Are war and violence the only dimension to the people and places of this land?

Most Americans have negative perceptions of the people and places in North Africa/Southwest Asia (commonly known as the Middle East). For some, even simply hearing the term “Arab” evokes these negative perceptions. These misperceptions are typically based on selective information. Most often the Middle East is discussed in terms of terrorism and war. This one-dimensional view of the Middle East not only stereotypes peoples and perpetuates misconceptions—it also fails to recognize the historical contributions and great cultural diversi-ty that exist in this ancient world region. This assignment asks you to view the people and places of the Middle East from a geographer’s perspec-tive. Instead of discussing the Middle East in terms of war and religious fanaticism, address the diversity and complexity of the people and the places in the Middle East. Some suggested topics include: every day life, music, art, religions, language, food, literature, economic activ-ity. Are war and violence the only dimension to the people and places of this land? Are all people and places the same? Is the entire region a desert? Are all Arabs Muslim? What about beaches, dance clubs and wine pro-duction in Lebanon? Celebrating Christmas in the churches of Syria? Shopping in some of the world’s finest malls in Dubai? Production of world famous coffee in Yemen? Discuss the spatial variation of the cultural geography in this region. For on-campus courses, make sure to detach, use, and include The Middle East Map (Section 10.5.7) with this assignment. Don’t use online sources unless you have to because the information is on this book called Geography: People, Places, and Patterns

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