Muslims in Europe
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Muslims in Europe A curriculum resource for teachers Image: Mosaic detail. Mezquita de Cordoba Marcia Schaffer and Marian Evashevski – Community High Steve Boyce and Tracey Van Dusen – Pioneer High Afifa Assel Corrigan – Huron High Ann Arbor, MI Presented by: The Center for European Studies-European Union Center University of Michigan 2007 Overview This project builds on the EUC funded "Muslims in Europe" research project conducted by Professor Ken Kollman and the group of researchers in Europe. A group of five teachers from three Ann Arbor high schools created a curriculum unit to examine the concept of European citizenship and religion in various countries. Each teacher wrote a part of the curriculum unit to be used in high schools. Covered topics: Ottoman heritage; European expansion/imperialism in Muslim areas; the post-war economic boom and resulting migration to Europe; diverse expressions of Islam; geography and Muslim populations; defining Europe and Europeans; social problems, economic situations, and political issues. Contributions by sections: 1. Muslims in Europe: The Ottoman Heritage Steve Boyce, Pioneer High, Ann Arbor 2. What is Islam? Steve Boyce, Pioneer High, Ann Arbor 3. European Expansion: The Legacy of Imperialism and Muslims in Europe Tracey Van Dusen, Pioneer High, Ann Arbor 4. Post WWII European Economy Marion Evashevski, Community High, Ann Arbor 5. What is a European? Europe and Muslim Identity Tracey Van Dusen, Pioneer High, Ann Arbor 6. Geography and Muslim Populations Marcia Schaffer, Community High, Ann Arbor 7. Current Events and Issues Afifa Corrigan, Huron High, Ann Arbor The curriculum unit includes: web resources for teachers and students to gather information along with suggestions for discussion; a map exercises for students, including political and blank maps; timeline on Islam and the Ottoman Empire. Suggestions for further reading are also provided. Teachers who have used the curriculum in class are encouraged to e-mail feedback to the Center for European Studies-European Union Center at [email protected]. Consulted on this project were: Berta Álvarez-Miranda Navarro, professor, Department of Sociology, Complutense University Madrid; Deniz Erkmen, graduate student, Department of Political Science, U-M. This project was made possible by the European Union Center grant funded by the European Commission. 1 Table of contents Muslims in Europe: The Ottoman Heritage Intro to Project Page 1 Table of Contents 2-3 Title Page 4 Why study the Ottoman Empire? 5-6 What is Islam? 6-7 Reviewing the basics of Islam 8-9 Using “The Ottoman Heritage” 10-38 Lesson Plan 10 Muslim Call to Prayer 11 Timeline of Islam (Long Timeline) 12-18 The Ottoman Empire (Short Timeline) 19 Populations Figures and Additional Info 20 Slide Show 21-22 Extension Lessons 23 Ottoman Fashion Lesson Plan 24 1. Traditional & 2. Fashion Plate 25-26 3. Transition 27-28 4.& 5. French/Turkish 28-29 Ottoman Demographics 30 Maps 1-7 30-33 Discussion Questions 34-35 The Turks and History 36-38 Islamic Resources 39-56 I. Basic Facts 39-44 II. Beliefs and Practices of Islam 44-45 III. Major Sub-Groups of Islam 45-47 IV. Women of Islam 48-49 V. Islam and the Western World 49-50 VI. Islam in the United States 50 VII. Links to Islam Web Sites 51-52 VIII. Bibliography 52-54 IX. References 55-56 Legacy of Imperialism and Muslims in Europe 57-61 Post-WWII European Economy 62-70 Economic conditions in Europe following WWII 62-65 Rebuilding Europe and Muslim Migration to Europe 66-70 2 What is a European?: Europe and Muslim Identity 71-76 Geography and Muslim Populations 77-110 Rise of Islam Instructions (2 maps) 78-80 The Crusades Instructions (6 maps) 81-87 Napoleonic Europe 1812 Instructions (2 maps) 88-90 Europe 1815 Instructions (5 maps) 91-96 Europe 1914 Instructions (1 map) 97-98 The First World War Instructions (2 maps) 99-101 Europe After the First World War Instructions (1 map) 102-103 Europe 1939 Instructions (1 map) 104-105 Modern Europe Instructions (2 maps) 106-108 The Modern Middle East Instructions (1 map) 109-110 Muslims in Europe: Current Issues Lessons 111-188 Introduction and Instructions 111-113 Day 1 Resources 114-117 Data Chart Europe map and questions Muslim World Map and questions Day 2 Resources 118-130 PPT Modern Muslims in Europe 2 Articles with perspectives of Muslim Leaders Day 3 Resources 131-147 PPT Hijab 4 France and Hijab related Articles Day 4 Resources 148-183 10 Country Profiles (alphabetically) Day 5 Resources PPT Barriers to Multicultural Europe 184-188 3 Muslims in Europe: The Ottoman Heritage Islamic calligraphy in a tile design from a 16th century Ottoman mosque (collection of the author) 4 Why study the Ottoman Empire? There is a widespread cultural assumption, particularly in America, that the terms “Arab,” “Islam,” and “Middle East” are virtually synonymous. Counterpoised to this stereotypical construction is the identification of “Western” and “European” as a civilization distinct from “Eastern” or “Oriental,” as in the 19th- century term for the Islamic world of the Middle East. If Americans today fuse together “Arab” and “Islam” to form a menacing otherness, this linkage in the past was between “Turkish” and “Islam.” Even today many of the symbols used to evoke the Islamic world; the crescent and star, the red hat with a tassel known as the fez, and harem pants, originated in the Ottoman Empire. This empire, founded by Turkish warriors in the 14th century, came to dominate not only the Middle East for centuries, but was also a European power centered in the great European city of Istanbul. The Ottoman legacy in Europe is enormous and in considering Muslims in Europe today it must be acknowledged that SE Europe has a historical connection with the Islamic world because of its long association with the Ottoman Empire. Even after this empire receded throughout the 19th century under the military and economic pressure of European powers, the Ottoman heritage to the Muslim presence in Europe is undeniable. Unlike the Muslim era of Spain, the Ottomans left behind more than just architectural monuments. While there was protracted resistance to Ottoman rule in some areas such as Greece or Serbia, other regions such as Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina became so 5 closely integrated into the Ottoman world that their populations converted to Islam and these retain a Muslim majority today. The Muslims of Western Europe are comprised not only of the immigrants from Algeria and Egypt; they are also inter-European migrants from the Balkans. The sad history of the Balkans has made it a synonym for political instability, war, and mass suffering. Unfortunately this tragic legacy was reignited during the wars following the collapse of Communism in the former Yugoslavia. The brutal nature of these conflicts was a harrowing echo of the protracted wars fought more than a century before between empires as they battled to control this territory. Whatever the former strength and wealth of the Ottomans, by the 19th century the Turkish Empire was the “sick man of Europe” facing relentless pressure it could not resist. By the end of WWI, Turkish control had retreated to the Anatolian peninsula where it had started its rise to power in the Middle Ages. What is Islam? Muslims today are members of a worldwide community of faith that numbers over one billion. They are the followers of a strict monotheistic religion that sees itself as the spiritual descendant of Judaism and Christianity. The Islamic community, the umma, began in the year 622 CE when the prophet Muhammad fled the city of Mecca with about 300 followers to take refuge in the Arabian city of Yatrib, now known as Medina. In Medina, Muhammad became the religious and political leader of a community founded on devotion to one God as revealed by direct revelations 6 given to Muhammad. These revelations began in Mecca and were written down by scribes in the scripture known as the Qur’an. In 632 Muhammad returned to Mecca with an army of 10,000 and went straight to the Kaaba, an ancient religious structure which housed pagan idols, the tribal gods of the Meccans. Muhammad smashed the idols and the Kaaba became the very center of the Islamic world. Muslims pray five times a day facing in the direction of the Kaaba and every Muslim, who is able, must make a pilgrimage there during his or her lifetime. After the death of Muhammad in the year 632, the Muslim community split into political factions supporting rival candidates to lead Islam. Those who supported Abu Bakr became known as the Sunni (followers of the sunna, or the traditions of the Prophet). The Sunni believed that Muhammad wished the best qualified man to succeed him and Abu Bakr was so chosen by election. The Sunni were opposed by the Shi’a (from shariat Ali, the party of Ali). The Shi’a believed that Muhammad had designated his cousin (and son-in-law) Ali, and his descendants, to take over the leadership. Shortly after the death of Muhammad, all of the Arabian Peninsula was united under the banner of Islam in a civil war between the various tribal alliances. Over the next century Islamic armies would conquer territories extending from Morocco to the border of China and India. International trade would then extend the Islamic world to SE Asia and what is now the most populous Islamic country, Indonesia. Everywhere Islam was first established it created societies ruled by strict religious law and illuminated by scientific and literary achievements that emphasized the use of Arabic. Islam means submission or peace. To live in a world guided by Islamic principles is to live in the Dar al Islam, or the abode of peace.