History of the Middle East

Before we begin learning about the tragic event in United States history on September 11, 2001, we must first analyze and understand the history of the middle east and what conflicts occured there.

Today you are going to work in assigned groups and analyze a specifc aspect in the history of the Middle East. In order to understand your assigned event, you will be provided with sources that will help you with your research. You will have one day to research your topic and the following day, you will be expected to provide the class with an oral presentation that is approximately five minutes long. You will be teaching the class the aspect of the Middle East that you have researched, so make sure you complete your research in order to provide your classmates with a full understanding on the topic.

Group One:

Group one will be researching 3 of the world's major religions that evolve from the Middle East as well as the United States relations with Israel. This group must answer the following questions:

1. Why would religion cause conflict?

2. Why would the US backing Isreal cause conflict for the US with Middle Easten nations?

Group Two:

Group two will be researching the conflicts between Palestine and Israel. This group must answer the following questions:

1. What happened to the Palestine territory?

2. How did Palestine react to this change in territoty?

Group Three:

Group Three will research The Cold War and the Middle East. This group must answer the following questions:

1. Why did the US intervene in Afganistan?

2. Why would Afganistan be angry that the US left wen the conflict ended?

Group Four:

Group four will research the oil conflict and Desert Storm. This group must answer the following questions:

1. What does OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) put on the US? Why?

2. Why does the US fight Iraq when Iraq invaded Kuwait?

Group Five:

Group five will research terrorism, specifically, Al Qaeda. This group must answer the following questions:

1. What is a goal of Al Qaeda?

2. What specifc events is Al Qaeda responsible for?

Group Six:

Group six will research the War in Afghanistan. This group must answer the following questions:

1. What is the Taliban?

2. What are the goals of the Taliban since they have regrouped?Use the following sources:

Group Seven: Group Seven will research the War with Iraq. This group must answer the following questions:

1. What did the US and United Kingdom claim about Iraq prior to 2003?

2. Why did the US invade Iraq?

This assignment will count as a participation grade and you will be evaluated on:

• Your ability to work cooperatively in groups.
• Contribution to group work
• Accuracy of the content throughout the oral presentation