HIS 231 -- History of Islamic Civilizations Since 1500
Time: MWF
Spring 2005 3
credit hours
Instructor: Scott S. Reese Office: BIO 208
Tel.: 523-9049
Office Hours: MW
Email: scott.reese@nau.edu
Course url: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~ssr7/HIS231S05.htm
Instructor’s url: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~ssr7/
Course Description
and Class Format:
Violent revolution, “fundamentalism”, suicide bombers, and women in veils are all popular Western stereotypes of the modern Muslim world. But are they truly representative? How do they fit into the history of contemporary Muslim society? This is not a course dedicated solely to the Modern Middle East. Instead we will be looking at the length and breadth of the Muslim world during the age of growing Western dominance. In particular, we will focus on the role of social, cultural and intellectual institutions in the development of contemporary Muslim society. In addition, we will explore issues such as gender, class, race and inter-religious relations as a way to better understand the Islamic past and present.
The first ten weeks of the class will be devoted to a
chronological examination of the most important events and movements in the
Islamic world since 1500. The last five weeks of the course, however, will be
dedicated to extensive reading and discussion of particular topics of current
importance including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; Muslim revivalism and
so-called “fundamentalism”; Iraqi-U.S. relations; the supposed conflict between
“Islam” and the “West” and; the growth of the Islamic faith in
Class will be run as a combination of lecture and weekly discussions based on the assigned readings and student generated questions. Meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays will generally be given over to formal lectures. Fridays, will usually be reserved for discussion of the material covered over the course of the week. As a rule you should come to class at the beginning of the week having read the chapters assigned in the general survey text (Lapidus) and have the supplementary readings (e.g. books and various electronic reserve readings) completed by the time of class discussion on Friday. It is essential that everyone come to class having read the material and prepared for discussion.
Required Texts:
Lapidus, Ira A History of Islamic Societies Cambridge University Press 2nd edition, 2002. This is the general survey text for the course that will give us the “nuts and bolts” of Islamic history.
Esposito, John L. The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality? Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 1999. A comprehensive (if Arab-centric) overview of Muslim reform movements in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Rogan, Eugene and Avi Shlaim eds.
The War for
The above books are Required Readings for all students in the course and are available at the NAU Bookstore. Other weekly readings are listed within the body of the syllabus. These include both primary documents in translation and secondary readings intended to add depth and texture to our understanding of the Islamic past. As such, they will form an integral part of class discussions and students will be expected to arrive for class meetings having read and digested the material and be ready for discussion. Most of these readings can be found through Cline Library electronic reserve which can be accessed via the following link: http://www.nau.edu/library/courses/spring05/his231-reese/ Other readings may be found linked to the course’s on-line syllabus.
Current
Works on
Hans Blix, Disarming Iraq, Pantheon; 1st edition (
ISBN: 0375423028
Tariq Ali, Bush in
ISBN: 1844675122
Salam Pax,
Salam Pax:
The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi
Grove Press; 1 Amer ed
edition (October, 2003)
ISBN: 0802140440
Dilip Hiro,
Secrets and Lies: Operation "Iraqi Freedom" and After: A Prelude
to the Fall of
Nation Books (
ISBN: 1560255560
HarperCollins (
ISBN: 0060195916
Course
Objectives:
In addition to increasing your knowledge of
our past, this course will also give you the opportunity to develop and utilize
various skills -- especially regarding analytical thought and writing-- which
will be valuable throughout your university career and beyond.
As a Liberal Studies course this class will follow certain themes and is intended to help you develop particular intellectual skills in addition to studying the history of the ancient and medieval worlds. The Thematic Focus of the course is Understanding and Valuing the Diversity of Human Experience, which falls under the Cultural Understanding Distribution Block. There are a variety of Essential Skills you are expected to develop during the course of the semester including: Critical thinking, Critical Reading and Effective Writing.
In particular by the end of this course you should
gain:
·
An acquaintance with
methods of historical inquiry and terminology.
·
A basic chronology of
Islamic history since 1500.
·
Practice in critical
thinking and writing skills through historical interpretation.
·
An understanding of the
diversity and importance of the Islamic faith and Muslim societies in the
development of human history as a whole.
Assessment of Outcomes and
Course Requirements: A
Variety of tools will be used to help you achieve the objectives of the course:
1) Two (2) 50 minute exams
The
objective of the course exams is to test your knowledge of the historical
material (e.g. basic chronology, events, persons and trends etc.) Each exam will consist of short response and
essay questions based on readings and class notes. Essays must demonstrate
a grasp of the historical material and be expressed in your own words.
Exams, if missed, may be made-up only for documented medical or grave personal
reasons. NO DOCUMENTATION=NO MAKE-UP!!
2) Two Critical Reviews (1200-1500 words)
While exams
are designed to test your knowledge of the “nuts and bolts” of the course, the
writing assignments are intended to help you hone your ability to analyze scholarly
arguments (i.e. sharpen your critical reading and thinking skills) and help you
develop more effective writing. During the last five weeks of the course students
will be required to write critical reviews of 2 of the supplementary texts
(Esposito, Rogan/Shlaim, one of the texts on
Late papers will lose one full letter grade per day late, NO EXCEPTIONS (this will include weekends when applicable). Make and retain a copy of your essay before handing it in-- the instructor is not responsible for “lost” papers. (Also, back-up all computer work on at least 2 separate disks).
3) Take Home Final
Exam
All students will be required to complete the final exam that will be in a take-home format. The questions on the final will differ from the 50 minute exams in that they will require you to synthesize data from both lectures and readings from through out the term in order to demonstrate your understanding of the Islamic past. As a result, the objective of the final is not only to test your mastery of the chronology of Islamic history but also a final assessment of the development of your critical thinking abilities. Outside research will, of course, not be necessary.
Final Exam Due Date—
4) Participation/Attendance and Weekly Summaries
Class attendance is not a graded portion of the course. However, as a discussion oriented course participation is graded. You are required to show up to each class period having read the material and ready to engage it in a meaningful manner.
In order to help insure that you complete the readings but also to assist you in approaching them critically, each student will be required to bring a five (5) point summary of the main arguments of that week’s readings to class every Friday. Each point need be no more than 1-2 sentences but needs to illustrate what you think are the principle foci of the readings. The objective of these exercises is to assist you in developing your critical thinking skills as well as your ability to communicate them orally within class.
These will be turned in to the instructor at the end of class. Failure to do so will result in the deduction of ˝ point from your participation grade for each summary not turned in (e.g. if you miss one week your potential participation grade will drop from 10 to 9.5 automatically.) Keep in mind, however, this is not the only determinant of your participation grade. Summaries will only be accepted by the instructor at the time of the class meeting (i.e. you may not turn them in your before or after class.) A separate sheet detailing what you need to look for in different readings will be forthcoming.
Finally, it should be noted that missing more than 3 class periods will have a serious impact on your participation grade.
If you must miss class for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to obtain that day’s notes and any other pertinent information from one of your classmates. If circumstances dictate (e.g. family or medical emergency) that you must miss more than 3 classes, it is also your responsibility to discuss this situation with the instructor.
Extensions, incompletes and make-up exams will be granted only in accordance with University policy.
Course Evaluation:
Your course grades will be based on the following distribution:
50 Minute Exams – 15% ea.
Analytical Essays – 20% ea.
Final Exam – 20%
Participation/
Weekly Summaries -- 10%
A standard grading scale will be in use
90%+= A; 80-89% =B; 70-79%=C; 60-69%=D; below 60%=F
Note 1: Extensions, incompletes and make-up exams will be granted only in accordance with University policy.
Notes 2: As in any course plagiarism is completely unacceptable. Any form of academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade for the course.
Weekly Schedule of
Topics (bear in mind this is a guide.
Part I New Empires and an Emergent
Wk 1 Jan 17-21 The Islamic World to 1500 (Mon. Jan 17th MLK Day, No Class)
Suggested: Lapidus, Parts I and II to be paged through at your leisure. This is especially recommended for those who have not taken HIS 230 or its equivalent.
Wk 2 Jan 24-28 The New Empires I: The Ottomans
Lapidus, Intro to Part II and ch. 14
Heywood, “
Primary Documents:
Dinner With the Sultana http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1718montague-sultana.html Link attached to on-line syllabus
Smallpox prevention http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/montagu-smallpox.html Link attached to on-line syllabus
Wk 3 Jan 31-Feb. 4 The New Empires II: The Mughals
Lapidu,s chs. 17 and 18
Primary Documents:
Sidi al-Reis, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/16CSidi1.html Link attached to on-line syllabus
Andrea and Overfield, Andrea and Overfield, The Human Record, Sources of Global History v. II Since 1500 (on electronic reserve)
“Jahangir, Memoirs” pp. 99-103
“Abu’l Fazl, Akbarnama” pp.107-110
Wk 4 Feb 7-11 The New Empires III: The Safavids
Lapidus, ch. 13
Primary Documents:
Andrea and Overfield, Andrea and Overfield, The Human Record, Sources of Global History v. II Since 1500 (on electronic reserve)
“A Carmelite Friar’s view of Shah Abbas I” pp.94-98
“Letter to Shah Ismail
of
Wk 5 Feb 14-18 On the Defensive: Islam and European Expansion
McNeil, “The Age of Gunpowder Empires, 1450-1800” pp.
103-139 in Adas, Islamic and European Expansion:
The Forgingof a Global Order on
electronic reserve
1st Hour Exam
Part II
1800-1900: A Century of Reform and Renewal
Wk 6 Feb 21-25 Uthman Dan Fodio and the Jihads of
Lapidus, ch. 20
Primary Documents:
The Sokoto Caliphate, in
Sources of the African Past pp. 124-160 on electronic reserve.
One Woman’s Jihad, pp. 1-45, 76-91 on electronic reserve.
Wk 7 Feb 28-Mar 4 Mehmet Ali and
the “New”
The Tanzimat and Ottoman attempts at Reform
Lapidus, Intro to Part III and chs. 22, 23, 24
Wk 8 Mar 7-11 Islam and colonial rule I:
Lapidus, ch. 24
Primary Documents:
Cromer on
Wk 9 Mar 14-18 Islam and colonial rule II:
Lapidus, ch. 27
2nd Hour Exam
March 21-24 Spring Break!!!!!!
Part III Constructing the Islamic Self in the Modern
World
Wk 10 Mar 28-Apr 1 Reform and the construction of modern Islamic society
Esposito, The Islamic
Threat
Suggested: Lapidus, ch. 29
Wk 11 Apr 4-8 Zionism, Colonialism and the Question
of
Rogan and Shlaim, The War for
Kanafani, “The Land of Sad Oranges” on electronic reserve
Suggested: Lapidus, ch. 25
Wk 12 Apr 11-15 The clash of Civilizations??
Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations,” in Foreign Affairs, 1993 v. 72 #3 pp. 22-49 (on e-reserve)
Trumpbour, The Clash of Civilizations: Samuel P. Huntington, Bernard Lewis, and the Remaking of the Post-Cold War World Order,” in The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy, Emran Qureishi and Michael Sells, editors pp. 88-130 (on e-reserve)
Video: “Orientalism”
Wk 13 Apr 18-22 Mess O’potamia
(© The Daily Show with John Stewart)--- The
Video: The Control Room
Wk 14 Apr 25-29 Neo-Colonial Adventures – Islam, the
Cold War and the Creation of the Taliban in
Maley, Fundamentalism Reborn?
Afghanistan and the Taliban pp.v-x,
1-132 on electronic reserve
Wk 15 May 2-6 Faith of Our Brothers: Islam in
Lapidus ch. 32, conclusion
Gardell, “The Sun of Islam Will
Rise in the West: Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam in the Latter
Days” in Haddad and Smith Muslim Communities in North America pp. 15-50 on
electronic reserve