History 397LM - ST- History of Shi'i Islam

What do we know about Shi'i Islam? Who are the Shi'is and how are they different from other Islamic groups, and how did that come to be? What do we know about Shi'i societies in the past or present or about their beliefs and practices? Where are these societies located and how did they develop? From its inception to various steps of transformation and in its many manifestations in history and in the modern world, the many misrepresentations and misinformation have created a sense of mystery about this topic. This course does not aim at providing a final and definitive answer to the above questions or similar ones. Instead, we will together approach this topic methodically and critically and discuss various issues in light of the available information and in connection with the current discourse. This course offers a historical introduction to the development of Shi'i Islam, its doctrines and the societies that adhered to it, as well as how it developed through various periods.