Over Christmas Break

Thanks, everyone, for taking part in our Asian culture day. It was fun! Over break it is important that you review Chapter 9 periodically to keep the information fresh in your head. We'll be having a test over Chapter 9 on Tuesday, January 4th. We will have a brief review on Monday, January 3rd.

I hope and pray your vacation is restful, fun, and rejuvenating. Merry Christmas!!

12/14 - Southeast Asia

Today we'll read/discuss our way through Chapter 9, Section 4, on Southeast Asia and the spice trade. We'll also take a brief look at Chapter 9, Section 2, which is on Chinese society.

Tomorrow we will watch part of a movie related to Asian cultures. Our choices are: Shanghai Noon, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, or The House of Flying Daggers.

Students should start preparing for the Asian culture day, which is Thursday, 12/16.

12/13 - Chinese culture and Tokugawa Japan

Today we'll briefly go over Chapter 9, Section 2, which is on the culture of China. We'll spend more time going through Chapter 9, Section 3, on Tokugawa Japan. Students may download the lecture notes here: Ch9, Sec3, PowerPoint handouts.

Homework: Read Ch9, Sec4, for tomorrow, 12/14
SecRev9-3 due tomorrow, 12/14

12/10 - Chinese history and culture

Today we will read/discuss our way through the rest of Ch9, Sec1, and into Sec2.

Homework: Reading Reflection on Ch9, Secs 1 & 2, due Monday, 12/13
Read Ch9, Sec3, for Monday, 12/13

12/8 - Test on Chapter 8

Today students will take a test on Chapter 8.

Homework: Read Chapter 9, Section 1, for 12/9

12/7 - Articles on the spread of Islam

Today students brought in articles about the spread of Islam today. They read them in class, and we discussed it together.

Homework: Study for the Ch8 test tomorrow, 12/8

12/6 - Islam and Asia

Today we'll go through Chapter 9, Section 3, which is on Islam in Asia. We will read and discuss the text together. Here is a video on Islam in India: India - History of Islam.

Homework: Start reviewing for the test on Ch9 on Wednesday, 12/8
Bring an article to class about Islam in Europe, Asia or Africa. If possible, find one about the spread of Islam, as it would relate to our study of Islamic empires and their expansion.

12/3 - The Safavid Dynasty

We'll begin with an introductory video: Ch8, Sec2, Spotlight Video. We'll read and discuss the section together. There is a humorous video someone posted about the Safavid dynasty's conflicts with the Ottomans: Political History of the Safavid Empire. (It's very quiet, so we might not watch it in class.) There is also a 2-minute clip from the documentary we watched the other day on the conflict between the Ottomans and Safavids: Ottomans v. Safavids.

Homework: Review Ch8, Sections 1 and 2.
Read Ch8, Sec3, for Monday, 12/6

Test on Ch8 on Wednesday, 12/8

12/2 - The Ottoman Empire

Today we'll examine what our book has to say about the Ottoman Empire in Ch8, Sec1. We'll read and discuss together. A lot of what is in the book was in Part 3 of the PBS documentary we watched on Islam earlier this week. Here are some short video clips that discuss related content:

The Crusades
Ottomans in Constantinople/Istanbul

Homework: Read Ch8, Sec2 for tomorrow, 12/3
SecRev8-1 due tomorrow, 12/3