believed to be descendants of the North African Berbers and to have...
Digital History
Digital History: Middle Passage
The number of Africans who died or were enslaved as a result of slave trading both across the Atlantic and into the Arabian peninsula is truly shocking. Read about the Middle Passage which brought millions of slaves to the New World, see...
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Azerbaijan: History
Read about the history of Azerbaijan which has been influenced by its location on historic trade routes and its vast petroleum reserves. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.