Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Mandaeans
The Mandaeans are a group of people defined primarily by their religious affiliation, which differs from that of their mainly Muslim neighbors in Iran and Iraq. Today they live along the rivers and waterways of southern Iraq and...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Nyakyusa and Ngonde
The Nyakyusa of southwestern Tanzania are known from missionary and traveler's records since the beginning of European contact with the East African interior in the 1870s. The Nyakyusa are especially noted for their system of "age...
BBC
Bbc News: Country Profile: Azerbaijan
A country profile on Azerbaijan, a republic located in the Caucasus region. The article gives information on the recent history, the government and leadership and the news media. (December 2011)
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Bedouin
Bedouin societies are found in the arid steppe regions of Arabia and North Africa and along the margins of rain-fed cultivation. Bedouin groups move their animals to areas where pasture is regularly found. Often these societies plant...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Druze
The Druze are a closed, tightly knit, Arab minority who live in southern Syria, in the mountains of central Lebanon, and in Israel, including the Golan Heights. There are also small communities in Jordan, the United States, Canada, and...
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Iran
An excellent source of information on Iran from The Library of Congress. Includes information on geography, society, economy, transportation, government and politics, and national security.
Curated OER
University of Texas: Saudi Arabia: Small Political Map
This map of Saudi Arabia is very easy to read. It shows the major cities and its location in relation to other countries in the Middle East. From the Perry-Castaneda Collection.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Ch. 18: Improving Countries' Standards of Living
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following: Analyze the growth policies of low-income countries seeking to improve standards of living; Analyze the growth policies of middle-income countries, particularly the East...
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Post Vietnam Foreign Policy
This site discusses U.S. foreign policy after Vietnam encompassed every corner of the globe as Presidents Ford and Carter attempted to work with countries in Eastern Europe, Latin American and the Middle East.
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids: Iran
Welcome to Iran! Follow this interactive overview of the country's history, geography, people, government, nature, and more. A map and video are included.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Palestinians Seek Statehood From United Nations Assembly
Learn how the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis escalates as the Palestinian president asks the United Nations to turn their territories into an official country, Palestine. (September, 2011)
University of Texas at Austin
Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection: Israel
The Perry-Castaneda Library at the University of Texas provides an outstanding collection of maps of the country of Israel. Also links to maps from other online sources.
PBS
Pbs: Nature: Braving Iraq
PBS unravels the tale about Iraq's physical environment in this comprehensive look at what was once one of the richest countries in the world. Includes videos, interviews, and images.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Syria to Become World's Largest Source of Refugees
Article reports on the dire conditions in Syria and the vast amount of refugees who are fleeing the country.
New York Times
New York Times: Jordan News
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site provides a concise overview of Jordan's history as well as links to a collection of news articles published about the country that date back to 1865. Links to articles about unrest in the Arab...
New York Times
New York Times: Iran News
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site provides a concise overview of Iran's history in addition to links to news articles about the country that date back to 1980.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: The Iraq War: 10 Years Later, Where Do We Stand?
The U.S. invasion of Iraq was ten years ago this week. This article describes the impact that the war has had on both the U.S. and Iraq, as well as other countries in the region.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Karaites Economy
The majority of Karaites in Cairo worked as artisans -- primarily as gold- and silversmiths or engaged in trade or peddling. Some attained positions as doctors and lawyers or entered the commercial middle class. In Israel, most Karaites...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Circassians
The Circassians are a people indigenous to the northwestern Caucasus who are also found today as minority communities in four Middle Eastern countries: Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. They call themselves "Adyge," the term...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Swazi
"Swazi" refers to the nation, tribe, or ethnic group, or an individual, "siSwati" to the language. SiSwati speakers are found in Swaziland, South Africa, and Mozambique. Within Swaziland, the population (the great majority of which is...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Shilluk
The Shilluk are the most northern Nilotic-speaking people in modern Africa. Shilluk country covers approximately 320 kilometers on the west bank of the White Nile. Most of Shilluk country is open savanna and free from the annual floods...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Zande
The Zande, whose homelands lie within three modern African states (Republic of the Sudan, Zaire, Central African Republic), constitute a large and complex amalgam of originally distinct ethnic groups, united by culture and, to a...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Tropical Forest Foragers
The term "tropical-forest foragers," or "pygmies," refers to ethno-linguistically diverse peoples distributed across the forested regions of Central Africa who are particularly short in stature and who traditionally have lived by...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Wolof
The Wolof constitute a large ethnic group inhabiting the West African country of Senegal, a former French colony, and Gambia, a former British colony. "Wolof" is the name by which the people refer to themselves, and it is also the name...