A Primer for Teaching Indian Ocean World History: Ten Design Principles

by Edward A. Alpers, Thomas F. McDow

Overview

A Primer for Teaching Indian Ocean World History is a guide for college and high school educators who are teaching Indian Ocean histories for the first time or who want to reinvigorate their courses. It can also serve those who are training future teachers to prepare their own syllabi, as well as those who want to incorporate Indian Ocean histories into their world history courses. Edward A. Alpers and Thomas F. McDow offer course design principles that will help students navigate topics ranging from empire, geography, slavery, and trade to mobility, disease, and the environment. In addition to exploring non-European sources and diverse historical methodologies, they discuss classroom pedagogy and provide curriculum possibilities that will help instructors at any level enrich and deepen standard approaches to world history. Alpers and McDow draw readers into strategically designing courses that will challenge students to think critically about a vast area with which many of them are almost entirely unfamiliar.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781478059295
Publisher:	Duke University Press
Publication date:	04/05/2024
Series:	Design Principles for Teaching History
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
File size:	905 KB

About the Author

Edward A. Alpers is Emeritus Research Professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of The Indian Ocean in World History.

Thomas F. McDow is Associate Professor of History at Ohio State University and author of Buying Time: Debt and Mobility in the Western Indian Ocean.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments  vii
Introduction. Initial Thoughts  1
Part I. Foundations and Sources  7
1. Mapping the Indian Ocean  9
2. Beyond Eurocentrism  21
3. Beyond the Text  33
Part II. Global Themes  45
4. Indian Ocean Commodities: The Life of Spice  47
5. People on the Move  59
6. Rethinking Slavery  73
7. Empire and Its Aftermath  87
8. Disease and Environment  101
Part III. Teaching Strategies  117
9. Teaching Technologies: Some Classroom Strategies  119
10. Teaching Technologies: Research Projects for Student Engagement  131
Conclusion. Final Thoughts  147
Notes  149
Selected Bibliography  185
Index

Editorial Reviews

Edward A. Alpers and Thomas F. McDow provide a multidimensional map to guide educators in their Indian Ocean World history teaching journey. Thematically organized and pedagogically innovative, the student-centered digital technology assignment ideas are designed to bring the Indian Ocean World to life. These design principles will make Indian Ocean history accessible for educators seeking to go boldly beyond conventional world history or area studies by incorporating or recentering their teaching on this fascinating and cosmopolitan region.”—Kerry Ward, Associate Professor of History, Rice University

“The importance and prominence of the Indian Ocean World for research and teaching is growing exponentially. The region offers countless opportunities to enhance and challenge students’ normative understanding of subjects such as slavery, empire, and the social and physical geographies of space. With this in mind, Edward A. Alpers and Thomas F. McDow have produced a vital guide that offers innovative teaching strategies with which to engage students.”—Pedro Machado, author of, Ocean of Trade: South Asian Merchants, Africa, and the Indian Ocean, c.1750–1850

"This is an accessible and very well-thought-out book. . . . Educators in North America will find that A Primer for Teaching Indian Ocean World History is a valuable resource for developing innovative syllabi in Indian Ocean World history moving forwards."—Philip Gooding, Journal of Indian Ocean World Studies

"Alpers and McDow are to be congratulated on providing a well-developed primer that is a reference work in its own right, particularly for the eastern and northern shores of the Indian Ocean."—Peter Ridgway, The Great Circle: Journal of the Australian Association of Maritime History

"A thoughtful and practical guide for educators looking to enhance their teaching of this complex and fascinating region and for students who wish take up this region as their study or research subject. Alpers and McDow provide a valuable framework that can help educators in North America create engaging and informative curricula/lessons and teaching techniques while fostering a deeper understanding of the Indian Ocean World’s historical significance."—Pravin Kumar Jha, Africa Review

From the Publisher

Edward A. Alpers and Thomas F. McDow provide a multidimensional map to guide educators in their Indian Ocean World history teaching journey. Thematically organized and pedagogically innovative, the student-centered digital technology assignment ideas are designed to bring the Indian Ocean World to life. These design principles will make Indian Ocean history accessible for educators seeking to go boldly beyond conventional world history or area studies by incorporating or recentering their teaching on this fascinating and cosmopolitan region.

Kerry Ward

"This is an accessible and very well-thought-out book. . . . Educators in North America will find that A Primer for Teaching Indian Ocean World History is a valuable resource for developing innovative syllabi in Indian Ocean World history moving forwards."

Journal of Indian Ocean World Studies - Philip Gooding

"Alpers and McDow are to be congratulated on providing a well-developed primer that is a reference work in its own right, particularly for the eastern and northern shores of the Indian Ocean."

The Great Circle: Journal of the Australian Association of Maritime History - Peter Ridgway

"A thoughtful and practical guide for educators looking to enhance their teaching of this complex and fascinating region and for students who wish take up this region as their study or research subject. Alpers and McDow provide a valuable framework that can help educators in North America create engaging and informative curricula/lessons and teaching techniques while fostering a deeper understanding of the Indian Ocean World’s historical significance."

Africa Review - Pravin Kumar Jha

The importance and prominence of the Indian Ocean World for research and teaching is growing exponentially. The region offers countless opportunities to enhance and challenge students’ normative understanding of subjects such as slavery, empire, and the social and physical geographies of space. With this in mind, Edward A. Alpers and Thomas F. McDow have produced a vital guide that offers innovative teaching strategies with which to engage students.

Ocean of Trade: South Asian Merchants, Africa, and the Indian Ocean, c.1750–1850 - Pedro Machado