History of Islamic Civilization

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
	Fatma Sinem Eryilmaz Ünsal	Ciencias Sociales	ENG

Workload distribution

Students are expected to do the readings for all the sessions. The final paper should be sent to the professor by e-mail a week after the sixth session at the latest.

2nd session: students should hand in their paper topics, short presentations (max. five)
3rd session: short presentations (max. five)
4rth session: students should hand in their outlines, short presentations (max. five)
5th session: short presentations (max. five)
6th session: short quiz, short presentations (remaining)

Course Learning Objectives

* Problematizing the concept of civilization in general and Islamic(ate) Civilization in particular
* Learning the basic concepts of Islamic history and law
* Acquiring a basic knowledge on a selected group of artists, writers, thinkers, architects, and kings through short biographical presentations
* Questioning generally accepted or assumed notions on Islamic law, wine drinking, image making, Sunnism, and Shiism

CONTENT

1. Session 1: Introduction, the "Islamicate" World before Islam
2. Session 2: Islam(icate) Civilization: what does it mean?
3. Session 3: Islam in the time of Muhammad; the Caliphate
4. Session 4: Texts of authority, texts of history
5. Session 5: Islamic law and its practice
6. More on Sufism; tying up loose ends

1. Session 1: Introduction, the "Islamicate" World before Islam

2. Session 2: Islam(icate) Civilization: what does it mean?

3. Session 3: Islam in the time of Muhammad; the Caliphate

4. Session 4: Texts of authority, texts of history

5. Session 5: Islamic law and its practice

6. More on Sufism; tying up loose ends

Methodology

All sessions will include a lecture on the relevant topic. Student discussion will be encouraged at all times. The discussions will incorporate the assigned readings, the in-class presentations, and any relevant issue that anyone wants to bring up. Through the short presentations, important concepts like Sufism will be discussed and assumed notions on gender issues, drinking alcohol, making images, etc. will be problematized. Power point technology will be frequently used. Students will receive close guidance and help for their written assignments.

Description	%
Presentations (except for the first session)	15
Class participation	20

Assessment criteria

Final paper 40%
Participation 20%
Outline of paper 15%
Short Quiz (announced) 10%
5 minute presentation 15%

The final paper (10-12 pages) will be a concise treatment of a topic of the student's choice. A list of possible topics will be provided on the first day of class. After stating their choice of topic (the 2nd session), the students are expected to hand in a one page outline of their proposed paper (4rth session) stating the question(s) they intend to pose and the sources they want to use. This will be graded. Until the sixth session, the students are expected to meet with the professor to talk about how to work their outlines into the final paper. Clarity in presentation and an analytical approach will be important for the assessment of the paper.

The short quiz will be given in the sixth session. It will be on the definitions that will be distributed in a hand-out on the first day of class and on the short in-class presentations. It will be a straightforward exam to test the basic knowledge on essential concepts and figures.

The presentations (five minutes) will be done individually or in pairs. A list of a selected group of figures (writers, artists, philosphers, kings, etc.) to choose from will be provided on the first day of class. Each presentation should include a short biography and a concise discussion of the subject's contribution to (Islamicate) civilization.

Participation in class will be very important.

Bibliography

Marshall Hodgson, The Venture of Islam. University of Chicago P., 1974. (Especially vol. I, selected pages).

Shahab Ahmed, What is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic. Princeton U. Press, 2015. (Selected pages)

Samuel Huntington, The clash of civilizations?. Foreign Affairs; Summer 1993; 72, 3; ABI/INFORM Global
pg. 22-49.

Edward Said, "The Clash of Ignorance? http://www.thenation.com/article/clash-ignorance/

Type:	OP	Curs:	1	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	2 ECTS

History of Islamic Civilization (BBA00840)

General information

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Prerequisites

Previous Knowledge