Date of Award

1-1-2013

Language

English

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School/Department

Department of History

Content Description

1 online resource (iv, 165 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Richard Fogarty

Committee Members

Amy Murrell-Taylor

Keywords

Arabia, Education, Egypt, Geography, Palestine, Selfhood, Mass media and public opinion

Subject Categories

United States History

Abstract

This study addresses how nineteenth-century Americans perceived the lands of the Eastern Mediterranean. The project rests upon a detailed examination of American primary school geography textbooks that enjoyed widespread circulation during the century. The lack of an effective education apparatus in the period rendered American students incredibly reliant on their textbooks. These texts reflect the general common knowledge of the region shared by most educated Americans. Additionally, this study draws support from a thorough analysis of travel accounts that were extraordinarily popular during the period. These works offered Americans a chance to explore vicariously the most interesting lands of the Levant.

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