Workshop Series for High School Educators: Contemporary Egypt, Shaped by the Past

In summer 2007, a group of Western Pennsylvania educators toured Egypt to study that country's unique intersections of East and West. Based on their experiences and professional expertise, this free workshop series has been designed to help teachers incorporate age-appropriate and culturally sensitive content into existing school curricula.

While its historic stature as a world leader is well known, today's Egypt remains the most influential Islamic Arab nation in the world. Rather than attempt a broad-brush summary of Egypt's past, the workshops provide essential background information for just a few relevant topics that ignited the interest of our study tour participants. The result is content and instruction modules making dynamic connections between past and present, useful in classrooms of art, world cultures, sociology, history, current events, and world religions.

Participants in these workshops may attend the opening session and one, two, or all three of the workshops. Secondary educators will receive four Act 48 credit hours for each of the three workshops attended, earning up to twelve credit hours. All workshop participants will receive a booklet containing 12 lesson plans and complimentary course materials. Workshops will be held at the University of Pittsburgh in Wesley W. Posvar Hall, room 4130.

Pre-registration is required. Registration must be submitted at least one week prior to workshop date.

Opening Session - Egypt: Past and Present (June 16, 2008)
Workshop 1 - Egypt: Influences and Intrigue (June 17, 2008)
Workshop 2 - Egypt: Changes and Choices (October 13, 2008)
Workshop 3 - Egypt: Perceptions and Politics (February 7, 2009)
Brochure
Registration

Opening Session
Egypt: Past and Present

June 16, 2008, 5-8 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh in Wesley W. Posvar Hall, room 4130
Free parking; dinner provided

Throughout the millennia, Egypt has played a pivotal role as a geopolitical crossroad of cultures. It is a site of political, social, and religious changes as Arab, African, Western, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian cultures meet and mingle in the latest of a long history of encounters. The series Opening Session will provide an overview of periods of East and West intersection from ancient times to the Mubarak regime and as well as offer a snapshot of the lives of the 80 million Egyptians living today.

5 p.m.	Registration and Dinner
5:30 p.m.	Welcome and Introductions
5:45 p.m.	The History of Egypt: Ancient Egypt to Present Days Chris Michelmore, professor of history, Chatham University
7 p.m.	The People of Egypt: 80 Million and Growing Michael McKale, professor of philosophical and religious studies, Saint Francis University

Workshop I
Egypt: Influences and Intrigue

June 17, 2008, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh in Wesley W. Posvar Hall, room 4130
Free parking; light breakfast and lunch provided

What are Egypt's cultural contributions? Who has benefited from them the most? To whom do they belong? Beginning with insights into how Egypt has been influenced over time by religion, we'll take a look at its distinguished history in the arts. After learning about Napoleon's invasion in the 1700s and the West's subsequent fascination with Egypt (that still shapes assumptions about Muslims and the Middle East today) we'll look at how colonial attitudes set the stage for contemporary questions about the ownership of cultural antiquities and the right of modern nations to reclaim usurped artifacts.

8:30 a.m.	Registration and Welcome
8:45 a.m.	Art in Ancient Egypt Rebecca Denova, visiting lecturer of religious studies, University of Pittsburgh
9:30 a.m.	The Qur 'an and Islamic Art Fran Leap, associate professor of humanities, Seton Hill University
10:30 a.m.	Sufi Muslims: “The Heartbeat” and Soul of Islam? Michael McKale, professor of philosophical and religious studies, Saint Francis University
11:15 a.m.	Break with Refreshments
11:30 a.m.	France's Invasion of Egypt and Its Heritage Eric Tuten, assistant professor of history, Slippery Rock University
12: 15 p.m.	Who Owns Antiquities? Deborah Rubin, professor of social work, Chatham College
1 p.m.	Lunch and Small Group Discussion
2 p.m.	Ideas and Curriculum Applications
2:30 p.m.	Workshop Conclusion

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Workshop 2
Egypt: Changes and Choices

October 13, 2008, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh in Wesley W. Posvar Hall, room 4130
Light breakfast and lunch provided

Are other faiths tolerated in Egypt? Who writes the laws? Are women really free? The second workshop will delve into the religious customs and codes of ancient, Coptic, Islamic, and secular Egypt and how they have co-existed in for centuries. Islamic law and tradition will be discussed, including how Sharia laws are formed and applied, who creates and mandates the laws, and how they are integrated into a secular government system. With that background we'll talk about the impact of religious doctrine and contemporary Western secularism in the lives of Egyptian women today.

8:30 a.m.	Registration and Welcome
8:45 a.m.	Religious Continuity and Change in Egypt Rebecca Denova, visiting lecturer of religious studies, University of Pittsburgh
10 a.m.	Islamic Jurisprudence and the Grand Mufti Richard Saccone, assistant professor of political science and international business, Saint Vincent University
10:30 a.m.	Break with Refreshments
11 a.m.	Different Types of Marriage in Islam Tracy Flynn, social studies teacher, Hickory High School
Noon	Lunch
1 p.m.	Women, Culture, and Islamic Dress Chris Michelmore, professor of history, Chatham University
2 p.m.	Ideas and Curriculum Applications
2:30 p.m.	Workshop Conclusion

Workshop 3
Egypt: Perception and Politics

February 7, 2009, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh in Wesley W. Posvar Hall, room 4130
Free parking; light breakfast and lunch provided

Why do Muslims hate us? Don't Egyptians want democracy? Do they really value peace? While in Egypt our study group met with leading political activists, educators, and student groups at three major universities. What surfaced repeatedly were the complex and contrasting perceptions of Islam, U.S. foreign policy, human rights, democracy, and the state of Israel. In this third workshop we will formulate ways that Pennsylvania students can better understand how cross-cultural perceptions are formed, how to engage in dialogue with the Muslim world, how to comprehend the politics of Islam, and how Israel continues to be a polarizing issue for the Arab world.

9 a.m.	Registration and Welcome
9:15 a.m.	The Muslim Brotherhood: Vanguard for Modern Political Islam Tony Gaskew, assistant professor of criminal forensic studies, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
10 a.m.	Islamic Jurisprudence and the Grand Mufti Richard Saccone, assistant professor of political science and international business, Saint Vincent University
10:45 a.m.	Break with Refreshments
11 a.m.	Egyptians, Americans, and Israel Michael Yoder, social studies and Spanish language teacher, Northside Urban Pathways Charter School
Noon	Lunch and Discussion
12:30 p.m.	Why It All Matters Michael McKale, professor of philosophical and religious studies, Saint Francis University
1:30 p.m.	Ideas and Curriculum Applications
2 p.m.	Workshop Conclusion

Workshops Brochure

Open a PDF of the workshops brochure.

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Pre-registration Required

Pre-registration for these free workshops is required and must be submitted at least one week prior to workshop date(s).
Full Name
Institution
Subject Area(s)
Student Level(s)
Work Address
Work Phone
Home Phone
Preferred E-mail
Please indicate the workshop(s) for which you are now registering:
Opening Session - Egypt: Past and Present (June 16, 2008)
Workshop 1 - Egypt: Influences and Intrigue (June 17, 2008)
Workshop 2 - Egypt: Changes and Choices (October 13, 2008)
Workshop 3 - Egypt: Perceptions and Politics (February 7, 2009)

You will receive an e-mailed acknowledgement from the Global Studies Program office.

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* * *

Global Studies Program
University Center for International Studies
4100 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 Bouquet Street
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
USA
Phone: 412-648-5085
Fax: 412-624-4672
E-mail: global@pitt.edu
Web: www.ucis.pitt.edu/global

This page last updated: 6/23/08

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Workshop Series for High School Educators: Contemporary Egypt, Shaped by the Past

Opening Session Egypt: Past and Present

Workshop I Egypt: Influences and Intrigue

Workshop 2 Egypt: Changes and Choices

Workshop 3 Egypt: Perception and Politics

Workshops Brochure

Pre-registration Required

Opening Session
Egypt: Past and Present

Workshop I
Egypt: Influences and Intrigue

Workshop 2
Egypt: Changes and Choices

Workshop 3
Egypt: Perception and Politics