HIST 7260 - Middle East History

3 cr.

This course surveys Middle East History from its beginnings to the present. The course explores religion, politics, social institutions and gender history of Muslim civilizations as its expansion and confrontation with other civilizations sharpened its own self-image. The methodology of this course is interdisciplinary, including archeology, comparative literature, cultural and social history, and religious studies. Particular attention will be paid to the countries of the Middle East as they developed after World War I and how the various coalitions of the Arab nations were formed in response to Western European interventions. Emphasis will be placed on international politics and the hidden agendas involving defense, oil, economics and security between Western Europe and the Middle East alliances.