Introduction to the Middle East: Religious, Cultural, Historical Foundations, 570-1453 HIS 306K, MES 301K, RS 314 Fall 2014

Dr. Denise A. Spellberg Office

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Teaching Assistant: Sharon Silzell Teaching Assistant: Safia Latif Office: Office: Hours: Hours: Email: Email: Course Description and Goals This course surveys the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the end of the fifteenth century. Students will be introduced to basic aspects of the political, social, and cultural dimensions of Islamic civilization from Spain to Iran in fulfillment of a Global Cultures Flag. The GC Flag is designed to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. In the midst of mapping this broad view, we will focus our attention on how specific historical figures and events contributed to definitions of Islamic identity, community, and authority. Central themes include the emergence of Sunni and Shi‘i identities, the relationship of Muslims and non-Muslims, and the unique material and intellectual contributions of Islamic civilization to world history and other societies. An overarching goal of this course is to focus attention on the history of the Middle East in this formative phase as a fascinating, complicated, and enriching study in its own right. In order to do this, students will be expected to master key terms and concepts of the period. The intent of all essay exams is to hone analytical skills and written expression. A central focus of this year’s class will be our analysis of the concept of the khalifa, or the caliph/caliphate. Throughout the semester, you will consider the institution and its history, via class readings and The Encylopaedia of Islam, an online source which will serve you well throughout the semester. If off campus, you will be asked for your UT log-in information: Utexas.edu > Libraries > Research Tools > Find Articles Using Data Bases > E > Encyclopaedia of Islam. Once at this site, type in khalifa in box on left, to the right in drop- down options, choose Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. The result will be a multi-part article of 19,092 words. You will be asked to read and cite sections of the article in response to 4 take-home questions, which will be due at the time of in-class exams and the final. Course Rules: In Class No computers or electronic devices (including tablets) may be used to take notes, record the class, or visit online sites. (Please inform the instructor immediately if issues of disability provide an exception, and see Services for Students with Disabilities Guidelines below). During class, no recording devices: Ipads, Iphones or cell phones may be used. You may not reproduce for publication class notes verbatim or in any other format. Out of Class: I am available during office hours and by appointment. The Teaching Assistants will also hold office hours. I will attempt to make this an informative and enjoyable class, but your participation is essential to complete your own intellectual development. I do

1 not require your attendance in class (freewill in adults is a beautiful thing), but unexcused absences will not result in the recapitulation of a lecture by the instructor or teaching assistants. Exam appearance is required.*Religious observances are always understood as excused absences and missed work will be acceptable to makeup within a reasonable period after the date of absence, but the instructor must be informed in advance, as per UT policy. *Services for Students with Disabilities 471-6259 http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/ should be contacted along with the instructor directly if special arrangements are necessary. If you become ill or stressed, consider 24/7 Nurse Advice: 512-475-6877; the Health Center https://portal.uhs.utexas.edu/login_directory.aspx, or counseling available 24 hours: 512- 471-2215. The UT Honor Code is enforced: http://registrar.utexas.edu/catalogs/gi09- 10/ch01/index.html *Class handouts and assignment sheets due to any absence will always be supplied; they will also be posted on the class Canvas site. *Attendance will be taken at all exams. There will be no make-up exams without prior consent of the instructor; late writing assignments due on exam day will receive penalties. (Only medical emergencies or true catastrophic events will warrant consideration on a case-by-case basis.) Emails simply alerting me to your absence without prior discussion or documentation are not acceptable. In order to succeed in this class, you will need to learn all the reading material assigned on the syllabus, delivered in lectures, and discussed in class. All exams are stipulated on the syllabus. Grades are on a plus/minus scale. Course Requirements: 4 exams @ 25% each = 100%. There is a final exam during Final Exam Period. Class Assignment Schedule: First Exam: Tuesday, 23rd September, plus “caliph” assignment, due at exam Second Exam: Thursday, 23 October, plus “caliph” assignment, due at exam Third Exam: Tuesday, 18 November, plus “caliph” assignment, due at exam Final Exam during Finals period, plus “caliph” assignment, due at exam

Required Books and Readings: 1. Amira K. Bennison, The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the Abbasid Empire 2. Jonathan A.C. Brown, Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction 3. Ira Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies (2002 edition only) 4. D. A. Spellberg, Politics, Gender, and the Islamic Past: The Legacy of ‘A’isha bint Abi Bakr 5. John Alden Williams, ed. and trans., The Word of Islam 6. Xerox packet of primary documents and articles Books available for purchase at the University Co-op, but cheaper online. Xerox course packet available for purchase at Speedway/Abel’s Copies, 715 West 23rd, ground floor of parking garage for University Towers (tel. 512-478-3334). Ask for Packet #2. Everything is on reserve at the Perry Castaneda Library Reserves.

Part One: Religion and Politics I. 28 August Course Objectives Readings: Lapidus, xviii-17.

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II. 2, 4 September The Pre-Islamic Middle East and the Advent of Islam Readings: Lapidus, 18-27. Williams, 1-35 (Qur’an).

III. 9, 11 September Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman Readings: Brown, all; Lapidus, 27-30; Spellberg, 1-99. Williams, 36-53 (Life of the Prophet). Course packet: A. Guillaume, Life of Muhammad, “Sending down of the Qur’an;” “Khadija Accepts Islam;” “Ali b. Abi Talib . . .;” “The Covenant between the Muslims and the Medinans and with the Jews.”

IV. 16, 18 September The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Succession and Conquest Readings: Lapidus, 31-47. Bennison, x-17; Spellberg, 101-195. Williams, 53- 65 (). Course packet: “ ‘A’isha bint Abi Bakr.” Caliph Assignment #1: Due in class on 23rd September, Part of First Exam

V. *23, [First Exam, 23rd September] 25 September The First Islamic Empire: The Umayyad Dynasty at Damascus Readings: Lapidus, 47-51; Bennison, 17-27. Course packet, in The Jews of Arab Lands, “The Pact of Umar;” “How the Jizya Is To Be Collected;” “Rebellion in North Africa (740-1).” Part Two: Social Change and the Rise of Islamic Culture

VI. No Class 30 September, Class Resumes October 2 Cosmopolitan Islam and Conversion: The Abbasid Empire at Baghdad Readings: Lapidus, 51-66; Bennison, 27-32. Williams, 66-108 (Shari‘a). Course packet: in The History of al-Tabari, “The Story of Adam.”

VII. 7, 9 October The Separation of Mosque and State Readings: Lapidus, 67-111; 133-149; Bennison, 32-36, 94-157. Course packet: In The Meadows of Gold, ”Fall of the ,” “Amin and Ma’mun as Children,” “The Succession,” “Zubaida’s Opinion,” “Rashid’s Pilgrimage” and “Amin’s Head.”

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VIII. 14, 16 Philosophy and Mysticism Readings: Lapidus, 156-193; Bennison, 158-214. Williams, 109-169 (Sufism, Theology). Course packet: “New Capital of Samarra.” Caliph Question #2: Due in Class at time of Second Exam, 23 October

IX. 21, **23 October [Second Exam, 23rd October] Abbasid Decline: Buyid Shi`i and Saljuk Sunni Dynasties at Baghdad Readings: Lapidus, 112-132; 149-155; Bennison 36-39, 43-47. Course packet: From The Book of Government by Nizam al-Mulk, “On the Subject of Those Who Wear the Veil.”

X. 28, 30 October Abbasid Fragmentation: Shi‘i Caliphs in North Africa and : The Fatimid Dynasty Readings: Lapidus, 94-98 (repeat); 283-287; Bennison 39-43. Caliph Question #3: Due in class at time of Third Exam, November 18

XI. 4, 6 November The Crusades and the Mongol Destruction of Baghdad: End of the Caliphate? Readings: Lapidus, 226-234; 287-290; Bennison 47-53; 54-93. Course packet: Course packet: From P. Hitti, trans., An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades, Usamah ibn Munqidh, “An Appreciation of the Frankish Character,” Sicily (973).” “The Coming of the Mongols,” “The Last Caliph of Baghdad,” “The Fall of Baghdad (1258),” “The Battle of `Ayn Jalut,” “Timur and His Historian;” “Capture of Aleppo by Timur.” Part Three: New Empires and Contacts with the West XII. 11 November [Guest lecture, Dr. A. Azfar Moin, Religious Studies] 13 November, Islamic Spain Readings: Lapidus, 299-336.

XIII. ***18 [Third Exam, 18 November], 20 November The Conversion of Iran to Shi‘ism under the Safavid Shahs Readings: Lapidus, 234-247. Williams, 170-end (Shi‘ism).

XIV. 25 November, [No class, Thursday, 27 November, Thanksgiving Holiday] The Sunni Ottoman Empire Readings: Lapidus, 197-225; 248-282; 294-298.

XV. 2, 4 December – Islam in Early American Thought Course packet: Kevin J. Hayes, “How Thomas Jefferson Read the Qur’an;” Sebastian Prange, “Thomas Jefferson’s Qur’an.” Caliph Question #4, due at Final Exam, during Finals Period

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