–
309 298 1655 (office)
309 826 8641 (private)
Virtual Office Hours: TBC
Pre-requisites: None
Module Description:
HIST 144 The Near and Middle East: An Introduction provides a foundational overview of the history of the Middle East from the emergence of Islam in the 7 th century to the 20 th century. In the course we will explore the emergence of Islam as a religion and the political institutions that were created with its expansion throughout the region and beyond. We will focus on chronology but also on themes, such as the development of science, technology, social life, religion and politics. Moving forward in time, we will discuss the transitional period towards modernity and its meaning, the increasing foreign presence and what this meant for the Middle East and the creation of the modern Middle
East following the end of the First World War. In the last few modules, we will explore more contemporary issues with the purpose to make more sense of current matters.
Aims:
To develop students’ understanding of the area
To challenge common views and stereotypes attached to the region, its people and religions
To examine the theoretical and methodological issues in relation to the study of the
Middle East
To engage in active participation in online class discussions
To analyze a primary sources and share opinions
To critically explore the material available in order to study the history of the
Middle East
Teaching and Learning:
The course is divided in 15 modules. Teaching is varied and based on lectures which you should access every week; the course is organized primarily around reading and writing assignments and discussions.

Required books (available for purchase at the Union Bookshop):
I.M. Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies, Cambridge University Press (2002)
A. Hourani, A History of the Arab Peoples, Faber and Faber (2002)
William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, (Oxford: Westview Press, 1994)
Other required readings are on electronic reserve (ERes) or circulated in advance
General Reading:
Bernard Lewis, The Middle East 2000 years, Touchstone (any edtion)
D. Quataert, The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922, (Cambridge: CUP, 2000)
M.E. Yapp, The Making of the Modern Near East, (London: Longman, 1987)
M.E. Yapp, The Near East Since the First World War, (London: Longman, 1991)
Fortna, Amin, Frierson, The Modern Middle East, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006)
J. Gelvin, The Modern Middle East, (NY: Oxford University Press, 2008) 2 nd edition
E. Rogan, The Arabs: A History, (NY: Basic Books, 2009)
Reading explanation:
Required Readings
These readings are designed to give you the opportunity to understand better the topics discussed in the lectures and they will also give you more information to be used during class discussions. These readings will be also the most important in your revision for midterm and final exams.
Discussion
These are the readings all students should read in preparation for class discussion. You are all required to participate actively and to this extent you need to be prepared.
Western Online
This course will be delivered exclusively through Western Online, so you must have appropriate computer and Internet access. Before accessing the course, I suggest you visit
Western Online and click ‘Supported Browser’ at the top of the page to determine if your browser if compatible with Western Online. Please note that Western Online makes use of pop-up windows. If you have a pop-up blocker installed, please disable it while using
Western Online. Technical questions may be directed to the University Computer Support
Service (UCSS) at ucss@wiu.edu
or 309-298-2704. Technical difficulties will NOT excuse incomplete or inadequate work: plan accordingly to this policy.
Organization of the Course
Each module is open for ONE WEEK (see detailed calendar below). During the one week period you will work within your own schedule to perform a series of tasks as discussed

below. Once the one week period is up, the module will be closed and the class will move on. The time used in this course refers to Central Time of the US.
Coursework and assessment:
Weekly Papers 40%
Class participation
Paper
10%
20%
Final exam 30%
You will be given grades in letter and percentage e.g. A (92%) – B (84%), so you will have a better idea where your grade stands and whether you are closer to the higher or lower mark.
Weekly Papers. Students are required to answer one (1) question covering the topic of week. You will submit a paper (at least 300 words – max 500) in the Dropbox of Western
Online. Please take careful note of the opening and closing times and date for each paper that appear at the end of the syllabus. I WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS. Late papers will be graded 0 (Zero). At the end of the course I will calculate the average grade for your weekly papers. You can check your grades on the Grade Book of Western Online.
Class Participation. We will have weekly discussions on a variety of topics. Thoughtful, intelligent comments and questions will give you credit for your participation. Do not restate what other have already said and do not simply agree with other people. You can access all discussion through the ‘Discussion’ tab on Western Online. You should plan on contributing to the discussion by Wednesday and replying by Friday. Do not post last minute comments (Saturday-Sunday) to get last minute credit. Depending of the size of the class you may be assigned to a group following the alphabetical order of your family name.
Paper. Students are required to write a paper of 1,000-1,500 words that addresses one of the Discussion topics. This paper is due at the end of week 13 (Sunday 21 April –
11.59pm,). Late submission will be penalized 2% per working day. I will not accept papers after Sunday 5 May. Student will submit their paper as an e-mail attachment and should expect a reply within a short time acknowledging the submission.
Final Exam. Students are required to answer 3 essay questions out of 16 questions covering the topics discussed throughout the course. Essays should show your new knowledge and understanding of the Middle East. The exam paper is due by 11.59pm on
Friday 10 May 2013. No late papers will be accepted.
Note on Discussions:
I do expect each student to maintain a proper behaviour and decorum as in a traditional classroom. Comments should be properly phrased: avoid street jargon.

Note on Writing:
I have very high expectations in relation to your writing assignments. Poor grammar, misspelling and the like will not be tolerated. I will be very happy to assist, but I do encourage you to contact the University Writing Centers. http://www.wiu.edu/UWC
For your paper you will be requested to use proper references (footnotes or endnotes) and a bibliography: suggestion and instructions will be provided.
Feedback:
I will monitor discussions though I may not respond to every comment. However I will respond to emails within 24 hrs. I will grade and return your weekly papers within one week. I will use ‘track changes’ to mark your papers. Submit your papers in Word. You can always check your grades on Western Online.
Grading Explanations:
At the end of the course I will average your weekly papers, and average your grades according to the weight of each one of them. Note that I may alter your final grade (up or down) according to a variety of circumstances such as no participation or very good participation and the like.
Grades and expectations:
Below is the table defining the grades; on Western Online you will find a word file explaining my expectations and a rubric for grading written assignments which will give you a sense of your work and the areas you should target.
Letter Grade Percent Definition of Grade
A+
A
98% - 100%
93% - 97% Excellent
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
90% - 92%
87% - 89%
83% - 86%
80% - 82%
77% - 79%
73% - 76%
70% - 72%
Good
Average
D+
D
D-
67% - 69%
63% - 66%
60% - 62%
Passing
F Below 60% Failing
Class policies and notices:
If illness or an emergency keeps you from submitting an essay or homework assignment or taking an exam, or to attend classes, please notify the instructor immediately, preferably

before the due date of an assignment. Make-ups and extensions will not be scheduled without a written medical excuse or verification of the emergency.
Reminder on the University Policy on Academic Integrity
The University is committed to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.
Students are expected to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students with these policies should familiarize themselves
( http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php
and http://www.www.wiu.edu/Provost/students ) and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts, and participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in a mark of zero for an assignment or a grade of F for the entire course. Students must read the Official University Policy Manual for definitions of academic dishonesty ( http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php
).
Plagiarism: No student shall intentionally or knowingly submit the work of another as one’s own. To avoid plagiarism, students should not use another person’s words, ideas, images, or data without proper acknowledgement.
Cheating: No student shall intentionally use or attempt to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids, solution manuals, or other devices in any academic exercise, test, or quiz.
Special Needs
In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability
Resource Center (DRC) and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability
Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512 for additional services.
Please refer also to the following link: http://wiu.edu/student-services/disability-resourcescenter/
Further Information:
Do not hesitate to contact me, the best way to contact me is certainly be e-mail. I plan to be available via the chat feature in Western Online three times a week (I will provide the time at the beginning of the course) as my Virtual Office Hours.

This class will help students to define the object of the course in its geographical, temporal and methodological definition. Major historiographical debates will be discussed as well as the major issues surrounding the region.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the Welcoming Message
Watch the lecture on Western Online Defining the Middle East
Required Reading:
Peter Mansfield, A History of the Middle East, (New York: Penguin Books), p. 1-13
Colbert Held, Middle East Patterns, (Boulder: West View Press), Ch. 1, 6
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
What are the characteristics of the geography of the Middle East?
2.
Given the geographic diversity of the region, what groups populate the Middle
East? How are their history and culture reflective of the geography?
Discussion: Let’s try this tool and use this week discussion to ask e post comments in relation to the course, syllabus and online material. Write also short paragraph to introduce yourself
This class will discuss the figure of Muhammad and the Arab conquest and Islamicisation of the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. It will be discussed the particular issue of sources available to study this particular historical period. We will discuss also the question of sources.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture of Western Online Muhammad and the Rise of Islam
Watch the short lecture on Orientalism
Required Reading:
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, (Cambridge, CUP, 2002), Ch. 1, 2, 3.

John Esposito (ed), The Oxford History of Islam, 1-27 (Western online)
Fazlur Rahaman, Islam, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979), Ch. 1.
Hugh Kennedy, The Great Arab Conquest, (Philadelphia: DaCapo Press, 2007), Ch. 1.
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Did Islam Spread by the Sword in the Golden Age of Islamic Civilization?
2.
What is the connection between Islam and other monotheistic religions? List similarities and differences.
Discussion: How can we study the Middle East? What are the problems with Middle Eastern history? How is Islam portrayed in the Western media?
A.L. Macfie, Orientalism a Reader, (New York: NYU Press, 2000), Ch. 12, 26
This class will discuss and analyse the historical development of political and religious institutions after the Arab conquest of the Middle East. We will discuss in depth key concepts like caliphate, ulama and iqta.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture on Western Online Institutions of Government and Religion
Required Reading:
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 4.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 4.
John Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, 27-43 (Western on-line)
Encyclopaedia of Islam: Khalifa, Ulama. (Western Online)
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Based on what you read about the formation of the Muslim community, why would Muhammad be particularly concerned with unity and leadership issues?
2.
Are government and religion one single institution in early Islam?
Discussion: To what extent Iqta and Feudalism are different and/or similar? Explain your own view.
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 8, 9.
Bernard Lewis, The World of Islam, p. 38-39 (Western Online)
Encyclopaedia of Islam: Iqta, Atabeg (Western Online)

This class will discuss the main split and the main differences in Islam between Sunnis and Shi’is traditions. In this class we will also look at some sources looking at the modern split between Shia and Sunni.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture on Western Online Types of Islam
Required Reading:
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 6, 10.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 11.
John Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, 44-49 (Western Online)
John Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, 63-90 (Western Online)
Fazlur Rahman, Islam, Ch. 8.
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
What IS the difference between Sunni and Shia? Explain with some details.
2.
What are the main religious differences between Sunni and Shia?
Discussion: What is ethnicity? What aspect of Identity is most important for many Muslims, ethnicity or religion?
Ibrahim, V, "Ethnicity" in The Routledge Companion to Race and Ethnicity, (Western Online)
Kedourie, E "Ethnicity, Majority and Minority in the Middle East" in Ethnicity, Pluralism
and the State in the Middle East, (Eds) Seman and Rabinovich (Western Online)
This class will provide an overview of culture and society in the Middle East in the period of Classical Islam. Cultural institutions, ideas, movements and individuals will be discussed in order to highlight the diversity within the Islamic world.
Opening Time and Date Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture on Western Online Culture and Society
Watch the short documentary before discussion – it is a very controversial video - The
Global Liberation of Women

Required Reading:
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 5, 6, 7.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 12.
Richard Ettinghausen “The Man-Made Setting” in The World of Islam (Western Online)
Encyclopaedia of Islam, (Western Online, Brill: 2002): Dhimma
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Is it fair to talk about Islamic Culture?
2.
Does Islamic society includes only Muslims?
Discussion: Women in Islam and the Middle East: reasons for a misinterpretation. How women traditionally played an important role in Middle Eastern society?
Ruth Roded, Women in Islam and the Middle East, Ch. 1,2,12 and Epilogue (Western Online)
Leila Ahmed, Women and Gender in Islam, Ch. 3,8,11.
This class will provide an overview of the political history from 1000 to 1500 focussing on the largest political processes and the arrival of new actors in the Middle East: Fatimids,
Mamluks, Mongols and Crusaders. In this class we will also re-assess the age of the crusades and their legacies.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture on Western Online Regionalisation vs. Centralisation of political authority
Required Reading:
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, p. 197-225; Ch. 13, 14 , 15.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 5.
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
What is the role of the Mongols in reshaping the Middle East?
2.
What was the role of religion in the political reorganization of the Middle East?
Discussion: Why were the Crusades so successful in conquering lands in the Middle East?
Encyclopaedia of Islam, Crusades (Western Online)
Christopher Tyerman, The Crusades: a Very Short Introduction, (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2005), Ch. 1, 4, 5, 7.
John Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, Ch. 7 (Western Online)

This class will discuss the expansion of Islam in Europe (Spain and Italy) looking at the relationship of the new rulers with the local population and how Islam, Christianity and
Judaism created a system which was based on tolerance and co-operation. This class will also look at the end of the Islamic rule in Europe with the Reconquista of the 15 th century.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture on Western Online Islam in Europe
Watch the Video on YouTube
Required Reading:
The Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 2A, Ch. 7
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Introduction Part II and Ch. 16 (309-319)
Bernard Lewis, The World of Islam, Ch. 9 (Western Online)
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
To What extent Islamic rule of Spain has been crucial in European history?
2.
What are the most important features of Islamic rule of Spain?
Discussion: To what extent Western science and culture are the outcome of the encounter with
Islam?
Howard Turner, Science in Medieval Islam, (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997), Ch. 3,
5, 9, 13, 14.
John Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, Ch. 4 (Western Online)
BBC Video on Science and Islam, available on YouTube in 6 parts
This class will discuss various social, economic and cultural issues in medieval Middle
East. This class will be instrumental to understand the meeting between Middle Eastern societies and Europe in the following centuries.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture Elites, Commoners, Trades and Crafts
Required Reading:
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 9, 11, Conclusion Part I.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 6, 7.

Bernard Lewis, The World of Islam, Ch. 3 (Western Online)
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Define the major social classes in Islamic society
2.
Outline Islamic economy until the 15 th -16 th century
Discussion: Briefly point out the difficulties so far experienced, the new knowledge acquired and what stereotypes about the Middle East you think have in some way changed or eliminated.
This class will study the rise of new powers in the region: the Safavid and the Ottoman
Empires. It will be discussed their origins and socio-political developments.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture The Rise of the Gunpowder Empires
Required Reading:
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 13.
Bernard Lewis, The Middle East 2000 years, Ch. 7
John Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, Ch. 8 (Western Online)
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
How did the Ottomans become an Empire?
2.
What was the role of Shia Islam in the foundation of the Safavid Empire?
Discussion: Time to think about your home assignment. After readings the suggested material, ask any question and share your concerns.
General Advice on Essay Writing (Link on Western Online)
Chicago Style Footnotes (Link on Western Online)
Basic Rule for Essay Writing (File on Western Online)
Undergraduate Essay Criteria (File on Western Online)
This class will discuss the florescence of the Ottoman and Safavid Empire, at the same time highlighting the emerging problems. Beside the concepts of ‘Golden Age’ and
‘Decline’ will be discussed and assessed as valuable terms in studying the history of the
Middle East. We will look at the legendary figure of Sulyeman the Magnificent

Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture ‘The Golden Age’ in the Ottoman and Safavid Empires
Watch the video on YouTube
Required Reading:
Justin Mc Carthy, The Ottoman Turks, Ch. 3
Marshall Hodgson, The Venture of Islam, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 14.
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Characterize the Ottoman State
2.
How did the Safavid reach the zenith of their power?
Discussion: What is meant by ‘Golden Age’? Discuss in relation to the Ottoman and Safavid
Empires
Watch the video on YouTube ‘A Call For a Global Islamic Village’
Justin Mc Carthy, The Ottoman Turks, Ch. 4
This class will provide an overview of the historical development of the Middle East from
16 th to 19 th century. The focus will be placed on the encounter with the wider world and the question of the Ottoman ‘decline’ and the attempts to revert the parable of the
Ottoman Empire.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture The Age of Reforms
Required Reading:
William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, Ch. 4, 5.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 15, 16.
Ilan Pappe, The Modern Middle East, Intro. (1-14)
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
What was the role of Europe in the decline of the Ottoman Empire?
2.
Were the reforms implemented by the Ottomans a product of European imposition or a genuine Ottoman attempt to save the Empire?

Discussion: How did the region enter the modern era in the 19 th and 20 th centuries? How useful is the concept of modernity in studying the Middle East?
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Intro Part III.
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East, Ch. 5
This class will discuss the involvement of the Middle East in the First World War and the various outcomes the conflict had upon the region. It will be discussed the extent the First
World War produce the ‘modern’ Middle East. It will be also discussed the issue of
‘colonialism’ in the region after the conflict.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture The First World War in the Middle East and Colonialism
Required Reading:
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 19, 20.
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 23
S. Hanioglu, A Brief History of the Late Ottoman Empire, 167-177 (Western Online)
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Why did the Ottoman Empire enter the First World War?
2.
Can the creation of the new map of the Middle East be defined colonialism?
Discussion: What is your understanding of the Balfour Declaration?
Balfour Declaration text (Western Online)
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East, Ch. 14
William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, p. 239-244
Mark Levene, ‘The Balfour Declaration: a Case of Mistaken Identity’ (On Jstor or Western
Online)
This class will define the concept of Nationalism in relation to the Middle East in the late
19 th century and how it developed in the 20 th century. It will be discussed how
Nationalism proved to be a successful ideology in the 20 th century. It will also be discussed how Nationalism was used by various political actors in order to take power after the demise of ‘colonialism’.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date

TASKS:
Watch the lecture Nationalism and its ‘Others’
Submit your paper by Sunday 21 April by 11.59 pm
Required Reading:
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 18, 22.
William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, Ch. 7.
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East: a History, Ch. 12
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Discuss Art. 22 of the League of Nations concerning the creation of the Mandates
(use the text in the Power Point presentation)
2.
Using one example (Egypt, Iran, Turkey) portray the development of Nationalism after WW1
Discussion: Define briefly Nationalism and discuss the assertions of National Identities in the
Middle East
R.G. Landen, The Emergence of the Modern Middle East, (London: Van Nostrand, 1970), p.
211-235.
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East: a History, Ch. 13
Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities, Intro, Ch. 2
This class will discuss the major changes that took place in the second part of the 20 th century in the region. The focus will be placed on the process of transformation that brought the Middle Eastern countries from ‘colonial’ rule to independence and then it will be discussed the internal situation of these new countries and the various political revolutions that took place.
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
TASKS:
Watch the lecture Independence and Revolution
Required Reading:
William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, Ch. 15, 16, 20.
Albert Hourani, History of the Arab Peoples, Ch. 24.
Ira Lapidus, History of Islamic Societies, Ch. 26.
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East, Ch. 14

Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
Were revolutions in the 1950s in the Middle East popular or military?
2.
Portray the out-breaking of the Arab-Israeli conflict after WW2
Discussion: What is your understanding of the Palestinian-Conflict? Why the US is so involved in this particular conflict?
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East, Ch. 17-18
Avi Shlaim, The Iron Wall, Ch. 1
Ilan Pappe, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Ch. 1-2
This class will discuss some of the events that took place in the 1980s and 1990s in the
Middle East using as much as possible a historical approach, providing the students with some tools in order to assess and discuss contemporary events.
Opening Time and Date Closing Time and Date
TASKS
Watch the lecture The Middle East in the Contemporary World
Required Reading:
William Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, Ch. 17, 18, 24
James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East: a History, 223-246
Assignment: answer one of the following questions
1.
How did the Arab-Israeli conflict develop from the 1970s to the contemporary era?
2.
Was the Iranian revolution an Islamic one?
Discussion: In preparation for your final exam, post questions in relation to the topics chosen
Opening Time and Date
Closing Time and Date
The exam paper will be sent as an attachment by email and posted on Western Online
TASKS:
Answer 3 Essay Questions, save the file adding your name (e.g. JoeSmithFinal.doc) as a word file (if you use a Mac, makes sure the file can be opened with a PC).
LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED