In many textbooks, the history of the Middle East is the mirror opposite of European history. We are told that the Middle East was a rich and cosmopolitan region of the world in the Middle Ages, but that its failure to properly modernize led first to weakness and colonization and more recently to extremism and violence. While Europe soared ahead in the years between 1400 and 1800, the Middle East appeared to languish.

Not available at this time.

By the end of the semester students will have reached beginning proficiency in Persian, which means they will be able to recognize and read the Persian alphabet; initiate and maintain predictable face-to-face rudimentary conversations and satisfy limited social demand; create sentences related to some survival needs, personal history, daily life, etc.; read simple material such as announcements of public events, simple prose containing biographical information or narration of events, and straightforward newspaper headlines; understand short conversations about all survival needs and limited so

In this course, students will be introduced to Persian language in greater detail. They will use the Persian language alphabet that they learned in Persian Elementary I course (or somewhere else) to read and write words and sentences. Students will also be able to identify parts of speech, use various verb tenses, and display knowledge of correct sentence structures. In these lessons all four language skills are taken into consideration, so students will also practice listening and speaking.

This class investigates what it meant to live an Islamic life in the pre-industrial Middle East, 600-1800 CE. The course investigates whether categorizing Islam as a religion, a civilization, culture, or a discourse is adequate for understanding its lived complexities. (Gen. Ed. HS, DG)

Individualized study. Research under direction of a faculty member.

Individualized study. Research under direction of a faculty member.

Individualized study. Research under direction of a faculty member.

Individualized study. Research under direction of a faculty member.