How has everyday living in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia changed during the past century?
You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including a huge one for academic research.
For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.
My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.
Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html
http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html
http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T
... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html
Also ... do you have access to a college or public library? Even if you go to the library only once to get a library card/number, you should be able to get the usernames and passwords so you can access the huge databases most libraries subscribe to these days. You'll often find better information through them than through general searches on the Internet.
Here is an example -- one college's library website (but public libraries usually have many of these, too): (Broken Link Removed)
Click on Electronic Resources/Databases to see the different databases this particular college provides for its students. EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Facts.com are among the largest and best.
What does your library provide? That's a good place to research.
To understand how everyday living has changed in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia over the past century, we can follow a few steps:
1. Research: Begin by researching the historical and socio-political contexts of these regions. Look for information about major events, movements, and shifts that have impacted everyday life.
2. Identify key factors: Once you have a general understanding of the historical background, identify key factors that have influenced changes in everyday living. This could include demographic changes, urbanization, technological advancements, economic development, political shifts, and cultural transformations.
3. Analyze changes in each region: When studying North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia, it is important to analyze changes individually for each region. While there might be some common trends, each region has its own distinct characteristics and experiences.
Consider the following examples:
- Urbanization: The rapid growth of cities has transformed everyday life for many in these regions. Urban areas have expanded, leading to increased population densities, changes in housing, transportation, infrastructure, and access to services.
- Modernization and Industrialization: Over the past century, many countries in these regions have undergone significant modernization and industrialization processes. This has resulted in the introduction of new technologies, increased productivity, and changes in employment patterns.
- Education and literacy: Access to education has improved in many parts of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia, leading to increased literacy rates. This has had a profound impact on people's daily lives, opening up new opportunities and changing societal norms.
- Women's rights and social dynamics: Gender roles and women's rights have also transformed over the past century. Many women have gained greater access to education, employment, and participation in public life, challenging traditional norms and reshaping family dynamics.
4. Consider cultural and religious factors: It's important to acknowledge the cultural and religious diversity in these regions and how they have influenced everyday life. Changes in religious practices, values, and cultural traditions have played a role in shaping social dynamics and individual experiences.
Ultimately, evaluating the changes in everyday living in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia requires a comprehensive analysis of historical, social, economic, political, and cultural factors. Through thorough research and analysis, you can gain a deeper understanding of how life has evolved in these regions over the past century.