Not only is the Middle East an ever growing important part of the world today, but it is the cradle of civilization and major source of resources. What better way to familiarize yourself with this region than to take the Middle Eastern History class?

Social studies teacher Theresa Muldoon teaches the course and wants to take the class much deeper than just a surface look at Middle Eastern history. “I think that it is very easy to write off the Middle East as a hotbed of friction among the people that live there,” says Ms. Muldoon. “This course helps give students the why of it, not just the idea that the Middle East has been fighting for centuries and there will never be peace.”

Last year, when people were signing up for the class, some people got the impression that the class may be dropped, and dropped the class. Says senior Zeina Hinnawi, “I was like hold on one second.” She then did her work to help make the class possible by asking people to take the re-sign up for the class. Adds Hinnawi, “I think it’s kind of selfish of me, but I kind of wanted to learn about it.”

So, while the class size is still at a slim 10 people, there were enough people to start a class. “It was a big relief when I first found out it was available,” says Hinnawi, “We don’t have a class like that…We have US History and World History but nothing focusing on the Middle East.”

The class studies a wide variety of concepts, from the Crusades to religion to ancient history and civilization. There are the lectures and readings, but there is the occasional fun project, such as poems. “Controversial material is presented in the class,” says Ms. Muldoon, “The students are the historians that critically evaluate, analyze, and synthesize these sources.”

Overall, this is another one of Blake’s finest classes that will help expand students’ knowledge about the world. Says Ms. Muldoon, “By the end of the course they will be better able to understand the reasons why the Middle East is such a wonderful and yet explosive part of the world.”