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Course: World History Project - 1750 to the Present > Unit 2
Lesson 4: Nationalism | 2.3- READ: Origins and Impacts of Nationalism
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Nationalism
- WATCH: Nationalism
- READ: The World Revolution of 1848
- READ: Italian Nationalism — A Point of View
- READ: Bismarck and German Nationalism
- READ: Ethnic Nationalism
- READ: Rifa’a al-Tahtawi (Graphic Biography)
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism
- WATCH: Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism
- Nationalism
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READ: Rifa’a al-Tahtawi (Graphic Biography)
Rifa’a al-Tahtawi was an Egyptian scholar and imam who traveled to France in the nineteenth century. Upon his return, he wrote a book reconciling Islam and modern science.
The Graphic Biography below uses “Three Close Reads”. If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.
First read: skimming for gist
This will be your quickest read. It should help you get the general idea of what the graphic biography will be about. Pay attention to the title, headings, images, and layout. Ask yourself: what is this graphic biography going to be about?
Second read: understanding content
For this reading, you should be looking for unfamiliar vocabulary words, the major claim and key supporting details, and analysis and evidence. You should also spend some time looking at the images and the way in which the page is designed.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- Where was Rifa’a al-Tahtawi from, and what was he doing in France in 1827?
- Who was in charge of Egypt in this period, and what were some of his ideas?
- What ideas did al-Tahtawi come up with and share when he returned to France?
- What idea did al-Tahtawi reject for Egypt?
- How does the artist use art and design to demonstrate al-Tahtawi’s belief that science and religion could co-exist, as opposed to French ideas that they were in opposition to each other?
Third read: evaluating and corroborating
In this read, you should use the graphic biography as evidence to support, extend, or challenge claims made in the course.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
- How does this biography of al-Tahtawi support, extend, or challenge what you have learned about the Enlightenment and political revolutions of the long nineteenth century?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.
Rifa’a al-Tahtawi (Graphic Biography)
Writer: Sean Bloch
Artist: Liz Clarke
Rifa’a al-Tahtawi was an Egyptian scholar and imam who traveled to France in the nineteenth century. Upon his return, he wrote a book reconciling Islam and modern science.
Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.
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I'm a fan of the graphic biography reading assignments. Engaging.(6 votes)
