Unit 2- Middle East
(Rising Conflicts)
Compelling Questions:
How have conflicts in the Middle East
shaped our world today?
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How can I tell if a source is primary or secondary?
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How can I tell if a source is reputable and relevant?
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What reasoning and evidence can I find to support my claims about how conflict has shaped the Middle East?
Priority Standards:
SS.6.3. Gather relevant information from primary and secondary sources using the origin and authority of the source to guide the selection.
SS.6.6. With teacher direction, develop claims and counterclaims while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both.
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Suppporting Standards:
SS.6.22. Explain multiple causes and effects of events and developments in the past.
SS.6.20. Analyze connections among historical events and developments in various geographic and cultural contexts.
SS.6.21. Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed throughout different historical eras.
Where is the Middle East?
The Middle East is a region where many countries are connected by their location, history, and cultures. It is mostly in the area where Asia, Africa, and Europe meet. Here are the main countries usually considered part of the Middle East:
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Southwest Asia:
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Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, and Bahrain.
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North Africa:
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Some include Egypt, which connects Africa and the Middle East.
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Other Countries:
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Sometimes, countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, or parts of North Africa like Libya are also included, depending on the topic.
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The Middle East is famous for its deserts, oil, ancient history, and being home to important world religions like Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
Primary Sources for the Creation of Israel
The Balfour Declaration was written in 1917 and set the ground work for the establishment of a Jewish Nation (Israel) thirty years later.
United Nations Resolution 181 (1947) was a plan that suggested dividing the land of Palestine into two parts: one for Jewish people and one for Arab people. The goal was to create two countries so both groups could live peacefully. The plan also said Jerusalem, a city important to many religions, would be special and managed by the United Nations.
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Israel's Declaration of Independence (1948) led to the official formation of Israel as a country. This also led to an attack the next day by five neighboring Arab countries and future conflicts.​
"Bad Actors" in the Middle East
Claims & Counterclaims Activity
In geopolitical terms, a “bad actor” is a leader, country, or group that causes harm or creates problems for others around the world. These bad actors often use violence, break laws, or act unfairly to get what they want, even if it hurts innocent people. For example, they might start conflicts, support terrorism, or ignore international rules that most countries agree to follow. Bad actors don’t just hurt their own people; their actions can spread fear and instability to other places, making the world less safe and peaceful for everyone.
What Happened on 9/11?
Visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum Lesson to learn about the timeline of the event and scroll down to watch a video of footage from the terrorist attack.
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Check out the 9/11 Memorial Museum Lesson about the aftermath with stories from survivors. Scroll down to view videos.​