Teaching Middle Eastern History Through Games
Teaching Middle Eastern History Through Games
Teaching Middle Eastern History Through Games
By Jörg Matthias Determann
June 9, 2021
Summary
Isn't Middle Eastern history too serious for games? The word itself carries associations like "The Great Game," a euphemism for the British and Russian confrontation in Central Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Even today, military conflicts are sometimes likened to chess, and succession struggles in states like Saudi Arabia are called a "Game of thrones." Comparing wars to a recreational activity or children's play easily hides more than it illuminates.
Screenshot of a student-designed Kahoot game with a question about an old coin.
Kahoot games, like other short quizzes, are great for filling 10 to 20 minutes of class time.
What if you want to play for longer? One of the most immersive forms learning occurs in role-playing games.
W.W. Norton publishes game sets that include rules for students, manuals and handouts for instructors, plus primary source readings.
Having grown up playing video games, many of my course participants are interested in analyzing them.
Reference
Determann, J. M. (2021, June 9). Teaching middle eastern history through games - al-fanar media. Al-Fanar Media. https://www.al-fanarmedia.org/2021/06/teaching-middle-eastern-history-through-games/