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History 131-010
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For printable syllabus in Word Format.
This course will consider the political, social, economic, and cultural history of the Middle East from the rise of the Safavid state in Iran and the Ottoman Empire in West Asia and North Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries until the present. Special attention will be paid to the political and economic effects of the Western intrusion in the region beginning with a commercial presence in the 17th century and culminating in the age of colonialism and imperialism in the 19th. In addition, we will explore how the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I led to the formation of national states from societies that traditionally were based on kinship and personal loyalty. We will next examine and compare the political, ideological and socioeconomic trajectories of a number of these states, most notably Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, through the twentieth century. The final three weeks will be devoted to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, its origins and its consequences, and to the role of women in modern Islamic societies. Lectures, discussion, reading of historical material, and use of documentary. Midterm, final and 12-page paper.
Malise Ruthven, A Very short Introduction to Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
William L. Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East. Boulder, CO: Westview, 3nd edn., 2004.
Fouad Ajami, The Dream Palace of the Arabs. New York: Random House, 1998.
Reader with articles, on electronic reserve.
Course Requirements:
1) Papers for Discussion: Each student will write two essays over the course of the semester analyzing the assigned readings for a given week. These papers are intended as interpretive “think pieces,” and should be 4-5 pages long. The first one will be assigned on March 8; the second on March 15. These will fulfill the “midterm” requirement.
2) Final Examination: There will be a two-hour in-class final exam as scheduled for this course. The final will cover the material presented during the entire semester, though the emphasis will be on the twentieth century.
3) Research paper: A 12 page term paper, based on a historical topic of your own choice but relevant to the period after 1500, approved by Prof. Rudi Matthee, is due on or before May 8. You should have a one-page outline of the proposed topic ready by April 19 to present for approval.
4) Class participation: Students are urged to attend all class meetings, are expected to have completed the assigned readings before class, and must be prepared to contribute to discussions of the assigned readings and the material presented in class.
All work must be done on time; no incompletes are given except in cases of major disaster.
Grades in the course will be based on the following:
1. Midterm examination (20%)
2. Final examination (30%)
3. Term paper (40%)
4. Class attendance (10%)
and participation
Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work as your own. It is a form of dishonesty--a form of cheating, in fact—and as such one of the new deadly sins (the old ones have either been forgotten or are so flagrantly violated that no one seems to care anymore) and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Plagiarism is not limited to using someone else’s exact words; using someone else’s ideas without attribution is also a form of plagiarism. The good news is that plagiarism is easily avoided by clearly citing your sources. If you do, you can safely avoid even the hint of improper usage of someone else’s work.
Research Tools:
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World. 4 vols. 1995.
The Encyclopedia of Islam, 1960-2004.
The Encyclopaedia Iranica (up to the letter I)
Week One and Two (Feb. 6-15):
Lecture Topic: Introduction: Geography, Rise and Expansion of Islam
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 1-19.
Ruthven, A Very Short Introduction to Islam
Week Three (Feb. 20-22):
Lecture Topic: Development of Islamic Civilization; Society, Politics and Economy of the Ottoman and Safavid States
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 20-58.
Peirce, “Beyond Harem Walls” (reserve).
Braude, “Foundation Myths of the Millet System” (reserve)
Week Four (Feb. 27-March 1):
Lecture Topic: The Intrusion of the West; Reform in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt, 1789-1882.
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 59-101.
Karpat, “The Ottoman Ethnic and Confessional Legacy” (reserve).
Robinson, “Technology and Religious Change” (reserve).
Hourani, “Western Attitudes towards Islam,” (reserve).
Collins, “Fighting the Afghans in the Nineteenth Century” (reserve).
Week Five (March 6-8):
Lecture Topic: Young Turks, Arab Nationalists and Iranian Constitutionalists.
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 102-145.
Lewis, “Country and Freedom” (reserve).
Lambton, “Persian Constitutional Revolution” (reserve).
Week Six (March 13-15):
Lecture Topic: The Aftermath of World War One: The End of the Ottoman Order.
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 146-167.
Gerber, “Social Origins of the Modern Middle East” (reserve).
Week Seven (March 20-22):
Lecture Topic: Authoritarian Reform in Turkey and Iran; The Arab Struggle for Independence: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan.
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 168-211.
Week Eight (April 3-5):
Lecture Topic: The Arab Struggle for Independence: Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia; The Palestine Mandate and the Birth of the State of Israel
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 212-264.
Kedourie, “The Kingdom of Iraq: A Retrospective.”
Week Nine (April 10-12)
Lecture Topic: Palestine, 1900-1948
Documentary: “Palestine; Story of a Land,” Pt. 1.
Week Ten (April 17-19):
Lecture Topic: Democracy and Authoritarianism: Turkey and Iran; The
Radicalization of Arab Politics: Arab Nationalism in the 1950s and 1960s
Documentary: “Nasser: People’s Pharao.”
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 265-335.
Ajami, Dream Palace, 1st half.
Week Eleven (April 24-26):
Lecture topic: Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs, 1948-82.
Documentary: “Palestine: Story of a Land,” Pt. 2.
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 336-409.
Ajami, Dream Palace, 2nd half.
Week Twelve (May 1-3):
Lecture Topic: The Iranian Revolution and the Resurgence of Islam
Documentary: “The Shah”
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East: pp. 410-435.
Lewis, “The Revolt of Islam” (reserve).
Week Thirteen (May 8-10):
Lecture Topic: A Time of Disorder, Stagnation, and Frustration: 1987-2007
Documentary: “The Kingdom in Conflict.”
Reading: Cleveland, Modern Middle East, pp. 436-525.
Hoffmann, “Why They Don’t Like Us” (reserve).
Rubin, “What’s Wrong: The Arab Liberal Critique of Arab Society” (web)
Simpson, “Saddam: A Dictator of Mass Destruction.” (reserve)
Fuller, “The Hizbullah-Iran Connection.”
Week Thirteen (May 15-17):
Lecture Topic: Selected Topics: Women, Challenges of the Future
Documentary: “Iran: Veiled Appearances.”
Reading:
Sciolino, “The Chanel under the Chador” (reserve).