THE MAKING OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD: THE MIDDLE EAST, 500-1500

INTLST 266

An interdisciplinary introduction to the diverse cultures, geography, history, modern states, politics, societies, and economies of the Middle East. A special emphasis placed on Islam as a religion and Muslim peoples.

HISTORY 139

Traces the formation of the states and societies that compose the contemporary Middle East. How have global phenomena, including two world wars, the Cold War, women's movements, and modern science, technology, and fossil fuels, affected the politics, culture, and daily lives of Middle Eastern people? What is Islamism, and how should we explain its influence? Why has the United States had such a troubled relationship with this part of the world? Balances a generally thematic approach with several weeks of country-specific studies, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Israel and the Palestinian territories.

ASIAN/RELIGST 444

The rise and development of mysticism in Islam; basic Sufi doctrines, values and practices; life and works of important speculative and popular Sufi saints; Sufi brotherhoods in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa.

ARTHIST 305

Surveys the architecture, landscape, book arts, and luxury objects produced in Islamic contexts from Spain to India from the 7th through the 21st centuries. Attention will be focused upon the relationships between Islamic visual idioms and localized religious, political, and socioeconomic circumstances. In particular, examine the vital roles played by theology, royal patronage, ceremonies, gift exchange, trade, and workshop practices in the formulation of visual traditions.

AFRICAN/ASIAN/RELIGST 370

The emergence and development of Islam; schism; theology; asceticism; speculative and popular mysticism; literatures in diverse Islamic languages. Not open to students with credit for LCA 370 prior to Fall 2019.