History of the Middle East

Catalog description

If the Middle East has become synonymous with “conflict,” this course will reveal that the historical developments of the region, which were always accompanied by conflict, have done much to shape the world in which we live. The Middle East gave rise to the first civilizations in Sumer and Egypt; the mighty empires of Persia and Alexander the Great; and the monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. As a cultural crossroads and center of learning, the region facilitated the spread of knowledge throughout the medieval Old World, while inspiring would be conquerors like the Crusaders and Mongols. The rise of the Ottoman Empire led to an early modern era of stability in the region, until the Ottoman state fell into decline due to the pressures of Western imperialism and modernization. The “conflicts” of the past hundred years will also be explored in depth, including petro-politics, terrorism, Islamist movements, the struggle between Arabs and Israelis, and the repeated diplomatic and military involvement of the Americans in the region.