Islam and the West

Description

This course introduces students to the history of the ‘Near and Middle East’ through surveying its history of interactions with the region that has come to be known as ‘the West.’ It begins by problematizing approaches to the topic of ‘Islam and the West,’questioning, for example, whether the two are comparable. The course then proceeds to evaluate the validity of the implied dichotomy against an historical backdrop that includes both war and peace. Rather than categorizing contact between ‘Islam and the West’ into these categories, the course aims approach the history from the perspective of exchange. The temporal scope is from the emergence of Islam through the Mandate period.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
– Identify paradigmatic shifts that have shaped studies of ‘Islam and the West’;
– Demonstrate the ability to think critically about the complex history of exchange between the societies of the ‘Near and Middle East,’ and Europe and North America;
– Give examples of how the societies under study have shaped one another, and how their understandings and relationships with one another have evolved over time;
– Interpret the relevance of the topics and themes covered for current affairs.