Spring 2007

PRS 384C • READING IRANIAN HISTORIANS

Course Description

This course has three main goals in order to prepare students for research in the field of Modern Iranian History. First, this course will provide students with a broad survey of Modern Iranian Historical scholarship, in the form of scholarly articles that were originally written by Iranian Historians. Some of these articles will be read in Persian (amounts will depend on language abilities of the students), while others will be read in translation. After reading and discussing these articles students will understand the dominant trends in historical scholarship and historiography in Modern Iran. Second, students will learn how to read, understand, and analyze primary historical documents in the Persian language, such as unpublished manuscripts, memoirs, treaties, religious treatises, government communiqués, chronicles, and a variety of archival materials. Third, as part of their research papers, students will learn to use primary documents (in Persian and in translation) within an in-depth historical study (written in English). The primary medium of discussion in this class will be English, although some Persian discussion can be incorporated in the class based on student interests and needs.

Grading Policy

Class participation 30% Short paper (due in week ten) 20% Research paper (due at end of semester) 50%

Texts

A course packet containing selected articles in Persian and English, and primary documents in Persian will be assigned.

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