Lesson Plan: Arab Culture and Society

Lesson Plan - Arab Culture and Society

Introduce yourself. Tell a little about your background.

Discussion Questions: (Write the student responses on the blackboard)

What is an Arab?

What does an "Arab" look like? What does an Arab woman look like? What kind of qualities do you associate with Arabs? Are most Arabs rich or poor? Do they live in cities, villages, or tents? What is a Bedouin? Are most Arabs Bedouin? (About 2-3% today are Bedouin)

What are the typical images of Arabs in films, TV, novels, comic books? How many positive Arab characters can we remember from films and TV?

Name some famous Arab Americans. (Give hints: a famous consumer advocate, a top-40s disc jockey, popular movie stars and singers, etc.) Hand out the game (see below); ask the students to link names and identities.

What is the "Arab world?" How is it different from the "Middle East?" How many Arab countries can we name?

Basic things to emphasize about the Arab culture and the Arab world:

The Arab world is culturally rich, complex and diverse: It includes 22 countries; it is the cradle of the three monotheistic world religions, each of which is itself diverse; political loyalties and worldviews of every sort; as well as differences of locality, region, kinship and social class. (For maps of the area and each of the countries click here)

The Arab world is cosmopolitan, not an isolated and insulated culture. It has always been the crossroads of the world and, like the United States, has been enriched by the contributions of many cultures -- from Greece, Rome and the ancient Near East; from Christianity, Judaism and Islam; from the Persians and the Turks, India and China; from Europe and America.

At their height the Arab and Muslim empires were central parts of a vast civilization which united territories stretching from the Atlantic coast of Spain and Morocco across the Levant far into central and south Asia. Within that civilization there was a free flow of commerce, trade, culture and ideas. The Muslim empires united a multitude of peoples. Their culture was the product of these diverse peoples, who mutually influenced one another through the ages. Some elements of Arab culture are still shared throughout much of the region ruled by these empires.

Likewise, the Western world has a pervasive influence today, although not in the same ways or to the same extent in every Arab country. (For example, the impact of the Western oil industry on Saudi society and the Gulf is very different from the French cultural influence in Lebanon and North Africa.)

Arabic Language:

Write each student's name in Arabic. Get a list of students' names ahead of time. Write out each name in English and Arabic on an index card before going to the class. Hand out the cards. This is always popular among students.

English words derived from Arabic: Ask the students if they know of any English language words which are derived from the Arabic language. Pass out copies of the attached exercise to the class.

Think of the significance of the fact that the English language borrowed so many Arabic words in the field of science and mathematics.

During the Middle Ages, science and mathematics flourished in the far-flung Arab-Islamic civilization, which stretched from Spain into Asia. England and other European countries were relatively backward and "underdeveloped" feudal territories. Gradually through military, commercial and scholarly contacts, Europe absorbed the learning of this more advanced neighboring civilization. Contacts with the Arab world played an important role in stimulating Europe's cultural and intellectual renewal in the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance. After all, it is "Arabic numerals" which we use in arithmetic, rather than "Roman numerals." (Originally the Arab world adopted these numerals from India and in Arabic they are referred to as "Indian numerals." A different set of numerals is used in the Arab world today.)

Arab Food and Agriculture:

Bring something tasty for the students to eat. Humus and pita bread, baklava, etc. This will make the class more memorable.

The presentation of Arab cultural materials in class should not become merely "folkloric" -- colorful, exotic curiosities. Rather they should be presented in terms of their social and historical context. This is what will make them meaningful and their presentation more truly educational.

Much of the history of the Arab world could be told though its food. The story of food is the story of empires, international trade routes, colonialism, social structures, and local economies and climates. Here are a few tidbits from "the political economy of food and agriculture."

Staples:

Flat bread (pita bread) is the staple food from Egypt eastward through the Arab world. This has become familiar and widely used by Americans today.

Couscous is the staple in North Africa west of Egypt. This is semolina which has been prepared in a time-consuming and painstaking process that involves rolling it through several containers of different sizes.

Olive oil is used for cooking. No animal fat was used until the 19th century, and little meat is used in most dishes. Garlic and onions are also widely used. Many local products are used, as they become seasonably available.This is healthy food and provides a well balanced diet.

The Influence of the Ottoman Empire, Social Class and Locality:

Stuffed grape leaves, cabbage, eggplant and squash are delicious Arab dishes. They are also widely used throughout the region formerly dominated by the Ottoman Empire. From Greece and Bulgaria in Europe through the Arab world.

Some of this was the food of the rich, the "cuisine of the palace" -- elaborate, delicate and using more meat. Sweets like Baklava were made with expensive sugar; these are also made throughout the former Ottoman territories in both the Arab world and the Balkans.

But stuffed foods were also local and made with local products -- simpler but quite diverse. In eggplant season housewives devised 30 different eggplant dishes to vary the menu.

Vegetable dishes, tabuli, humus and beans like chickpeas, lentils and fava beans were local dishes for rich and poor alike, although the rich did not serve them to guests.

Lebanese, Palestinian and North African cooking tends to be more diverse and richer than in other Arab countries. It has a greater variety of vegetables because of milder climate, heavier rainfall and mountains. Lebanese people have many fresh garden vegetables and herbs to use. (Most Arab and "Middle Eastern" restaurants in the U.S. serve Lebanese food).

International Trade and Colonialism:

Traditional trade routes reached deep into Asia, Africa and Europe.

- Coffee came from Yemen on the Arabian peninsula.

- Spices came from India and China. (But the Arabs did very different things with them. Arab food does not resemble Asian food).

- Nuts are widely used in Arab cooking. Often these come from Iran and Afghanistan.

- Oranges: The oranges of Jaffa in Palestine (now in Israel) are famous. They were introduced by European colonists in the 19th century.

- Wine: Algeria is a Muslim country and most people do not drink alcohol. But due to the French colonial influence, Algeria is a significant wine-exporting country. Under the French, vineyards replaced olive trees, and Algeria was tied to the French and European market. Today it remains dependent on those markets to sell its wine.

- Egypt: In the 19th century England became the dominant power in Egypt. Rice was grown for the British. But the English wreaked havoc on Egypt by forcing a change from rice production to production of cotton for the textile mills of England. The Egyptian economy became dependent on England.

- Mulberry trees: Local Lebanese entrepreneurs planted mulberry trees in the 19th century in an attempt to foster silk production. Silk worms feed on mulberry leaves. This was an attempt at economic independence and freedom from European dominance. Unfortunately, the industry declined in the 20th century because of competition from synthetic materials.

Arab Dress:

Many Arabs today wear some form of modern Western dress, from blue jeans to three-piece suits to Paris fashions. Others wear various forms of traditional dress.

- Climate:

Why do Arabs traditionally wear floating robes and head coverings?

These clothing styles are very practical and comfortable in an often-harsh climate. In the strong winds of the desert, air circulates freely and the robes float. The head coverings (worn in public by both men and women) are protection from the strong sunlight.

The same clothes used to be worn year-round. There were no seasonal changes. A few dresses would last a lifetime.

- Colors and Styles:

Through-out the Arab world a loose caftan-like dress with much embroidery is used. But the color and richness depend on local conditions.

- Egypt: Solid colors, blue on white with embroidery.

- Tunisia: Lo