Topic: Islamic Social and Cultural History to 1850

Catalog description

This course will examine the socio-cultural trends and economic currents that have shaped Middle Eastern history since the advent of Islam. We will discuss issues such as the context in which the prophet Muhammad arose, tolerance in early Islam, the golden age of science, art and scholarship, economic and commercial success until 1500, the causes of the decline of society since the sixteenth century, and the significance of the Islamic system to the common people, merchants, religious circles, scholars, literary and scientific groups. Islam in North and East Africa and South and Southeast will be discussed.