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Islam and the Middle East in Texas Textbooks
Author(s) -
Balcı Tamer
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
digest of middle east studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.225
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 1949-3606
pISSN - 1060-4367
DOI - 10.1111/dome.12151
Subject(s) - islam , middle east , sword , narrative , history of islam , history , muslim world , ancient history , religious studies , literature , art , archaeology , engineering , philosophy , mechanical engineering
This article covers how the history of Islam and the Middle East is covered in the latest K‐12 Texas textbooks. The study examines three world histories, four world cultures and geography and six American history textbooks published by major publishers. This article demonstrates that Islamophobic attempts to present Islam as a violent religion has been successful in Texas textbooks. On the other hand, the “Islam spread by sword” narrative is contradicted by the same textbooks with a recognition of non‐Muslim communities that have lived in the Islamic world throughout Islamic history. The study aims to guide publishers and educators before the next cycle of textbook renewal is initiated in 2019–2010.