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I chose this image since it shows the walls surrounding the city of Jerusalem. Since we discussed the various gates in the pre class prep this semester I have reflected on the politics of space and movement in Jerusalem as a reflection of national and insider/outsider status holdings for various people. this ariel shot shows that boundary well.

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I want to take a moment to reflect on the rural/urban divide in Syria most evident with Damascus. There was a massive shift when the Assad family took over from a society run by Sunni urban elites to the rural Alawai sects. Of course, that meant that the paradigm of rural urban power divides stayed strong but with new brokers. Damascus was the center of power as the center of political processes which meant that economic opportunity was limited in rural areas. Of course, this rural urban binary is everywhere, but it is notably pronounced in Syria, with Damascus

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I cannot help but think about Fanon and the day in class that we spent watching the battle of Algiers when writing this reflection. In particular, I am am thinking about our discussion about violence's role in revolution (as we debated its necessity in decolonization processes). More than violence, and also reflecting oppression or colonization, I am still struck by the simlarity between the physical barriers to Algerian movement in Algiers (which we saw in the movie with the checkpoints) and those in Palestine (West Bank) that prevent their movement into Jerusalem (or even on their own streets in the West Bank)

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I chose this photo of Syria after reflecting on the damages that an ethnonationalist authoritarian state can cause. The Assad family military rule and Alawaite regime was a fascinating example of an oppressed group gaining power and oppressing others to gain the place of power rather than equalizing relations and moving toward a more egalitarian society. I chose this photo to depict Syrian civil society, which has been depleted after years of propganda and government surveillance.

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I have been reflecting on the physical and ideological constraints on Palestinian people in the West Bank throughout my final few assignments. In particular, I think that maps are an interesting feature that depicts the history of settlements in the West Bank. ariel images of the west bank are changing adn the maps showing where Palestinian peole live constantly shifts as more settlers displace them. I am curious what the maps will look like in a decade for now.

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I visited Venice a few years ago and plan to return soon when I study abroad in Italy this coming fall. When I was going over the map terms, I started to connect our class discussion of the little ice age with contemporary Venice, Italy. Because of rising sea levels, climate change, and the character of Venice's island canal systems, there is severe flooding throughout the city. I think the connections between climate and politics are fascinating and yield interesting connections between climate and political participation/dissent. The BBC estimates that Venice will disappear by 2100. The city has countless buildings and entities of historical, cultural, and religious importance but will be wiped away by climate change. As the floods become higher and impact more people, I wonder how the political sphere will have to shift and accomodate the ensuing changes, and potential rebellions (if it follows in the path of Osmanli 'bandits,' that it).

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I initially learned more about Damascus (in my Unite 1 project) in relation to syncretism and the spread of coffeehouse culture. But, I realized that it was a city I know little about, even though it is one of the oldest world cities and an important holy city in Islam. I chose this photo for Damascus because (other than how stunning the photo itself is) it shows The Great Mosque of Damascus just behind a varying array of shaped roofs and particular architectural design.

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Since Istanbul was the site of the Osmanli dynasty's first coffeehouse in 1555, it is only fitting I represent Osmanli coffeehouses in the city.

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I am always interested in learning about and visiting new places, and few locales have as much religious and political importance than Mecca. Birthplace of Muhammad, Mecca's Mosque architecture is magnificent and I find the pilgrimage it annually spurs incredible.  I chose this photo of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām because the power and structure of the mosque amaze me.

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As a kid, I loved to read any form of greek mythology -- fables or fiction. So, I developed an early curiosity in the Mediterranean Sea. The power of ships, in commerce, warfare, and history in general, could complicate the relationship between the Mediterranean Sea and empire building, a connection I await (maybe) learning about. I also look forward to analyzing how this sea molded intercountry dynamics. I chose this photo to illustrate the sheer mass of the Mediterranean.

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I first learned about Marrakech through George Orwell's essay of the same name. Orwell's candid but depressing depiction of life in the Moroccan city and his critique on imperialism stated with me. But, the essay's perspective was potentially dramatized; I want to learn about the history of colonized nations to contextualize their modern (or 1900s) features. I chose this photo because it dichotomizes the desolate Marrakech I first learned about.

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I first heard about the country of Cyprus when my sister planned to study abroad there (before the pandemic's disruptions). One of the first conversations I recalled her relaying was about the fights between her Greek and Turkish friends over Cyprus. her Greek friends agued that it is a Greek Island while her Turkish friend said it was Turkey's: the Cyprus Problem. So, I hope to learn the background on this political conflict and other similar political conflicts where territory ownership is heavily contested. I chose this photo because I think it is beautiful and always try to appreciate natural beauty within nations.

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My senior year of high school, in AP human geography class, I was asked to revolve the conflict in the Gaza strip. I, of course, recognized the unlikelihood of my fulfilling of my teacher's ask. While international relations is not my favorite subject, I think the historical and modern relations which developed the Israel-Palestine conflict are fascinating and pose a particular problem to classic peace negotiating models. I selected this image to illustrate the violence within the Gaza strip.

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I chose this photo and location because I visited it this summer (the photo is an original creation). While in Vienna, I learned about how massive its empire was and how politically important the Hapsburg family was to European and global politics. I especially enjoyed learning about the Hapsburg family's political marriages (Marie Antoinette was a Habsburg daughter!)

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I learned about the Tigris River (and, of course, the Euphrates) in the context of Ancient Mesopotamia. So, I decided to represent the Mesopotamians with and example of its art and storytelling. I fully believe that geography often controls destiny, and natural landmarks like the Tigris River present certain civilizations with an at front advantage for development.

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Kosovo is a city that I know little about but really want to know more about the city. I chose this photo because political conflict always interests me, and the Serbia-Kosovo dispute is an area I want to learn more about, either in class or on my own.

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I knew about the Catholic side of Constantinople, but I really took interest in Mehmet II's hostile takeover of the city. But, the architecture is what grabbed my eye the most. As such, I chose a photo of the Hagia Sophia: true representation of syncretism.

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I chose Rub al-Khali and this photo because I never heard of this desert before! And it is stunning. It is hard to believe that areas on earth remain unexplored, so reading that this inhospitable empty quarter has barely been delved into (and the oil reserves in the northeast of the desert) makes me wonder what its future will look like.