The Alchemist: Historical Approach

1. Rio de Janeiro: This is where Paulo Coelho grew up and wrote the novel. During the time of his writing, Brazil was going through a period of financial instability, with inflation as high as 629% in 1988.

2. Caravan: a group of people, especially traders or pilgrims, traveling together across a desert in Asia or North Africa. Caravan's were a primary means of tavel in the desert, especially at the time Santiago was traveling. They can still be seen being used today.

3. Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) is located in Galicia, situated in the far north-west of Spain.

3.1. The name Sanitago was often referred to as James in the bible. James one of the closest disciples to Jesus and was the first one to she his blood for him

4. Fatima: Fatima is a town in Portugal. This town in home to the Sanctuary of Fatima. The Sanctuary is said to be the exact spot that the Virgin Mary appeared in 1917.

5. Omens: The earliest records of omens can be traced back to the ancient Mesopotamians. However, the concept of omens may have taken shape even earlier than that, perhaps in the 3rd millennium BC.

6. Levant: Refers to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean. Levant has throughout history meant Syria, Lebanon and Palestine

7. Tangiers: The gateway to Africa for many travelers. Its a port city.

8. Ceuta: Ceuta is an Spanish autonomous city located on the north coast of Africa, sharing a western border with Morocco. Historically, this city developed as military and trade centers linking Africa to Europe.

9. Tarifa: This small town resides in the south border of Spain along the coastline. It is a small fishing town, known for its beaches and wind sport activities. In AD 711 it was invaded my the Moors, but than recaptured in 1292 by a man named Sancho el Bravo. The Moors also attacked again in 1295. but were unsuccessful.

10. Salem: One of the 70 names for the city of Jerusalem. The word Salem is derived from shalom and shalem meaning city/place of peace. In the Bible Melchizedek was described as the king of Salem. The name in Hebrew means King of Righteousness. The bible also says that Melchizedek was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.

11. AL-Fayoum: a lush and fertile oasis in Egypt just southwest of Cairo. It is an area that is approximately 90 kilometers, and is full of natural beauties.

12. Moor: a Member of the muslim population. Of mixed Arab, Spanish, and Amazigh origins, the Moors created the Arab Andalusian civilization and subsequently settled as refugees in North Africa between the 11th and 17th centuries