Ancient Emirati Monasteries: Exploring Christian Heritage in a Muslim Nation

Catalog description

Nobody expected to discover a Christian monastery in a Muslim country thirty years ago. The archaeologists working on the site, located on the remote desert island of Sir Bani Yas in the western region of Abu Dhabi, assumed it was pre-Islamic. But, as work progressed, it became clear that the primary occupation lay between the seventh and mid-eighth centuries CE. Then in 2021 another monastery of the same date was found on Siniya Island in the lagoon of Umm al-Quwain. Why would Christian monasteries be established in the Arabian Peninsula during the first century of Islam, and what does this reveal about relationships between different cultures and religions in the region at that time? For some, this was a clear indication of the tolerant nature of Islam and was embraced as a model for modern societies. This course will explore the phenomenon of Gulf monasticism using the archaeology of Siniya Island as a case study. It will further examine our relationship with the past and its many and varied uses in the present, considering ultimately the place of the Christian monasteries in the national history of the UAE. This course will be offered in January-Term 2026. This course will take place off campus on Sir Bani Yas island in the UAE for the entirety of the J-Term, including the weekend days.