While the goals of this unit are broad and extensive, the objectives are designed to be both measurable and approachable. Each objective is a piece of the larger goal of guiding students through the early Islamic world using primary sources. These objectives are designed to accomplish that goal, while improving students' basic historical literacy and historical skills such as discussion, comparison, synthesis of sources, and evaluation of historical accounts.
As a result of this unit students will be able to
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1. Describe Ibn Jubayr including his background, the circumstances of his life at the time of his Hajj and the reasons for his travels
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2. Discuss discrimination in their own context and that of Ibn Jubayr's time in Sardinia.
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3. Identify and explain differences in human understanding based on a comparison of our modern understanding of the pyramids and that of Ibn Jubayr.
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4. Compare modern accounts of the Hajj, and their own understanding with Ibn Jubayr's account, noting similarities, differences and points of interest.
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5. Compare Bagdhad's role as a center for trade, learning, and empire in the 12th century, to its role now in world politics
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6. Evaluate various sources on the crusades, including that of Ibn Jubayr, for accuracy based on modern historical understanding.
