The Archaeology of Early University of Washington Course: NEAR E 314/ ARCHY 369A Instructor: Stephanie Selover Term: Spring 2018 Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1-3pm Room: Denny 259 Email: [email protected] Time: T/Th 3:30-5:20pm Office: Denny M220E

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the archaeology of Early Islam, from 632 to ~1000 CE. This course does not seek to be a history of Islam, nor to cover all the areas of early Islamic conquest. Instead, various centers of Early Islamic culture will be studied to better understand the cultural and social effects of the rise of Islam upon different regions. The course will study the rise (and, in some cases fall), of Islam in Arabia, Syria/Palestine , Egypt and Spain, as well as a brief look at Islam outside of these regions. Students will become acquainted with key archaeological sites, as well as the history of the field in these regions. We will study the architecture and material cultures affected by the rise of Islam. The place of archaeological understanding alongside historical investigation will be an important aspect of this course. Students should leave the class acquainted with the archaeological narrative accompanying the history of early Islamic civilization. Students are responsible for all readings, a one-minute essay for each class, an in- class map quiz during the second week, an in-class midterm exam and final exam, and an in-class presentation on an archaeological site of the student’s choice.

Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students are expected to have an understanding of: • The history of archaeology in the early Islamic world • Key archaeological sites in Arabia, Syria/Palestine, Iraq, Egypt and Spain as they relate to the rise of Islam • The architecture and material culture of the regions studied, and the differences between these regions • The modern problems and shortfalls of Islamic archaeology • How to read and understand archaeological publications

Course Format and Student Responsibilities: Class will meet twice a week. Each class is expected to be a discussion rather than a lecture by the instructor, so students are responsible for all readings before the start of class and are expected to actively contribute. At times, students will be split into groups to further discuss the themes of the class. Each group with will then present their collected ideas. We will also have individual or student presentations during class time. At some point during each class session, a short “one-minute” essay will be given on the topic of the day, based on the readings. Please come to class prepared.

1 Each student is responsible for all assigned readings before the start of class and must be prepared to discuss them. The discussion section of the course will utilize both a voluntary method of question and answers, as well as a Socratic one, where the instructor may choose who will answer the question. In the second week of the quarter on April 3, a short map and geography quiz will be given at the start of class. Understanding the geography of the areas studied is of great importance in order to follow the discussions in this course. In the 5th week of the quarter on April 26, a midterm exam will be given in class, covering material from the first half of the quarter. A final will be given during Finals Week, on Thursday, June 7. The final will cover all material from the course, with an emphasis on the material from the second half of the quarter. Students will be required to research an archaeological site, to be chosen by the student. Each class starting in week two, 1-2 student presentations will be given. A sign- up sheet will be passed around during the first week of class. Students will choose a site related to the topic of the chosen class. The site must date to the early Islamic time period. If help is needed finding information on a topic, please do contact the instructor. Students are encouraged to discuss the site with the instructor before the presentation date. Each student will give a ~10-minute presentation on the site, discussing the history of the archaeology the site, information on the architecture and material culture of the site, and an evaluation of the publication history of the site.

Prerequisites: This course is open to all students interested in archaeology, Islam or the Near East. No prior knowledge of these areas is necessary, and all readings will be in English.

Required Reading and Attendance: The readings from this course are taken from the course textbook, listed below, as well as from a variety of journals and book chapters. All readings except those from the required textbook will be made available in .pdf form on the class Canvas website. The course textbook is for sale at the campus bookstore. Readings from course textbook will not be found on the course Canvas website. Copies of the required textbook are also available at Odegaard Undergraduate Library on reserve. Readings are subject to change as determined by the instructor, with at least one week's notice. All assigned readings are to be completed by each student before the start of each class. Staying on top of the readings will maximize a student’s learning experience and prepare them for in-class discussions. It also allows students to ask relevant questions during class. The material covered in the readings will not repeat exactly the material covered in class, so both readings and good class attendance are a must for getting the most out of the course. Please arrive on time for class. It is rude and disrespectful to both your fellow students as well as the instructor to arrive after the start of class, interrupting lecture or discussion. Everyone here is an adult, so please be responsible for your own time management.

2 Course Textbooks: Required: • Milwright, M. (2010) An Introduction to Islamic Archaeology. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

Recommended Optional Texts: • Cresswell, K., Allan A.C., Allan J.W. (1989) A Short Account of Early Muslim Architecture. American University Press, Cairo • Insoll, T. (1998) The Archaeology of Islam. Blackwell, Oxford • Kennedy, H (2004) The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, Pearson Longman, New York • Nicolle, D. (2003) Historical Atlas of the Islamic World. Checkmark Books, New York • Wheatley, P. (2001) The Places Where Men Pray Together: Cities in Islamic Lands, Seventh through the Tenth Centuries. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

Grading Policy • Class Participation 10% • Map Quiz (April 3) 10% • One Minute Essays 15% • In-Class Archaeological Site Presentation 20% • Midterm (April 26) 20% • Final (June 7) 25%

Grade Scale: You can always track your grades throughout the quarter on the online grade book on Canvas. I encourage you to do so to gauge your progress in class. Please contact us as soon as possible if you suspect any errors.

Letter Number Percentage Letter Number Percentage Letter Number Percentage A+ 4.0 >95% B- 2.8 83% C- 1.6 71% A 3.9 94% B- 2.7 82% C- 1.5 70% A- 3.8 93% B- 2.6 81% D+ 1.4 69% A- 3.7 92% B- 2.5 80% D+ 1.3 68% A- 3.6 91% C+ 2.4 79% D+ 1.2 67% A- 3.5 90% C+ 2.3 78% D 1.1 66% B+ 3.4 89% C+ 2.2 77% D 1.0 65% B+ 3.3 88% C 2.1 76% D 0.9 64% B+ 3.2 87% C 2.0 75% D- 0.8 63% B 3.1 86% C 1.9 74% D- 0.7 60-62% B 3.0 85% C- 1.8 73% E 0.0 <62 % B 2.9 84% C- 1.7 72%

3 Technology in Class: The use of laptops in class is allowed for note taking and for referencing class readings. Surfing the web, checking emails, checking Facebook, online shopping, etc. is prohibited. Such activity is disruptive to the individual, the instructor, and to the remainder of the class. However, I would highly encourage students to take notes in class by hand, as numerous studies have shown handwritten notes to be far more useful for students than typed notes. If I do find a student using a laptop for any purpose other than note taking, the privilege of using the laptop in class will be revoked after one warning. Please turn off your cellphones before coming to class; the use of cellphones is prohibited for any reason.

Disability Resources for Students: If you need any type of accommodation, please contact the Office of Disability Resources for Students (http://www.washington.edu/students/drs). We are happy to work with Disability Resources to provide appropriate accommodation.

Make-Up Policies: Make-ups for the map quiz, presentations or final paper will not be permitted except in the case of documented emergencies or medical reasons. Please be on time to class, and if for any reason you must leave early, please leave quietly and do not disrupt the other students on your way out. No talking during class, except for class discussions. However, always feel free to ask the instructor a question at any point during class. I welcome an open classroom, and for the subject matter of this course, it is essential to have open communication.

Academic Honesty: Students are expected to treat their fellow classmates and instructors with honesty and respect throughout the course. All exam answers and posters must reflect original work. No form of cheating will be tolerated. The following link has information on academic honesty, plagiarism, and consequences: http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/help/academichonesty.php

Student are expected to adhere to the University of Washington Code of Student Conduct which can be found at the following link: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=478-120 The University of Washington is committed to fostering an environment where the free exchange of ideas is an integral part of the academic learning environment. Disruption of classroom discussions can prohibit other students from fully engaging and participating. Any student causing disruption may be asked to leave any class session, and, depending on the severity and frequency of that behavior, an incident report may be filled with Community Standards and Student Conduct. As a condition of enrollment, all students assume responsibility to observe standards of conduct that will contribute to the pursuit of academic goals and to the welfare of the academic community. For more detailed information on these standards, please visit: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=478-120.

4 Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction and Background

March 27: Introduction and Geography and Chronology of the Early Islam Required Readings: None Recommended Readings: • Kennedy, H (2004) The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, (Pearson Longman), Chapter 1 “The Matrix of the Muslim World: The Near East in the Early Seventh Century” pages 1-14 • Nicolle, D. (2003) Historical Atlas of the Islamic World, Chapter 1, “Arabia from Paganism to Islam” pages 8-35 • Potts, D.T. (1999) The Arabian Gulf in Antiquity, Vol. I (Oxford University Press), Chapter 1 “The Environmental Setting” pages 5-27

March 29: History of Islamic Archaeology Required Readings: • Milwright, Ch 1, “Introduction” pages 1-23 • Peterson, A. (2005) "What is 'Islamic' Archaeology." Antiquity 79, pages 100-106 Recommended Readings: • Johns, J. 2003 “Archaeology and the History of Early Islam: The First Seventy Years” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 46:4, pages 411- 436 • Vernoit, S. (1997) “The Rise of Islamic Archaeology” Muqarnas 14, pages 1-10 • Walmsley, A. (2007) Early Islamic Syria: An Archaeological Assessment, Chapter 1, “Defining Islamic Archaeology in Syria-Palestine,” pages 15-30

Week 2: Archaeology of Pre-Islamic and Early Islamic Arabia

April 3: The Peoples and Cultures of the Arab World Before Islam Map Quiz at the start of class Required Readings: • Milwright, Ch. 2 “Early Islam and Late Antiquity” pages 24-43 Recommended Readings: • Fisher, G. Arabs and Empire Before Islam (2015) Oxford University Press, Chapter 1 “Arabs and Empire Before the Sixth Century” • Kennet, D. (2005) “On the Eve of Islam: Archaeological Evidence from Eastern Arabia.” Antiquity 79, pages 107-120 • Northedge, A. (2006) “Desert Castles and pre-Islamic Arabia” in Orient- Archaeologie 24, pages 243-260

5 April 5: The Archaeology of The Prophet and the Rise of the Mosque (, ) Required Readings: • Milwright, Ch. 3 “New Directions in the early Islamic Period” pages 44-58 • Johns, J. (1999) “The ‘House of the Prophet’ and the Concept of the Mosque” In Bayt al-Maqdis: Jerusalem and Early Islam, J. Johns, ed., pages 59-112 Recommended Readings: • Insoll, T. (1998) The Archaeology of Islam, Chapter 2 “The Mosque” pages 26-58 • Kennedy, H (2004) The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, (Pearson Longman) Chapter 3 “Conquest and Division in the Time of the Rāshidūn Caliphs,” pages 50-81 • Walmsley, A. and K. Damgaard (2005) “The Umayyad Congregational Mosque of Jarash in Jordan and Its Relationship to Early Mosques” Antiquity 79: pages 362-378 • Wheatley, P. (2001) The Places Where Men Pray Together: Cities in Islamic Lands, Seventh through the Tenth Centuries. (University of Chicago Press) Chapter 1 “The Roots of Islamic Society” pages 3-32 • Whitcomb, D. (1996) “Urbanism in Arabia” Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 7, pages 38-51 • Whitcomb, D. (2007) “An Urban Structure for the Early Islamic City” in Cities in the Pre-Modern Islamic World: The Urban Impact of Religion, State and Society” A.K. Bennison and A.L. Gascoigne, eds., pages 15-26

Week 3: Material Culture of the Islamic World

April 10: The Domestic Sphere and Everyday Life Required Readings: • Insoll, T. (1998) The Archaeology of Islam, Chapter 3 “The Domestic Environment” pages 60-92 Recommended Readings: • Walmsley, A. (2007) Early Islamic Syria, Ch. 3 “Material Culture and Society” pages 48-70

April 12: The City and the Countryside in Islamic Archaeology Required Reading: • Milwright Ch. 5, “Towns, Cities and Palaces” pages 75-123 Recommended Readings • Milwright Ch. 4 “The Countryside” pages 59-74 • Wheatley, P. (2001) The Places Where Men Pray Together Chapter 2 “The Shaping of Urban Systems in the Islamic World” pages 33-58

6 Week 4: The First Century of Islam in Syria and Beyond

April 17: Crafts and Trade in the Early Islamic World Required Reading • Milwright Ch. 7, “Crafts and Industry” and Ch. 8 “Travel and Trade” pages 143- 173 Recommended Readings • Insoll, T. (1998) The Archaeology of Islam, Ch. 5 “Art, Trade and Ideas” pages 93-132 • Walmsley, A. (2007) Early Islamic Syria, Ch. 5 “Life” pages 113-136

April 19: Umayyad Syria: A New Urbanism and Syrian Castles Required Readings: • Genequand, D. (2005) “From ‘Desert Castle” to Medieval Town: Qasr al-Hayt al- Sharqi (Syria)” Antiquity 79, pages 350-361 Recommended Readings: • Finster, B. and J. Schmidt (2005) “The Origin of ‘Desert Castles’: Qasr Bani Muqatil, Ner , Iraq” Antiquity 79: pages 339-349 • Wheatley, P. (2001) The Places Where Men Pray Together Chapter 5 “The Urban System in Aqur” and Chapter 6 “The Urban System in al-Sham” pages 103-123 • Nicolle, D. (2003) Historical Atlas of the Islamic World, Chapter 3, “The Umayyad Century” pages 50-63 • Walmsley, A. (2007) Early Islamic Syria, Ch. 4 “Sites and Settlement Processes” pages 71-112 • Weber, S. (2014) Early Capitols of Islamic Culture: The Artistic Legacy of Umayyad Damascus and Abbasid Bagdad, Chapter 2 “Damascus and the Umayyad Empire” pages 24-43

Week 5: Archaeology in Palestine

April 24: The Problematic Archaeology of Palestine Required Readings: • Avani, G. (2011) “From Polis to Madina Revisited: Urban Change in Byzantine and early Islamic Palestine” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 21:3, pages 301- 329 Recommended Readings: • Grabar, O. (1996) The Shape of the Holy: Early Islamic Jerusalem, Ch.1, “The Formation of an Islamic City” pages 21-51 • Magness, J. (1991) “The Walls of Jerusalem in the Early Islamic Period” The Biblical Archaeologist 54:4, pages 208-217 • Schick, R. (1998) “Archaeological Sources for the History of Palestine: Palestine in the Early Islamic Period, Luxuriant Legacy” Near Eastern Archaeology 61:2, pages 74-108 April 26: In-Class Midterm

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Week 6:

May 1: The Rise of Islam in Iraq Required Reading: • Wheatley, P. (2001) The Places Where Men Pray Together Ch. 4 “The Urban System in al-Iraq” pages 87-102 Recommended Reading • Morony, G. (1982) “Continuity and Change in the Administrative Geography of Late Sasanian and Early Islamic al-‘Iraq” Iran 20, pages 1-49

May 3: Iraqi Urbanism and : The Jewel of Archaeology Required Readings: • Northedge, A. (2005) “Remarks on Samarra and the Archaeology of Large Cities” Antiquity 79: pages 119-129 Recommended Readings: • Northedge, A (1990) “The Racecourse at Samarra” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 53:1, pages 31-56 • Robinson, C.F. (2001) A Medieval Islamic City Reconsidered: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Samarra

Week 7:

May 8: Archaeology of Islamic Egypt Required Readings: • Kawatoko, M. (2005) “Multi-disciplinary Approaches to the Islamic Period in Egypt and the Red Sea Coast” Antiquity 79: pages 844-857 Recommended Readings: • Kennedy, Chapter 12 “Early Islamic Egypt and the Fatamid Empire” pages 307- 341 • Scanlon, G. (19994) “Al-Fustat: The Riddle of the Earliest Settlement” In The Byzantine and Early Islamic Near East vol. II. Land Use and Settlement Patterns, pages 171-180 • Whitcomb, D. (1994) "The Misr of Ayla: Settlement at al-‘Aqaba in the Early Islamic Period." In The Byzantine and Early Islamic Near East vol. II. Land Use and Settlement Patterns, pages 155-170

May 10: Archaeology of Islamic Egypt: Fustat and Cairo Required Readings: • Kubiak, W. (1987) Al-Fustat, pp. 58-75

Recommended Readings: • Scanlon, G.T. (1968) “Fustat and the Islamic Art of Egypt” Archaeology 21, pages 188-195

8 • Scanlon, G.T. (1974) “The Pits of Fustat: Problems of Chronology” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 60, pages 60-78 • Williams, C. (1985) “Islamic Cairo: Endangered Legacy” Middle East Journal 39:3, pages 231-246

Week 8:

May 15: The Conquest of Spain: Islam in a European Land Required Readings: • Boone, J.L. (2009) Lost Civilization: The Contested Islamic Past in Spain and Portugal, Chapter 3, “The Formation of al-Angalus” pages 63-94 Recommended Readings: • Boone, J.L. and Benco, N.L. (1999) “Islamic Settlement in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula” Annual Review of Anthropology 28, pages 51-71 • Boone, J.L., J. Emlen Myers, C.L. Redman (1990) “Archaeological and Historical Approaches to Complex Societies: The Islamic States of Medieval Morocco” American Anthropologist 92: 3, pages 630-646 • Constable, O.R. (2010) “Perceptions of the Umayyads in Christian Spanish Chronicles” in Umayyad Legacies: Medieval Memories from Syria to Spain, A. Borrut and P.M. Cobb, eds., pages 105-131

May 17: The Decline of Islam in Europe: Re-conquest? Required Readings: • Guichard, P., Jermyn, T., Smith G. (2006) From the Arab Conquest to the Reconquest: The Splendour and Fragility of al-Andalus, Chapter 3.3 “The Muslims of Al-Andalus and the Great Reconquest of the Thirteenth Century” and Chapter 3.4 “The End of a World” pages 217-252 Recommended Readings: • Gomez, M.L. (1994) “Islamic Civilisation in al-Andalus: A Final Assessment” The Legacy of Muslim Spain, S.K. Jayyusi, ed., pages 1059-1062

Week 9: Case Studies in Islamic Spain and Beyond

May 22: Using the Data: An In-Class Debate on the Site of Alcaria Longa Required Reading: • Boone, J.L. (1994) Rural Settlement and Islamization: The Evidence from Alcaria Longa. Arqueologia en el entorno del bajo Guadiana: Actas del Encuentro Internacional de Arqueologia del Suroeste, pages 527-544

May 24: Islamic Archaeology in the Maghreb Required Readings: • Curta, F. (2011) “The Centrality of the Periphery: The Archaeology of al- Andalus” Early Medieval Europe 19(4), pages 377-384

9 • De Meulemeester, J. (2005) “Islamic Archaeology in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco” Antiquity 79: pages 837-843 Recommended Readings: • Bloom, J. (1988) “The Revival of Early Islamic Architecture by the Umayyads of Spain,” In The Medieval Mediterranean: Cross- Cultural Contacts, ed. M. J. Chiat and K. L. Reyerson, pages 35-41 • Wheatley, P. (2001) The Places Where Men Pray Together: Cities in Islamic Lands, Seventh through the Tenth Centuries. (University of Chicago Press) Chapter 16 “The Urban System in al-Mahhrib” pages 201-224 • Boone, J.L. (2009) Lost Civilization: The Contested Islamic Past in Spain and Portugal, Chapter 5, “Islamization” pages 128-153

Week 10: Conclusions

May 29: Beyond the Middle East: Required Readings: • Wood, M. (2008) “Archaeology and Islam in Indonesia” Studia Islamika 15:2, pages 181-199 May 31: Islamic Archaeology and the Modern World Required Readings: • Insoll, T. (1998) The Archaeology of Islam, Chapter 8, “An Archaeology of Islam?” pages 227-232 • Walmsley, A. (2007) Early Islamic Syria: An Archaeological Assessment, Chapter 6 “Prospects: Ongoing Debates in Islamic Archaeology” pages 137-148

Class Final: Thursday, June 7 4:20-6:20pm, DEN 259

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