History of the Middle East to 1405

Catalog description

Pre-req: Completion of the Core Curriculum Research & Professional Writing requirement. This class examines the most important factors that influenced the historical development of the Middle East between ancient times through the 14th century. Subjects include the historical and cultural foundations laid by the pre-Islamic empires and monotheistic faiths, the coming of Islam and the Islamic conquests, the heights of Islamic civilization, the Crusades and Mongol conquests, the voyages of the great world traveler Ibn Battuta, and daily life in the medieval Middle East. Although this is an upper division class, no previous background knowledge of Middle East History is necessary.