Alia Muhammad Baker - Chief Librarian of Al Basrah ...
Iraq has a long and proud history of libraries. The Sumerians, an ancient people who lived in what is now Iraq, invented the first written language almost six thousand years ago. They wrote with a reed on clay tablets in a script we call ... [... more]
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Closing the Islamic Year : The Hajj, Pilgrimage to ...
The twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar is Dhu al-Hijjah. Dhu al-Hijjah is the month of the Hajj. The Hajj, often referred to as the pilgrimage to Mecca, is an obligation of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj ... [... more]
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Janissaries - the Ottoman Empire's Infallible Army - ...
The Janissaries and their various guises over time are an excellent example of the potential for power to cause corruption. Formed in the late 1300's, the Janissaries were an elite army belonging to the head of the Ottoman empire (the bey or ... [... more]
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Violence Against Women in the Middle East - Middle ...
International Women's Day is sponsored by the United Nations and occurs annually on March 8th. It was first celebrated in 1975, the UN's International Women's Year. The theme of International Women's Day 2007 was "Take action to end impunity for ... [... more]
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Middle Eastern Royalty - Middle Eastern Culture
Popular literature; particularly, but not exclusively, Harlequin / Mills & Boon romances; abound with stories of Arab and Middle Eastern crown princes or other royal rulers, but what is the reality? In fact, according to the alt.talk.royalty FAQ, ... [... more]
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Arab Academy - A Review - Middle Eastern Culture
Arab Academy provides a versatile and effective set of programs for learning Arabic. They offer lessons online, speaking lessons via Skype, and in person classes in Cairo, Egypt. They offer classes for children, high school, and adult learners. ... [... more]
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Couscous - What is it and how do I cook it? - Middle ...
Couscous is a type of semolina pasta formed into small grains native to northern Africa. It is often known as a Moroccan food, but is equally native to other countries of the Maghrib (the western part of the Arab world), such as Algeria, Tunisia, ... [... more]
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Libyana - A View of Libya - Middle Eastern Culture
Libyana is an amazing website dedicated to Libyan culture. It is a labor of love by a group of Libyans who wish to share their culture with the world. The Libyana website has three sections related to different areas of Libyan land and culture. ... [... more]
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Zalabiya and Awwamaat - Middle Eastern Christmas Treats ...
Zalabiya and Awwamaat are common treats found in Syria and Lebanon during the Christmas season. They are a fried dough, similar to donuts. Zalabiya are stick shaped and Awwamaat are similar to donut holes or fried dumplings. They are particularly ... [... more]
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The Fertile Crescent - Middle Eastern Culture
The fertile crescent is a crescent shaped area of land in the Middle East that is good for farming and grazing. The descriptive term came from the fertile imagination of James Henry Breasted, a University of Chicago professor who popularized the ... [... more]
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Cats' Middle Eastern Origins - Middle Eastern Culture
When asked to associate a cat with the Middle East, the first thing that comes to mind, in most cases, is probably the Persian. Others may think of the ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bast or the importance of cats in ancient Egyptian society where ... [... more]
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Your Name in Hebrew - Middle Eastern Culture
Ever wonder how to spell your name, or your friends names in Hebrew? Using the chart below, it's easy to find the Hebrew version of your name. Hebrew is written from right to left, so simply take each letter sound in your name, find the ... [... more]
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