Spring 2011, 2012
The Middle East has been singled out as one of the most crucial regional arenas for U.S. foreign policy in the coming years. The region, defined in this course as encompassing western Asia and North Africa, has long been known for its prolific energy resources. The region has been a breeding ground for the development of models of continental extrusion, rifting and extension, and collisional dynamics, and more recent issues such as ecoterrorism and global warming. This course’s primary focus is developing a student’s knowledge of its geology. I have taught this class at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with the basic aims to improve the student’s understanding of the geology and tectonics of particular regions of the Middle East.