History 107 - Modern Jews in the Middle East

(Offered as HIST 107 and ASLC 107) This course introduces students to the histories of Jews in the Middle East from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1950s, beginning with the Ottoman reforms of the 1850s and concluding with the mass migration of Middle Eastern Jews to Israel-Palestine. Spanning topics from Jewish newspapers in India to musicians in North Africa, it examines how Jewish communities responded to the religious, political, and cultural transformations associated with modernity. Drawing each week from works by intellectuals, journalists, poets, and revolutionaries, the course illuminates a globally interconnected community. Organized thematically, it investigates the roles of women, the press, and empire, moving beyond elite politics and state-centric narratives. By placing Jewish experiences in broader local and regional contexts, students will explore how these perspectives both enrich and complicate our understanding of the Middle East. The course culminates in an independent research paper tailored to student interests, suitable for all students regardless of major or prior coursework. Two meetings weekly.

Fall Semester. Professor Amir.

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Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Close analysis of historical evidence, which may include written documents, images, music, films, or statistics from the historical period under study. Exploration of scholarly, methodological, and theoretical debates about historical topics. Extensive reading, varying forms of written work, and intensive in-class discussions.