Augustana Academy for Seniors

Stanley L. Olsen
Chair of Moral Values

The Middle East: Past and Present

September 17 "Toward a Clash of Civilizations? World War I, the End of the Ottoman Order, and the Legacy of Colonialism in the Middle East" Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, Assistant Professor, History

Recommended reading:
The book Jeff Johnson most highly recommended (and the one we asked our bookstore to get a half dozen copies of) is A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST by Arthur Goldschmidt and Lawrence Davidson (8th ed.) ISBN: 9780813342757.
Two other books Jeff recommended are William Cleveland, A HISTORY OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST and
Bernard Lewis, THE SHAPING OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST.

Sound recordimg of Dr. Johnson's presentation (50 MB -- needs broadband connection).

October 15 "U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East" Former U.S. Senator James Abourezk

November 19 "Judaism and the Modern State of Israel" Dr. Murray Haar, Professor, Religion/Philosophy/Classics

Recommended reading:
Alan Dershowitz, The Case for Israel, Wiley, 2003, paperback. Available at the Augustana Bookstore, and online.


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Spring 2009

February 18 "What's Baking?: Culinary techniques of the late archaic and early late prehistoric chefs in the southern Black Hills"
Dr. Adrien Hannus, Professor of Anthropology

Audio of Adrien Hannus presentation
Audio of Adrien Hannus Q and A
Slide presentation (pdf from Powerpoint - 15 Mb)

March 18 "South Dakiota 2009: How we got here"
Dr. John E. Miller, Professor Emeritus of History at South Dakota State University

Recommended Reading for Dr Miller. Check for these items in the Library or the Center for Western Studies.

April 15 "South Dakota: Challenges and opportunities for the 21st century"
Dave Kudson, South Dakota Senate Majority Leader
Scott Heidepriem, South Dakota Senate Minority Leader