SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Class syllabus
Middle East: Islam to 1500
History 473
Dr. Mahdavi
Fall 2014
Student Learning Goals for Content and Skill Acquisition:
This course will deal with the history of Islamic civilization in the imperial ages. It gives a
general development of Islamic civilization from the advent of the Prophet Muhammad to the
political and economic advances of the Muslims during the period between 600-1500 C.E. The
Islamic empires once expanded form Western Arabia to the present map of the Middle East and
North Africa, as well as parts of Asia, of Tropical Africa and Southern and Eastern Europe, their
diverse population shared a common acceptance of the faith and the Islamic law.
Among the topics to be discussed, will be (1) the origins of the Islamic States; (2) the age of
military dictatorship; (3) the Turkish domination of politics; (4) the Mongol invasions of the 13th
century; (5) Military oligarchy in Egypt; and (6) Finally, a glance at the Islamic world of the 14th
century through the eyes of a traveler, Ibn Battuta.
Thus, the aim of this course is: 1) to help students to briefly explore the origin of Islam as a
religion and a civilization that historically produced universal empires embracing the whole of
the Muslim world from the seventh to fourteenth centuries. 2) To prepare students to understand
the socio-political and the economic changes that have occurred since 600s. 3) To help students
to strengthen their skills and habit of mind on:
a. The ability to understand how Islam has changed societies that it has brought under its
web.
b. The capacity to grasp the interrelationship of social, economic, intellectual, cultural,
and political factors that were created under Islamic civilization.
c. The ability to use the historical developments as a tool to interpret the economic and
political changes in the Islamic world from 7th to15th century.
d. The ability to make informed and accurate comparisons and contrasts between
different Muslim societies, such; the Arabs, Persians, Turks, Mongols, and etc.
e. The capability to organize thoughts and writing skills to produce analytical and
comprehensive research papers.
This course is also an Explorations course in the Humanities and Fine Arts. Completing this
course will help you to do the following in greater depth:
1) analyze written, visual, or performed texts in the humanities and fine arts with
sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical moments.
2) describe various aesthetic and other value systems and the ways they are
communicated across time and cultures.
3) identify issues in the humanities that have personal and global relevance.
4) demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask complex questions
drawing upon knowledge of the humanities.
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Class Format and participation: The class will consist of formal lectures, discussions, and
possibly panel sessions on topics in Islamic history. Since this course is designed to address the
major events and patterns during Islamic civilization, continuous attendance is essential. Hence,
if you miss more than three class meetings you will automatically lose 5% of the allocated 10%
on attendance and participation. Participation will be awarded to those students who
continuously participate throughout the semester, not once or twice!!!
Examinations: We will have a 15-20 minute quiz every Friday (with the exception of weeks 8,
12 and 14) beginning with week two. All these tests, eleven in all, will require writing a short
essay. Questions will invariably relate to the language of a chapter heading or subheading
included in the reading for that week and class lectures. This procedure will be explained further
in class. No make-ups of these weekly tests will be given for any reason. (Please do not ask!)
Rather in calculating final grades, a student’s one lowest quiz grades (including “zero” grades for
absence) will be dropped. We will also have a comprehensive Mid-term exam and a take-home
final exam dealing with very broad issues that the course has addressed.
Research Paper:
Each student will be required to write one research paper. The research paper must be 8-10
pages long and will cover topics that might deal with political, economic, educational, or social
issues of the Islamic world. After choosing your topic, write two paragraphs describing how you
will approach discussion of your topic and provide your sources as well.
The period of your paper should be from early 600s to 1500s CE.
The term paper topic proposals are due on Monday, October 27th.
Requirements for Research Paper:

Use at least five sources; they should be a combination of academic
journal articles and books, other than your textbook. In addition to five
proper sources, Internet sources may be used ONLY if the sites are edu or
org domain.

. The following sites have excellent academic journal articles that are
highly recommended. Scholarly Journal Archive (http://www.jstor.org),
http://www.questia.com/search, Journal of Islamic Studies
(http://jis.oxfordjournals.org/current.dtl)

Your paper should have an Introduction, Theme, and a Conclusion.

Your paper should contain a Chicago style bibliography of your sources (
see http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch10_s1-0001.html)

Use Chicago style footnotes or endnotes when quoting or citing data (see
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch10_s1-0001.html)
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
Do a spelling and grammar check on your final paper.

Turn your report in by the deadline if you do not wish to be penalized for
an overdue paper. ½ letter grade penalty will be applied for each past due
day.
The research paper will be due on Monday, December 1st.
WEIGHTING OF GRADES: The final grade will be based upon the following criteria:
Attendance and Participation
Weekly quizzes& discussions
Paper
Mid-Term Examination
Final Examination
10%
15% (10 recorded grades x 1.5% each)
20%
25%
30%
You will receive both a numerical score and a letter grade for each exam. Criteria for grading
would as follow:
93-100%
A
80-82%
B67-69%
D+
90 – 92%
A77-79%
C+
63-66%
D
87-89%
B+
73-76%
C
60-62%
D83-86%
B
70-72%
C0-59%
F
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class; it
is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as
soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot
provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter
from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Plagiarism:
Academic integrity is an important aspect of learning. Students must realize that cheating in
quizzes and exams are serious offenses and will result in possible failing grade for the course.
For university policies on cheating and plagiarism, see SDSU General Catalogue for more
information.
Classroom Etiquette:
Please turn off all cell phones, smart phones, Blackberries, iPods, iPhones, Blue Tooth headsets,
and/or any other form of electronic communication while in class. Calling, texting, or listening
to music in class will not be tolerated, nor will using your computer for any purpose other than
taking notes.
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Office:
Telephone:
Office Hours:
E-mail:
Arts and Letters: 559
619/594-8459
M; 1:00-3:00pm.
WF; 1:00-2:00pm. and by appointment
mahdavi@mail.sdsu.edu
REQUIRED READINGS:
Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to
the 11th century, Second edition
David Morgan, The Mongols, Second edition
Ross E. Dunn, The Adventures of Ibn Battuta, any edition
WEEK 1
August 25-29
Introduction
Geography; Semitic peoples, Arabs and Muslims in the world today
Semitic Peoples: Their origins and languages
WEEK 2
September 1
Holiday: Labor Day
September 3-5
Superpowers and Arabia during the 7th century (Kennedy, pp. 1-29)
The Byzantine and the Sasanian Empires
Arabia and the Tribal Tradition and Organization
Discussion and Quiz # 1
WEEK 3
September 8-12
Islam: the Message of Allah (Kennedy, pp. 29-48)
Prophet Muhammad in Mecca and the Quraysh.
Hijra and the conquest of Mecca
The Foundation of Islam: The Qur’an.
Discussion and Quiz # 2
WEEK 4
September 15-19
The Advent of the Islamic state (Kennedy, pp. 50-69)
Film: Hajj (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7q_LcqbvKI)
The Question of Succession
Conquest of Persia, Syria, Egypt and the Rise of the Garrison Cities.
Discussion and Quiz # 3
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WEEK 5
September 22-25
Turmoil and the dynastic era (Kennedy, pp. 69-81 and chapter 4)
First Civil War in Islam and Religio-Political Opposition Parties
The Collection of the Qur’an, Hadith and Development of Shari'a
The Umayyad dynasty and Arabization of the State
Discussion and Quiz # 4
WEEK 6
Sept.29-Oct.3
Expansion and development (Kennedy, reread chapter 4)
The Shi'ite Doctrine and Mukhtar's Movement
New Art and Architecture, Science, and Poetry of the Umayyads
Discussion and Quiz # 5
WEEK 7
October 6-10
The Abbasid empire: A new era (Kennedy, pp. 123-132)
The Abbasid-Hashimite Movement and Revolution
The Basis of Abbasid Power and its distinctive features.
The Beginning of Provincial Autonomy and Opposition Groups
Discussion and Quiz # 6
WEEK 8
October 13-15
The Intellectual Flowering of Islam (Kennedy, pp. 132-147)
The sciences, History, Geography, etc.
Film: "Islamic Sciences and Ideas"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDq3LJ8RKRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqj-om-_Acc
October 17
WEEK 9
October 20-24
Mid-Term Examination
Film: "Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain"
Decline of the Abbasid Empire (Kennedy, Chapters 6, 7, and 8)
Rival Caliphates; Abbasids and Fatimids
The Buyids of Persia
Discussion and Quiz # 7
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WEEK 10
Oct. 27-31
Term Paper topic due
Heirs and Innovators of the Islamic empire (Kennedy, chapter 12 and
pp. 343-345)
Egypt and the Fatimid empire
The Turkish Age; Saljuks in Persia, Iraq, Anatolia and Syria
The Arrival of the Crusades
Discussion and Quiz # 8
WEEK 11
November 3-7
The Mongols (Morgan, chapters 1 and 2)
The Study of Mongol History
Chingiz Khan and the Formation of His Empire
Film: "The Mongol Onslaught"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6305993626723891989#
Discussion and Quiz # 9
WEEK 12
November 10-14
WEEK 13
November 17-21
The hemispheric empire of the Mongols I. (Morgan, chapters 3 and 4)
Nature and the Institutions of the Mongol Empire
The hemispheric empire of the Mongols II. (Morgan, chapters 5 and 6)
Mongols in China, Russia and Persia
Pax-Mongolica
Discussion and Quiz # 10
WEEK 14
November 24-26
The Adventures of Ibn Battuta: A Muslim traveler of the 14th
century. (Dunn, introduction and chapters 1-4)
aIbn Battuta and Islamic Cosmopolitanism
November 28
No Class - Thanksgiving Recess
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WEEK 15
December 1
December 1-5
Term papers due
The Adventures of Ibn Battuta (Dunn, chapters 5-12)
Ibn Battuta and The Hemispheric Calamity of the Black Death
Discussion and Quiz # 11
WEEK 16
December 8
The Adventures of Ibn Battuta (Dunn, chapters 13-14)
Africa and Expansion of Islam
December 10
Conclusion and review
WEEK 17
Final Examination: Monday, December 15, 9:00 -10:00am. in my office (AL 559)
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