Another confusing aspect of studying the Middle East are the people.  The terms Muslim, Middle East and Arab are often used interchangeably.  However, not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arab.  In fact, only about 20% of Muslims are Arab.  As for Arabs, the vast majority are Muslim, but there are also … Continue reading Class Notes →

One way the arrival of the Spanish changed Indians lives forever was the introduction of the horse.  When you live a nomadic life style and had to physically carry everything you owned, your possessions were limited.  Yet a horse and carry 200 pounds and pull another 300.  Think how much your way of life improved … Continue reading Class Notes →

We tend to think of the Middle East as a rural desert setting, but in fact the region is quite urban.  Some of this is Hollywood.  There is a scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Jones and Sallah are looking over the city and Sallah said, "Cairo, city of the living."  The only … Continue reading Class Notes →

In order to tame the West, the government created a system of Land Grant Colleges, as part of the Morrill Act in 1862.  Each state was to establish a college, where their principle focus was on agriculture and engineering.  If you want to help the West, they needed to find better ways to farm and … Continue reading Class Notes →

We struggle with immigration issues in our country today, but it is not a new thing.  By 1880, there were over 200,000 Chinese living in the U.S.  To combat this growth, the government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, which decreased the Chinese population by 40% in 40 years.

If you try to understand the Middle East first, you need to understand that for the last couple centuries they have always been acted upon by others.  Even their name was given to them by the outside.   The Middle East is called the Middle East because it was half way for Europeans to travel to … Continue reading Class Notes →

After the Civil War many in the west were sympathetic to the situation of Blacks in the south.  Kansas had always had an abolitionist population and they invited southern Blacks to move to Kansas and in many occasions helped them get established.  Towns, such as Nicodemus, were created as a place to start a new … Continue reading Class Notes →

Before I post today’s Class Notes I thought I should give some quick credentials as to why I am teaching a Middle East class.  For my Ph.D. program I needed to choose an outside field to study.  I am an American Historian but I started my program in 2002, right after 9/11.  I realized that … Continue reading Class Notes →

It is hard to remember today, but historically there was a time when Congress actually held the power in this country and did something with it.  In 1867, against the president's wishes, Congress created five military districts in the south.  A General was placed in charge of each district and martial law was declared giving … Continue reading Class Notes →

Lincoln’s main goal for restoring the nation was to be lenient on the South, so the nation could heal.  His plan called for a mere 10% of the population to take a loyalty oath to the Union.  The states also had to accept the end of slavery.  In a bold move, he also gave a … Continue reading Class Notes →