HTY 446: History of Modern Middle East, 1800-Present
Instructor: Azif Nawaz
Time: TTh 9:30-10:45am
Location: S355
Course Number: 44951
Course Description: Western understanding of the countries and peoples of the Middle East tends to be crisis-driven, generated by the most recent dramatic or violent act in the region. But comprehending upheavals in Syria and Iraq, the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, revolutionary protests in various Arab states, and the West’s tense relationship with Iran requires a historical perspective. We cannot understand contemporary events without taking into account the intricacies of historical change and continuity. This course explores the economic, social, and political transformation of the Middle East from 1800 to the present. Among the topics of discussion are the Ottoman Empire, Western Imperialism, Arab Nationalism, Zionism, the Israeli-Arab/Palestinian conflict, oil development, Islamic fundamentalism, the so-called “clash of civilizations,” and the “Arab spring.”
Prerequisites: Three credits of History or permission.