RELI 277A - History of the Middle East: 600-1453

In this course, students take a humanistic disciplinary perspective to explore the cultural products of the pre-modern Middle East and answer questions about its historical development. Using primary sources in translation and secondary scholarship, students will explore the context of the rise of Islam; the process of conversion and expansion across the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia; the crystallization of Shi'ism and changing notions of religious authority; and the impact of Turkish migrations and Mongol conquests. They will become familiar with major genres of pre-modern Middle Eastern literary, religious, and scientific writings, and use techniques of close reading to answer questions about those texts' ideological positions and contexts.

Units
3
Also Offered As
HIST 277A, MENA 277A, HIST 277A, MENA 277A, HIST 277A, MENA 277A, HIST 277A, MENA 277A
Grade Basis
Regular Grades
Course Attributes
General Ed (Begins 2022)
General Ed-Tiers (Before 2022)
General Education
General Education Attributes