Religious Roots of the Middle East Conflict

I. General Introduction to the Course and the Region

A. The region and its Geopolitics

• Jan 15
• Assignment: Multiple Identities, Chapter 1

B.The region in Biblical Times

• Jan 17
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapters 1, 2

 

II. Background

A. The Religions

1. Rabbinic Judaism; the Early Church

• Jan 22-29
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapter 9; Multiple Identities, Chapters 2, 3

2. The Foundation and Institutionalization of Islam

• Jan 31 - Feb 7
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapters 3, 4, 8, 12

B. Encounters

1. The Crusades

• Feb 12-14
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapter 5, Multiple Identities, Chapter 8

2. Moghuls and S.E. Asia (India. Pakistan, Afghanistan)

• Feb 19-21
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapters 6, 10, 11

3. The Ottoman Turks (and the siege of Vienna)

• Feb 26-28
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapters 7, 14

4. 18/19th Century European Colonialism (Wahabis and Mahdis)

• Mar 5-7
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapters 15-17

 

B R E A K

III. The Conflict Takes Shape

A. World War I and its Aftermath

1. The Peace to End all Peace

• Mar 19-21
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapter 18; Multiple Identities, Chapter 4; Taliban, Chapters 7, 8

2. Zionism and the State of Israel

• Mar 26-28
• Assignment: Multiple Identities, Chapters 5, 6

B. The Emergence of Radical Islam

• Apr 2-4
• Assignment: Middle East, Chapter 19, Multiple Identities, Chapter 7; Taliban, Chapter 6

C. The Iranian Revolution and Terrorism

• Apr 9-11
• Assignment: Taliban, Chapters 1, 2, 3

IV. The Conflict Today

A. Israel and Arafat

• April 16-18
• Assignment: Taliban, Chapter 4, 5

B. The Wider Circle: Reading the Conflict Today

• April 23-25
• Assignment: Multiple Identities, Chapter 9; Taliban, Chapter 11

 

ASSIGNMENTS

For this course, you will be assigned a specific country for the more in-depth papers. The idea is for you to explore how the broader themes developed in the class actually apply to a particular country and its unique historical and social context. The countries are:

Egypt Iran Iraq Pakistan Saudi Arabia Syria Jordan Turkey

Papers will be due according to the following schedule: