Persepolis
Exploring Islam, Iran, and the Revolution
A World History Unit, 9-12
By: Camille C. Lebel
Note
The World History curriculum standards are written for
grades 9-12. Therefore, in one classroom, a teacher is
likely to have students spanning all achievement levels,
and the educator will need to meet the learning needs of
both remedial and advanced learners. Therefore, this unit
includes several simple texts written specifically for
adolescents as well as more advanced resources to
challenge more proficient readers. I’ve provided an
abundance of resources, but it would be up to the teacher
to decide which books and on-line sites would be the best
fit for his or her classroom.
Table of Contents
1. Unit Objectives
2. Curriculum Standards
3. Religion Comparison
4. Literature Circles
5. All About Iran Roudup
6. Persepolis Discussion
7. Extra Credit/ Enrichment
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Unit OBJECTIVES
This unit is intended for high school World History
students. The goals are that students will:
-
Compare and contrast Islam with other major world
religions, address stereotypes, and discuss ethic profiling
-
Demonstrate a familiarity with the geography, culture,
religion, and politics of Iran
-
Research the roles of the Shah, the Ayatollah, and Islamic
fundamentalism in changing Iranian politics and culture
-
Analyze the role of autobiographies in providing historical
accounts versus other writing styles
-
Examine the causes and effects of the Iranian Revolution
CuRRICULUM
STANDARDS
From the TN Common Core State Standards for
Secondary Social Studies, 9-12.
Standard 1: Culture
1.2 understand the development and migration of art,
architecture, language, religion, music and theater.
1.3 understand the ways in which individuals and groups
contributed to changes in social conditions.
1.4 examine how various individuals and groups use methods
to diminish cultural elements and eradicate entire groups.
Continued…
CuRRICULUM
STANDARDS
Standard 4: Governance and Civics
4.1 understand the development of major systems of world
governance.
4.2 understand how individuals are affected differently by
varied forms of governance.
Standard 5: History
5.3 understand the maturation of Africa, Asia, Europe,
Australia, the Middle East,Oceanic, and the Americas and
their continuing impact on the modern world
5.4 understand the history and impact of world religions.
Assignment #1: Religion Comparison
Many students have little to no knowledge about religions and
cultures outside of traditional American Christianity and hold
limited and often negative stereotypical views of the Middle
East, Islam, etc. Thus, with the first assignments, the teacher
hopes to broaden students’ cultural knowledge base by helping
them to discover similarities between the three primary religious
groups found in the Middle East.
Assignment #1: Religion Comparison
• Students will work in groups to conduct research
using on-line and print sources on an assigned
religion.
• Students will use their information to create a
PowerPoint presentation.
• Groups will make presentations to the class while
students take notes on the origin, founder, sacred
text, sacred building, holy places, major festivals,
primary branches, and central beliefs of each religion.
•Students will then complete a three-circle Venn
diagram comparing and contrasting each religion and
participate in group discussions on their findings.
Judaism Sources - Print
Hoffman, L. A., & Wolfson, R. (2004). What you
will see inside a synagogue. Woodstock, VT:
SkyLight Paths Pub.
Geared toward juveniles, this book
introduces the synagogue as a house of
prayer, learning, and community. Each page
focuses on a different aspect of synagogue
life and practice, from the weekly Shabbat
service to holidays and life-cycle events.
Wool, D. (2007). Judaism. Tarrytown, NY:
Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.
Part of the World Religions series, this book
provides a comprehensive overview of the
Jewish religion.
Judaism Sources - Web
Judaism. BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The site provides a comprehensive
overview of the Jewish religion including
history, beliefs, customs, and the
Holocaust.
Judaism for Children. (n.d.). Judaism for
Children. Retrieved from .
This simple and easy-to-navigate site
features basic facts about Judaism in a
chart format as well as a Q/A.
Christianity Sources - Web
Information on Christianity by Mandy Barrow.
(n.d.). Christianity for Kids. Retrieved from
.
This simple and easy-to-navigate site
features basic facts about Christianity in a
chart format as well as a Q/A.
Christianity. BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The site provides a comprehensive
overview of the Christian religion including
history, beliefs, and customs.
Christianity Sources - Print
Wilkinson, P. (2003). Christianity. New York:
DK Pub.
Filled with colorful illustrations and
organized into three sections, this book is
a useful resource on the history, beliefs,
rituals, and symbols of Christianity.
Watson, C. (1997). Christian. London:
Children's Press.
Geared toward children, this book provides
another user-friendly resource on the basic
facts of Christianity.
Islam Sources - Web
Islam (Muslim) for Kids. (n.d.). Islam
(Muslim) for Kids. Retrieved from
This simple and easy-to-navigate site
features basic facts about Islam in a
chart format as well as a Q/A.
Islam. BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The site provides a comprehensive
overview of the Islamic religion including
history, beliefs, and customs.
Islam Sources - Print
ISLAM SOURCES – Print
Knight, K. (1995). Celebrate Islamic festivals.
Oxford: Heinemann.
The book, geared toward adolescents,
explains Islamic festivals as well as the
Koran, Muhammed, and daily worship
practices.
Wilkinson, P., & Salazar, B. (2002). Islam. New
York: Dorling Kindersley.
Filled with colorful illustrations and organized
into three sections, this book is a useful
resource on the history, beliefs, rituals, and
symbols of Islam.
Assignment #2: Literature Circles
This assignment continues with the goal of promoting cultural
awareness, challenging stereotypes, promoting understanding,
and examine racial profiling.
• Students will select one young adult novel
from a provided list to read, taking special
note of how primary characters deal with
stereotypes and political/cultural/religious
divisions.
•Students will participate in literature
circles with students who read the same
book to discuss impressions and compare
notes.
•Students will then move to literature
circles with students who read different
books to compare and contrast character
experiences in different parts of the world.
Literature Circle Resources
Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Does My Head Look Big in
This? New York: Orchard, 2007. Print.
The story of 16-year-old Amal who decides to wear
the hijab full-time and finds her world changes due
to one piece of clothing. She faces prejudice for
her religious beliefs as she is called “towel-head”
and teased by classmates, teachers, and family
alike.
Budhos, Marina Tamar. Ask Me No Questions.
New
York: Atheneum for Young Readers,
2006. Print.
The story of Nadira and her family, illegal aliens
from Bangledesh who flee to Canada. However,
they find that after 9/11, every Muslim is
considered a potential terrorist, and they must fight
to keep their family together.
Literature Circle Resources
Hayes, Rosemary. Mixing It. London: Frances
Lincoln, 2007. Print.
The story of Fatimah, a devout Muslim living in
England, who saves Steve, an atheist, after he is
the victim of a terrorist bombing. After the media
paints them as Romeo and Juliet, they begin
receiving threats and anonymous phone calls, and
must overcome hatred to learn to understand one
another.
Siddiqui, Haroon. Being Muslim. Toronto, ON: Groundwood,
2006. Print.
A non-fiction journalistic account explaining the world reaction
to Islam following 9/11. Written especially for young adults, it
analyzes the religious, political, and cultural divisions
common in present day.
Since the fiction selections are geared toward girls, I included this option for boys. It includes
anecdotes of various characters and will still fit the assignment.
Literature Circle Resources
Staples, S. F. (1993). Haveli. New York: Knopf.
The story of a young Pakistani woman struggling
against customs and ancient laws within her
husband’s household as she tries to plan for her
daughters education an experiences forbidden
love.
Beshir, S. (2007). A light at the end of the tunnel: The stories
of Muslim teens. Beltsville, MD: Amana publications.
A collection of short stories from Muslim teens narrating their
experiences on issues such as dating, parents, friendship,
etc. The book addresses misconceptions about Islam and
what makes one’s identity.
Another option for readers who want a different format.
Assignment #3: All About Iran Roundup
In this activity, students will work individually to complete a teachercreated scavenger hunt using a variety of print and electronic
resources. The questions will lead them to locate basic, factual
information on the following:
•
Iranian culture (festivals, dress, art, music, traditions, etc.)
•
Iranian society (government, politics, economics, etc.)
•
The Shah (Rise to power, influence, policies, fall)
•
The Ayatollahs (Rise to power, influence, policies, fall)
•
The Iranian Revolution (Causes, role of fundamentalism, the Iranhostage crisis, effects, etc.)
Roundup Resources – General Information
Kheirabadi, M. (2003). Iran. Philadelphia: Chelsea House.
Geared toward adolescent readers, this volume is part of
the Modern World Nations series and details general
information about Iran’s history, culture, government and
politics, economics, and people.
Rajendra, V., Kaplan, G. T., & Rajendra, R. (2004).
Iran.
New York: Benchmark Books/Marshall
Cavendish.
Also suited for a younger audience, this volume is part
of the Cultures of the World series andalso details
general information about Iran’s history, culture,
government and politics, economics, and people.
There is a greater focus on cultural elements such as
festivals, art, food, and leisure.
Roundup Resources – Iranian Society and Culture
Web Resources: Each of the following shares ample
information about Iranian society and culture
including home life, education statistics, and cultural
elements such as music, art, dance, food, and more.
Culture of Iran » Home. (n.d.). Culture of Iran » Home.
Retrieved from
Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: The Iranian
Educational System. (n.d.). Iran Chamber
Society: Education in Iran: The Iranian Educational
System. Retrieved from
World Development Indicators Database Education
Data - 2006 - How does Iran compare. (n.d.).
NationMaster.com. Retrieved from
Iranian Cultural & Information Center. (n.d.). Iranian
Cultural & Information Center. Retrieved from
Roundup Resources – Iranian Society and Culture
Print Resources:
Spencer, L. (2004). Iran: A primary source cultural guide.
New York, NY: Rosen Pub. Group.
A reader-friendly book with many illustrations explaining
the geography, myths and legends, art and architecture,
literature and music, food, education, and daily customs
of Iranian life.
Roundup Resources – The Shah
WEB RESOURCES: Each of the following provides
biographical information about the Shah, including
his rise to power, his rule, and his exile. The timeline is particularly useful to students attempting to
put various parts of the Revolution in chronological
order.
Historic Personalities of Iran: Mohammad Reza Shah
Pahlavi. (n.d.). Historic Personalities of Iran:
Mohammad Reza
Shah Pahlavi. Retrieved
from
Timeline: US-Iran ties. (2009, January 16). BBC News.
Retrieved from .
"Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Biography." Bio.com. A&E
Networks Television, n.d. Retrieved Apr. 12, 2013.
From .
Roundup Resources – the Ayatollahs and Revolution
PRINT
Hiro, Dilip. Iran under the Ayatollahs.
London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1985.
Print.
January, Brendan. The Iranian
Revolution. Minneapolis [Minn.:
Twenty-First Century, 2008. Print.
This book provides a complete
description of the phases of the
Islamic Revolution, including the rise
and fall of the Pahlavi dynasty and the
Gulf War.
Another book narrating the phases of
the Iranian Revolution of 1979 with an
in-depth look at the hostage crisis.
Roundup Resources – the Ayatollahs and the Revolution
PRINT
Arjomand, Said Amir. The Turban for the Crown: The
Islamic Revolution in Iran. New York: Oxford UP, 1988.
Print.
This book provides another account of the Revolution
with a special focus on the rise of Khomeini, political
corruption, and the importance of the event for
understanding revolutions overall.
Ramen, Fred. A Historical Atlas of Iran. New York:
Rosen Pub. Group, 2003. Print.
This book covers significant historical events for six
Middle Eastern and Asian countries in an objective
manner. Special consideration is given to the Iranhostage crisis, and maps, vivid photography, and
extensive captions make the text user-friendly.
Roundup Resources – the Ayatollahs and the Revolution
Web Resources
"Iranian Revolution." Iranian Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. From
Includes a timeline, a list of recommended books, and links to articles from Time
magazine.
"The Story of the Revolution." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. From
A four-part narration of the return of the Ayatollah and the path to Revolution.
"Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Biography."
Bio.com. A&E Networks
Television, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
From
A comprehensive biography of the
Ayatollah and his rise to power.
Assignment #4: Persepolis
•
Students will be assigned the graphic novel, Persepolis, in preparation
for class discussion.
•
Using information gathered from earlier in the unit, students will
evaluate and discuss events portrayed in the novel.
•
Students will view pictures of the Iranian Revolution from a
photojournalist site and compare the real-life images to illustrations in
the novel.
•
Students will compare the graphic novel with other forms of literature,
analyzing the role of the first-person voice in narrating historical events
and focusing on strengths and weaknesses of the genre.
Persepolis Resources - Novel
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY:
Pantheon, 2003. Print.
Persepolis is the bittersweet memoir of
Marjane Satrapi, a girl growing up in Iran
during the Islamic Revolution. Spanning her
life from age six to fourteen, the memoir
covers the overthrow of the Shah, the
Revolution, and the war with Iraq. Persepolis
gives a glimpse into daily life in Iran and the
contradictions between home life and public
customs.
Persepolis Resources – Discussion Guide
Persepolis: The story of a childhood – reading guide.
(2013). Lit Lovers. Retrieved April 14, 2013, from
Lit Lovers is an on-line book club site created and
maintained by a former English teacher. The site
features a summary, author biography, and book
reviews for the novel, in addition to 15 in-depth
questions perfect for fostering discussion and
debate about the novel.
Persepolis Resources - Pictures
"Kaveh Kazemi - Photo Journalist." Kaveh Kazemi - Photo Journalist. N.p.,
n.d. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from
Kaveh Kazemi is a photojournalist from Tehran, Iran. His career began in
the Revolution in 1978, and continued for the next three decades. His
pictures have appeared in the New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and
other respected publications. His gallery, divided into the categories of
Revolution, War, Daily Life, and Latest, chronicles both the chaos and the
beauty of various aspects of Iranian life.
Extra Credit/Enrichment
Minu-Sepehr, A. (2012). We heard the heavens
then: A memoir of Iran. New York: Free Press.
Students may read and report on a second
memoir such as this selection. We Heard the
Heavens Then
Follows the life of Aria Minu-Sepehr, the privileged
son of a major general in the Shah’s Imperial Air
Force. When the Shah is overthrown, Aria’s life
changes drastically as pictures of executed family
and friends flood newspapers. -
Extra Credit/Enrichment
Satrapi, Marjane, and Marjane Satrapi. The Complete
Persepolis. New York: Pantheon, 2007. Print.
Students may also choose to continue reading
about Marjane’s life by completing The Complete
Persepolis. In 1984, Marjane flees Iran to begin a
new life in Vienna. However, struggling for a sense
of belonging and mising her home, she returns to
Iran after graduation and tries to find a way to
have a future in the midst of fundamentalism.
Works Cited
Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Does My Head Look Big in This? New York: Orchard,
2007.
Print.
Arjomand, Said Amir. The Turban for the Crown: The Islamic Revolution in Iran.
New York: Oxford UP, 1988. Print.
"Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television,
n.d. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from
http://www.biography.com/people/ayatollah-ruhollah-khomeini-13680544
Beshir, S. (2007). A light at the end of the tunnel: The stories of Muslim teens.
Beltsville, MD: Amana publications.
Budhos, Marina Tamar. Ask Me No Questions. New York: Atheneum for Young
Readers, 2006. Print.
Works Cited
Christianity. BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://
www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/
Culture of Iran » Home. (n.d.). Culture of Iran » Home. Retrieved April 12, 2013
from http://www.cultureofiran.com/
Einfeld, Jann. Is Islam a Religion of War or Peace? San Diego: Greenhaven,
2005.
Print.
Hayes, Rosemary. Mixing It. London: Frances Lincoln, 2007. Print.
Hiro, Dilip. Iran under the Ayatollahs. London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1985. Print.
Historic Personalities of Iran: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. (n.d.). Historic
Personalities of Iran: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Retrieved April 12,
2013 from http://www.iranchamber.com/history/mohammad_rezashah/
mohammad_rezashah.php
Works Cited
Hoffman, L. A., & Wolfson, R. (2004). What you will see inside a synagogue.
Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths Pub.
Information on Christianity by Mandy Barrow. (n.d.). Christianity for Kids.
Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://www.chiddingstone.kent.sch.uk/
homework/religion/christian.htm
Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: The Iranian Educational System.
(n.d.). Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: The Iranian Educational
System. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://www.iranchamber.com/education/
articles/educational_system.php
Iranian Cultural & Information Center. (n.d.). Iranian Cultural & Information
Center. Retrieved from http://tehran.stanford.edu/
"Iranian Revolution." Iranian Revolution. N.p., n.d. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from
http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/his135/Events/Iran79.htm#Recommen
ded
Works Cited
Islam. BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/
religion/religions/islam/
Islam (Muslim) for Kids. (n.d.). Islam (Muslim) for Kids. Retrieved April 12, 2013
from http://www.chiddingstone.kent.sch.uk/homework/religion/islam.htm
January, Brendan. The Iranian Revolution. Minneapolis [Minn.: Twenty-First
Century, 2008. Print.
Judaism. BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/
religion/religions/judaism/
Judaism for Children. (n.d.). Judaism for Children. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from
http://www.chiddingstone.kent.sch.uk/homework/religion/jewish.htm
Judaism 101: What Is Judaism? (n.d.). Judaism 101: What Is Judaism?
Retrieved
April 12, 2013 from http://www.jewfaq.org/judaism.htm
Works Cited
"Kaveh Kazemi - Photo Journalist." Kaveh Kazemi - Photo Journalist. N.p., n.d.
Retrieved April 12, 2013 from
http://www.kavehkazemi.com/english/gallery/index.php
Kheirabadi, M. (2003). Iran. Philadelphia: Chelsea House.
Knight, K. (1995). Celebrate Islamic festivals. Oxford: Heinemann.
Minu-Sepehr, A. (2012). We heard the heavens then: A memoir of Iran. New
York:
Free Press. Print.
"Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d.
Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://www.biography.com/people/
mohammad-reza-pahlavi-9431856
Rajendra, V., Kaplan, G. T., & Rajendra, R. (2004). Iran. New York: Benchmark
Books/Marshall Cavendish.
Works Cited
Ramen, Fred. A Historical Atlas of Iran. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2003.
Print.
Satrapi, Marjane, and Marjane Satrapi. The Complete Persepolis. New York:
Pantheon, 2007. Print.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon, 2003. Print.
Siddiqui, Haroon. Being Muslim. Toronto, ON: Groundwood, 2006. Print.
Staples, S. F. (1993). Haveli. New York: Knopf.
"The Story of the Revolution." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Retrieved April 12, 2013
from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/revolution/
Timeline: US-Iran ties. (2009, January 16). BBC News. Retrieved April 12, 2013
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3362443.stm
Works Cited
Watson, C. (1997). Christian. London: Children's Press.
Wilkinson, P. (2003). Christianity. New York: DK Pub.
Wilkinson, P., & Salazar, B. (2002). Islam. New York: Dorling Kindersley.
Wool, D. (2007). Judaism. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.
World Development Indicators database Education Data - 2006 - How does Iran
compare. (n.d.). NationMaster.com. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://
www.nationmaster.com/country/ir-iran/edu-education