Cultures and Peoples of the
Middle East
Spring Semester, 2004
Anthropology/Asian Studies/ History 306
College 220, MWF, 8:10-9:00 am
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Telephone:
Email Address:
Web Address:
Dr. Robert L. Staab
Wilson 342
12:00-2:00, Th; 3:15-4:30 W;
By Appointment.
335-7425
rstaab@wsu.edu
www.wsu.edu/~rstaab
Introduction
The peoples and the cultures of the Middle East are diverse, a mosaic
representing various countries and traditions. The Middle East is not a just the
Arab world, but a region that spans from Turkey and Iran in the north to Yemen in
the south. The Middle East is filled with peoples who make up their living as
nomads, villagers, and urbanites, living in Cairo or Najd Desert. The diversity of
the region, like human diversity everywhere, presents challenges to us as
students of the Middle East.
Focus
This course emphasizes the formative role of the geography of the region,
Islamic religion, the Arabic language, and the inner dynamics of Middle Eastern
societies and traditions. The course examines the lifestyle of the peoples of the
Middle East, who they are, where they live, and what they do. Through this
process, we will understand the culture of this ancient region by reading their
writings and viewing their images. The course concentrates on especially the
Arabs, Persians, and Turks. At times when a comparative view is warranted, the
examination of Jews, Kurds, and Afghanis will be brought to the discussion.
Finally, the rise of Islamization and the conflicts with the West, i.e., colonialism,
modernization, and globalization, will reflect a society in flux, searching for ideas
and results to meet the needs of their society in the 21st century.
Format
The course consists of lectures by the instructor, discussions, library or
field research on selected aspects of Middle East culture, and graded projects.
The lectures will focus on specific populations and the dominant issues that
affect the Middle East today. In as this is a culture class, a continued dialogue of
discussion will be mandated for full participation by the class. The last three
weeks of the course will be set aside for student oral presentations of their
research.
Responsibility
As a student your responsibility is to attend class, read the material,
participate fully in class, and complete the required assignments—classroom
discussions, examinations and tests, and papers. My responsibility is to provide
to you through lectures, discussions, extra curriculum material, and guided
research projects an understanding of the Middle East. Through this process we
will both learn together about the peoples and the cultures of the Middle East.
We will also comprehend the important role that we all play in this region of the
world today.
Goals
The goals of the class are to introduce to the student the complex aspects
of culture of the Islamic peoples of the Middle East. In order to meet these goals,
the class will focus on:






The Lands of the Middle East: its people and their languages;
The Islamic Religion of the Middle East;
The Modes of Habituation: desert, village, and city;
The Social Issues Found in the Middle East;
The Traditions of the Middle East, and
Cases Studies: Turkey, Iran, and Kurds.
DRC STATEMENT
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a
Documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class
of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notifications may mean the
requested accommodations might not be available. All accommodations must be
approved through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) located in the
Administration Annex Building, Room 205, 335 -1566.
Extra-Credit Assignments and Opportunities
Attending cultural events related to the Middle East (musical concerts,
museum visits, lectures, foreign movies) scheduled during the semester, viewing
a video outside of class, or reviewing a book may earn extra credit. The
assignment is a review that demands an overview of the event accompanied by a
personal critique. In each case, the instructor’s approval is necessary. You will
not get a grade for these activities but will earn credit that may move you to
another grade level. Each assignment should be no more than 2 pages, typed
and double-spaced as noted above. Proof of attendance is mandatory. The
assignment is due no later than one week after the event.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASS
Required Readings
The following three books are required reading for the class. They may be
purchased at the Bookie or from many online booksellers.
Daniel Bates and Amal Rassam, Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East,
Second Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Donna Lee Bowen and Evelyn A. Early, eds. Everyday Life in the Muslim
Middle East, 2nd. Edition. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press,
2002.
Geraldine Brooks, Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic
Women, New York: Doubleday and Anchor Books, 1995.
Additional readings and handouts may be assigned during the course of
the semester. The required readings and the handouts will be used for
discussion purposes.
Examinations
The course will have one map quiz and two mid-term examinations.
The map quiz will reflect an understanding the Middle East in relations to
the contemporary scene. The quiz includes knowledge of countries, major cities
and capitals, landforms, and bodies of water. Please consult a current map of the
Middle East. Bates/Rassam has adequate maps. The map quiz is scheduled for
January 23rd. A study guide and blank map will be provided.
There will be two mid-term examinations, a combination of identifications
and essay questions. In each case, the student will select from array of
questions to answer. The mid term examinations are scheduled for February 13
and March 14th. These two tests are worth 10 % and 40% respectively of your
final grade.
Research and Library Assignments
You will have two writing assignments.
First, you need to select a topic from the Bowen-Early text, one of the
broad topical selections by which they divide their book. You will define the topic,
using the Introduction of each section of the book to support your topic.
Compare the topic with information that you have found in Bates-Rassam and
Brooks. Your topic must be chosen and submitted to the instructor by February
13th and the final paper is in class due on February 27th. The total length should
be three double-spaced pages, in 12-point type and Times-Roman font. This
paper will worth 15% of your total grade.
The second assignment will be more personal. Each student will be
required to research and write a term paper on a topic that will be chosen by the
student in consultation with the instructor. This paper can be based on research
in a myriad of formats. If you wish, you may continue on the same topic as your
first paper. The choice will be yours, and to some extent mine. I want you to
learn about the cultures, less politics, of the Middle East and the choices are
many. REMEMBER, THOUGH, THE INSTRUCTOR MUST CLEAR ALL
TOPICS.
First, your paper may be a traditional historical research paper, based on
a topic with foot/end notes and bibliography. Your project may also be a
curriculum development project or a teaching unit used for teach 6-12 grades.
Your sources may be paper (books, articles, et al), online, video, CD and the
Internet. Finally, you may want to do an oral history; the result will be a current
view of the Middle East through someone else’s eyes. The choices are many,
only your imagination stands in your way.
In any case, the end result will be no more than EIGHT pages, plus foot/end
notes (citations), and a bibliography. The paper will be double spaced in 12-point
type with Times-Roman font/script. Your bibliography should contain both paper
and electronic resources. Please consult Kate Turabian’s guide to term papers or
a MLA handbook. You will have at least six sources, only one-third may be
online materials and all six sources have to be cited in the paper. A rubric
for writing this paper will be passed out in due time.
Each student will submit a one-paragraph description and annotated
bibliography of the topic on March 12th. Final research assignments are due in
class on April 9th. Drafts may be handed in early for instructor’s consultation
and comments.
During the last three weeks of school, each student will make a 10-minute
presentation to the class for discussion purposes. If students wish to work
together on a common theme and use the whole class period, this is acceptable.
Each student, though, will have a different view of approach to the chosen
subject. This presentation and paper will be worth 25% of your final grade.
Attendance and Class Discussion
In as much as this is a cultural class, where meetings will be as important
as learning from the instructor, your textbook, handouts, etc. Thus, class
discussion is important; coming to class with the assignment read is part of your
responsibility in this class. When assignments are to be read and discussed for
the next class period, this is part of class participation that each student’s needs
to be aware.
The class has designated times when a discussion is scheduled. On
those dates, members of the class will be organized into a small group and will
lead the discussion on that topic. Members of the group will review the material
early, form questions for discussion and be prepared to ask questions of the
class.
There will be two cultural events that are part of the last three weeks of
class discussion. These events will focus on food that will be prepared by
members of the class and presented to their mates. As above, those who are
part of a discussion group will be chosen to take part in this function. In each
case, if no one volunteers, the instructor has the prerogative to “volunteer”
someone for a group. A featured length film will be offered at an agreeable time.
Attendance and class discussion amounts to 10% of your final grade.
GRADES:
Map Quiz
Midterm Examinations
First Writing assignment
Research Project/Presentation
Class Participation
Total
10%
40
15
25
10
100%
Course Schedule
The following course outline provides a guide to the lecture topics and
assigned readings, based on our required textbooks. Chapters that required for
each week are designated as Bates/Rassam, Chapter 1--BR-1 or Bowen/Early
Part 1—BE-1.
January 12-16
Introduction to the Class and the Introduction to the
Middle East: the Geography; and the Life of
Muhammad. BR-1&2.
January 19
Martin Luther King Birthday, No Class
January 21-23
Basic Beliefs and Tenets of Islam
Discussion of Video: “Hajj: Islam Rising.”
BR-2&3, BE-IV.
Map Quiz, January 23rd.
January 26-30
Qur’an and its History;
Discussion of Reading: Qur’an and Gender Issues;
BR-3.
February 2-6
The Middle East: Desert and Villages;
Video: “The Last Salt Caravan.” BR-5,10.
February 9-13
Villages; City and Urban Life of the Arab World;
BR-6&7.
First Mid-term Examination and Topic of First
Paper, February 13th.
February 16
Presidents’ Day—No Class
February 18-20
Social Issues and Modernity in the Middle East;
Discussion and Video: “ Struggle with Modernity”
BR-8&10, BE-I&V.
February 23-27
Gender Issues and Law; The Roles of Men and
Women in Society;
Video: “Authority and Change.”
BR-8&9, BE-II.
First Paper Due, February 27th.
March 1-5
Women: Islam and Women
Discussion of Reading: Hijab
Video: “Paradise at the Feet of the Mother.”
BR-9&10, BE-III.
March 8-12
Traditions of the Middle East and their
Impact on Society
Second Mid Term Examination, March 12th.
Topic for Second Paper due on March 12th.
March 15-19
Spring Break—No Class
March 24-26
Case Study: Turkey, Changes in a Secular Country
and the Dilemmas of a modern state seeking identity.
BR-5-7.
March 29
April 2
Case Study: Iran, the Islamic Revolt and the Republic
Discussion of Reading: Islamic Republic
Video: What’s Next for Iran?” BR-5-7.
April 5-9
Case Study: Kurds/Afghanistan
Video: Dreaming a Nation?
BR-4.
Second Papers due April 9th.
April 11-30
Oral Presentations in Class and Tastes of the Middle
East
May 5-9
Final Examinations