History 139 - Introduction to the Modern Middle East

This course offers an introduction to the history of the Middle East, North Africa, and neighboring regions from 1800 to the present. It aims to highlight the region’s inhabitants and their perspectives and experiences of the past two centuries. Beginning in the late 18th century Age of Revolutions, the region’s people faced many new global currents: the twinned developments of capitalism and colonialism; a turn toward more representative forms of government; new notions of political, religious, and ethnic belonging; and upheavals of class, gender and family relations. Throughout the course, we will analyze how historical actors understood and responded to these changes. What actions and claims were they making for justice, freedom, and/or a different world? Meets twice weekly.

Spring semester. Professor Ghazarian.

How to handle overenrollment: HIST majors, then to first-years, second-years, and so on.

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.