HIST 135 A - History of Islamic Middle East

Campus: Urbana-Champaign

Description:

Introduction to fourteen centuries of Middle East history from the rise of Islam to modern times. Examines the development of Islamic thought, and of religious, social, and political institutions; as well as the transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries in the area consisting of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.

Special Instructions:

Description: This course examines the history of the Muslim world from the rise of Islam to the present, with an emphasis on the modern period. While foregrounding the Middle East, it locates this region in a wider global context, and includes materials from North Africa, South Asia, Russia/Eurasia, the US, and Europe. Students will read and discuss works by Western and non-Western authors on questions such as: what distinctive paths of development have Islam and Muslim communities followed in different parts of the world, and how are they connected- How have Islamic traditions and practices been affected by colonial rule- How have scholars and thinkers of different backgrounds approached Islam in relation to questions of gender, modernity, and inter-religious coexistence- What is the position of Muslims as ethnic and religious minorities in the West, especially in light of debates around migration and the perception of Islam as political and security threat-

Option 1

Course Level: Undergraduate

Credit: 3

Term(s): Spring