world cultures
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (TOAH), a magnificent and comprehensive resource for all periods and world regions, with extensive access to images, thematic essays such as The Nature of Islamic Art, maps, timelines and search possibilities. Indispensible for integrating art across the curriculum. See also the MET’s Islamic art collection at http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/curatorial-departments/islamic-art
Non-fiction, illustrated story of the Abbasid era translation effort that brought the knowledge of the ancient world and many cultures into the Arabic language, where it was preserved, built upon and later translated into Latin in Europe, where it helped stimulate the Renaissance.
Dover Publications is a heritage publisher specializing in facsimile editions of early lithographic books, inexpensive literature, art and craft books, antique mail-order catalogs, and historical design and art books in very inexpensive editions. They are an invaluable resource for the teacher who wants to integrate art into the social studies classroom. The Dover Design Library is only one part of a wonderful art-historical resource for teachers that includes a world-wide collection of cultural designs from architecture, textiles, ceramics, and jewelry. Another way to find their design books is to search http://doverpublications.com using terms like Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Islamic, geometric, and a cross-cultural classic design book from the 19th century, Owen Jones, Grammar of Ornament and Arabic Art in Color by Prisse d’Avennes
A non-fiction book for early elementary students that explains how Muslims fast in the month Ramadan–one of two Muslim celebrations–and walks the reader through the month up to Eid al-Fitr that marks its ending. Illustrated.
A virtual walking tour of the Dome of the Rock and the third most important mosque in Islam, in Jerusalem. It features 360 degree views and detailed explanations of the architectural and decorative features, and their significance. (Since Adobe Flash is no longer supported, an alterative is to download Ruffles Flash emulator at http://ruffles.rs and install it as a browser extension)
Upper elementary and middle school school history magazine called Calliope: Exploring World History, with issues on “Islam,” “Ibn Battuta,” “Al-Ma’mun,” “The World of the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent,” “The Crusades,” “The Qur’an,” and “Arabic Lights” on Arab cultural influences, and “A World of Faiths” (on all the major world religions). Other titles are also of interest. Calliope is now called “Dig Into History” on archaeology