History of the Modern Middle East and North Africa

Catalog description

This course examines the history of the region commonly referred to as the “Middle East” beginning in the late eighteenth century with an era of reforms under the Ottoman Empire. We will trace developments in the Arab Middle East (the current states of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and the states of the Arabian Peninsula) as well as Turkey, Iran, and Palestine/Israel. These developments include the modern transformations and ultimate demise of the last Islamic Empires, European colonialism, the formation of nation-states and authoritarian regimes, the discovery of oil, social movements and competing identities, the rise of political Islam, and growing US involvement in the region. No previous knowledge of Middle Eastern history or politics is expected or required.