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HIST 331 EARLY ISLAMIC HISTORY
Full Course Title:
Early Islamic History
Rana islamska historija
Course Code:
Course Level/BiH cycle:
HIST331
I cycle; 3st year
ECTS credit value:
6
Student work-load:
(Table with hours for: Lectures; Exercise; Other; Individual learning)
For the whole semester:
Length:
Faculty/School/Department:
Lectures
Tutorial /
Practical training
Project
Internship
Individual
learning
TOTAL
45
15
15
10
65
150
Spring 2014
FASS;
Social and Political Sciences
Course leader:
Assist. Prof. Dr. Muhidin Mulalic
Contact details:
Office:
F2.20
e-mail:
mmulalic@ius.edu.ba
Office hours:
Tue 9:00-12:00 AM
Phone:
033 957 310
Thu 9:00-12:00 AM
and by appt.
Site:
Lectures: IUS main campus building – F2.14
Tutorial: F2.14
Host Study Program:
Social and Political Sciences
Course status:
Program elective course;
Pre-requisites:
None
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Access restrictions:
I cycle students only
Assessment:
Attendance, homework, quizzes, assignments, project, exams.
Date validated:
September 15, 2014
Course aims:
Learning outcomes:
Indicative syllabus content:
Learning delivery:
Assessment Rationale:
Assessment Weighting:
The aims of this course are to:
1. To develop students understanding of key historical terms and concepts
2. To introduce students to primary and secondary sources on the early Islamic history
3. To enable students to gain a chronological survey of main Islamic empires
4. To enriches student’s understanding of the major interactions between Jews, Christians
and Muslims in the Middle East
5. To provide to students an idea of major contributions of Islamic civilization in arts,
architecture, religion, culture and science.
6. To enable student’s understanding of political, economic, social, religious and cultural
aspects of the Middle East
7. To ensure that students gain knowledge related to socio-political thought,
administrative and intellectual developments during early Islamic historical period
On successful completion of this course IUS student will be able to:
1. explain and use basic historical terms and concepts
2. explore main primary and secondary sources
3. use historical knowledge in understanding arts, architecture, religion, culture and
science
4. develop historical, analytical and comparative skills
5. interpret the historical events and concepts
This course will introduce students to socio-political, economic, historical and religious
developments in the Middle East from the seventh to the early fifteenth century. This course will
cover the following topics: ancient Middle East, Jewish, Christian and Persian history in the
Middle East; Pre-Islamic Arabia; biography of the Prophet; rise and spreading of Islam; Islamic
Caliphates; Islamic theology, mysticism, philosophy, science, arts and architecture; Islamic
educational, political, social and economic institutions; the Crusades; Muslim Empires.
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods (lecturing, written assignments,
presentations, peer presentation analyses, essays, group discussions, article,
presentation/analysis). Students have two hours lectures and one hour practical training a week.
Students are also expected to realise two different projects (to be arranged with professor).
Learning will consist of knowledge acquisition and practical knowledge gained from the field trips
and visits. Consultations and regular homework assignments will guide students’ individual
learning and students’ progression in acquiring required knowledge and practice will be
additionally checked through quizzes and midterm and final exams.
In order to provide solid undergraduate foundation in Social and Political Sciences program and to
enable students to develop a critical and evaluative understanding of history of world religions,
students are expected to demonstrate commitment and diligence at any time whichever module
they take, therefore appropriate assessment methods to help students to stay focused and active,
and fully benefit from the Program include presentations, group activities, consultations, quizzes,
exams and take-home exams.
Presentation:
10%
Paper:
20%
Attendance:
10%
Midterm:
20%
Final exam:
40%
1. Chase F. Robinson, The New Cambridge History of Islam. Cambridge: University Press, 2010.
Essential Reading:
Recommended readings:
Additional/recommended reading:
1. W. Montgomery Watt, The Influence of Islam on Medieval Europe. Edinburgh: University
Press, 1972.
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2.
3.
4.
Ira M. Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies, New York, 1988.
Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History, New York, 1961.
J. L. Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, New York, 1999.
Intranet web reference:
http://www.ius.edu.ba/Default.aspx?PageContentID=883&tabid=550
Important notes:
Expected knowledge of:
1. Writing and communication ability
2. Basic knowledge related to Islamic history
3. Knowledge of basic socio-political, geographical and historical concepts related to Islam
Course policies:
Assignments: Each student should complete their assignment on time.
Lateness in Assignments: The due date and time for each homework assignment will be
specified on the assignment handout itself. Late submissions will be penalized.
Academic Integrity: Any cheating on examinations or quizzes or offering the work of
another as one's own in an assignment is regarded as a serious offence to the academic
integrity.
Important dates:
Midterm exam: 6th week
Final exam: 15th week
Quality Assurance:
Student surveys, discussion on course, student appeals, e-mails, direct (formal) feedback at the
end of the semester by students, assistants and other colleagues
Course schedule:
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Week
Lesson
/ Date
1
Topics to be covered
Class activities
Lab
activities
Introduction to the Course
Lecturing
No lab
activities
1. Identify key terms and
concepts.
2. Explain why study early
Islamic history.
3. Describe and discuss
theories, origin and
approaches to study
Islam
4. Introduce students to
major works on Islam
and Islamic civilization
No lab
activities
Chase F. Robinson,
geography and history in
The New Cambridge
the emergence of Islamic
History of Islam.
civilization
Cambridge:
2.
Present to students
University Press,
earlier ancient
2010. [pp. 17-152]
Discussion and analysis of key
terms and concepts
Arabia and the Ancient
Lecturing
Empires in the Near East
Video presentation
2
Group presentation
Problems/
Assignments
(Homework)
Readings
Learning objectives (After
this lesson student will be
able to:)
1. Explain the role of
civilizations and empires
3. Discuss the relationship
between ancient
civilizations and Arabia
3
3
Socio-Cultural Dimensions of
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Lecturing
Group presentation and discussion
No lab
activities
1. Explain the conditions in
Chase F. Robinson,
which Islam was born
The New Cambridge
2.
Present social,
History of Islam.
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Cambridge:
University Press,
2010. [pp. 153-170]
4
Biography of the Prophet
Lecturing
Video
The Rightly-Guided Caliphs
and State-Building
Lecturing
6
The Spreading of Islamic
Culture and Civilization
Lecturing
1. Explain key historical
periods in Prophet’s
biography
2. Present key historical
works on the biography of
Prophet
No lab
activities
Chase F. Robinson,
The New Cambridge
History of Islam.
Cambridge:
University Press,
2010. [pp. 171-225]
No lab
activities
Chase F. Robinson,
The New Cambridge
History of Islam.
Cambridge:
University Press,
2010. [171-225]
No lab
activities
Chase F. Robinson,
civilization spread so
The New Cambridge
rapidly
History of Islam.
2. Present the role of
Cambridge:
Muslim mystics in
University Press,
spreading of Islam
2010. [pp. 226-359]
Group debate
5
economic, religious,
political, social and
intellectual conditions of
pre-Islamic Arabs
3. Analyze Arab pre-Islamic
poetry and literature
1. Present main caliphs that
succeeded the Prophet
2. Analyze main
contributions of all four
caliphs
3. Discuss main historical
developments during this
period
1. Discuss why Islamic
3. Analyze Islamic
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encounter with ancient
civilizations
7
Midterm examination and
its preparation
8
Umayyad and Abbasid
Dynasties
Lecturing
Mind-mapping
Chase F. Robinson,
The New Cambridge
History of Islam.
Cambridge:
University Press,
2010. [pp. 305-394]
No lab
activities
Chase F. Robinson,
development s of
The New Cambridge
Crusades
History of Islam.
2. Present causes and
Cambridge:
outcomes of Crusades
University Press,
2010. [pp. 360-394]
Group presentation
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The Crusades
Lecturing
Video
Group Discussion
1. Present dynastic
developments in Islamic
civilization
2. Discuss main historical
developments and
expansion of Islamic
civilization during this
period
3. Analyze golden age of
Islamic civilization during
this period
No lab
activities
1. Present historical
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10
11
12
"Nomad Empires" in the
Muslim World (1000-1500)
 Mongols
 Seljuks
The Gunpowder Empires
 Ottoman Empire
 Safavid Empire
 Mughal Empire
Islamic Contributions in Arts,
Architecture and Sciences
Lecturing
No lab
activities
Bernard Lewis,
The Arabs in
History, New
York, 1961.
Lecturing
No lab
activities
Bernard Lewis,
The Arabs in
History, New
York, 1961.
Lecturing
No lab
activities
1. Explain historical
developments of
nomadic empires
2. Present destructive role
of Mongol invasion
1. Present in brief major
Muslim empires
2. Discuss main
contributions during this
critical period
3. Analyze causes of fall of
these Muslim empires
W. Montgomery 1. Explain contributions of
Watt,
The
Islamic civilization to
Influence
of
mankind
Islam
on 2. Present key Muslim
Medieval
thinkers and scientists
Europe.
3. Discuss the role of
Edinburgh:
Islamic sciences in the
University Press,
development of science
1972. [pp. 30and technology in the
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40]
Ira
M.
Lapidus,
A
History
of
Islamic
Societies, New
York, 1988.
13
Islamic Historiography,
Literature and Philosophy
Lecturing
Class Debate
Islamic Influence on Medieval
Europe
14 and
15
No lab
activities
West
W. Montgomery 1. Present Muslim
Watt,
The
contributions in literature
Influence
of
and philosophy
Islam
on 2. Identify key works on
Medieval
history, philosophy and
Europe.
literature
Edinburgh:
3. Discus the Islamic
University Press,
influence on Medieval
1972. [pp. 72Europe
82]
Ira
M.
Lapidus,
A
History
of
Islamic
Societies, New
York, 1988.
Review Week and Final
Examination
8