Christine Baker

This survey course is an introduction to the history, politics, and societies of the modern Middle East. Beginning with general background on the region in the pre-modern period, it reviews the major transformations of the last two centuries, with a focus on the domestic, regional and international forces that have shaped Middle Eastern realities during the twentieth century. The lectures and readings cover both the specific developments in the various Middle Eastern countries and broader regional issues shaping the contemporary Middle East, including the patterns of authoritarian rule, the challenges of social and economic development, the rise and impact of Islamic political movements, the dynamics of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the politics of oil, and the role of the United States in the region.

An introduction to the impact of Islamic civilization in the Middle East from its inception to the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid dynasties. Emphasis on the the political, social, and cultural contributions that transformed the medieval world from Spain to Iran. The course traces the varied, sophisticated, and complex nature of past Muslim societies with attention to their unique intellectual contributions within and beyond the Middle East, past and present.

Texts:

Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power; In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of a Traveler’s Tale; Politics, Gender, and The Islamic Past: The Legacy of `A'isha Bint Abi Bakr; The Word of Islam. Packet of primary historical source readings.

Grading:

To be provided by the instructor.

This course contains a Global Cultures flag.