HIS 330: History of the Middle East
Spring 2013
Dr. David Muchlinski
muchlinski@midland.edu
Office Hours: By Appt. Only – Freemont 210
Tues. & Thurs. 2:00-3:20
Classroom Location: Anderson 303
Course Overview:
This course surveys the history of the modern Middle East with an emphasis on the political,
economic, social, and religious developments of the region from the end of the 19th century to
the present. Topics to be covered include the demise of the Ottoman Empire, European
colonialism, the rise of the modern state system in the Middle East and its corresponding waves
of nationalism, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict(s), the Iranian Revolution, and the rise of political
Islam. In particular, we will focus our attention on three major states: Israel, Egypt, and Iran.
The course will conclude with a discussion of recent events in the region including the rise of
Radical Islamism, the Egyptian revolution(s), and the Arab Spring.
Course Objectives:
Students will gain a command of the history of the modern Middle East divorced from the alltoo-common armchair theorizing about the region commonly banded about in conversations
within multiple social circles. Students will be able to critically evaluate the historical record to
determine the political, economic, and social roots of many modern developments across the
Middle East. Students will be able to understand modern events in light of historical trends, and
in so doing, construct coherent arguments regarding likely developments across the region in the
future.
Course Requirements:
This course will consist of two weekly lectures and discussions. All reading assignments should
be finished prior to each scheduled lecture. Lectures will begin with a short, student-led, review
of the reading for that day. I will select a random number of students (N≤5) at the end of the
previous class to possibly lead discussion the following lecture. I will then randomly select one
of those students to lead the discussion. This review will then be followed by a short question
and answer period where students and the professor may ask the student presenter questions
related to that week’s material. After these opening periods, the professor will begin the
lecture/discussion for that day. Students are expected to participate in class discussions, and if
participation is lacking the professor will randomly pose questions to specific students in order to
stimulate discussion. Lectures/discussions will primarily focus around the ongoing theme of the
class: agents, interests, and conflicts. The professor will ask students to interpret the week’s
readings mostly in regard to this theme.
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There will be two midterms, and one final exam. All will be “take home” exams and will be
based on a written essay. The midterms will consist of a written response (~5 pages) to one of
several proposed essay prompts. The final will follow a similar format, but will require
significantly more synthesis of material than the midterm, and will require students to answer
questions that are more expansive in nature. Beyond these two written requirements, students
will be expected to lead the initial review of the day’s material at least once, depending on class
size. Students will be graded on their preparation for this review. At the beginning of class, the
professor will randomly select a student to lead the review for that day. Students may volunteer
to lead the review if they wish. If a student is to volunteer, please notify the professor at the end
of the previous class, or through email before the next scheduled lecture.
Class attendance is mandatory, if a student knows he or she will be missing a class, the
professor must be notified ahead of time. If no such notice is given, the student will be marked
as absent. If an absent student is randomly selected to lead review, that student will earn a grade
of zero if no notification was given prior to class. Attendance will be taken daily. Finally, this
syllabus is a contract between the professor and the students. The professor agrees to follow the
schedule posted on this syllabus, and the students agree to complete all coursework and agree to
the professor’s grading methods. The professor reserves the right to alter this syllabus if
necessary. Any announced change to this syllabus will be announced through email and
announced in class.
Grading Schedule:
Attendance and Participation (includes leading review) – 15%
Midterm Examinations – 25% each
Final Examination – 35%
Required Texts:
W. Cleveland and M. Bunton (2012). A History of the Modern Middle East. Boulder, Colorado:
Westview Press.
J. Gelvin (2005). The Modern Middle East: A History. New York: Oxford University Press.
Additional materials to be posted online through Moodle.
Student Accountability:
In addition to Midland’s attendance policy, students are also accountable to the following
stipulations:
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1. Any student who is called upon to lead review and is absent without notice will be given a
written admonishment from the professor notifying the student he or she was absent and selected
to lead review that day, in addition to a grade of zero.
2. Any student who subsequently misses another chance to lead review after such an
admonishment will result in disciplinary action at the discretion of the professor.
3. Any student who violates the University Academic Integrity Policy will receive a grade of
zero on the selected assignment or a grade of zero for the course and be referred to the
department chair or dean’s office for academic dishonesty. Violations of this policy include
cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsification or fabrication of records. The decision to give a
grade of zero for the particular assignment or a grade of zero for the course will depend upon the
discretion of the professor. Factors taken into consideration will be the nature of the offense, the
intentions of the student, and the severity of the offense.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
Midland University supports each student’s efforts to become a self-sufficient learner and
encourages any student needing accommodations to seek support though the office of Academic
Support Services as early as possible. Midland University supports reasonable accommodations
to allow participation by individuals with disabilities. Any request for accommodation must be
initiated by the student. Each student receiving accommodations is responsible for his or her
educational and personal needs while enrolled at Midland University.
Course Schedule (subject to revision with advance notification)
Week 1 – Introduction
January 30: Class Introduction
 Syllabus Handout
 Introductions
 No Reading assigned
Week 2 - The “Pre-Modern” Middle East (1800-1914)
 February 4:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 3
 February 6:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 1
Week 3 – The Making of The Modern Middle East
February 11:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 6
February 13:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 4
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Week 4 – The Middle East at the Dawn of WWI
 February 18:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 5
 February 20
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 9
Week 5 – European Colonialism and the Middle East after WWI
 February 25:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 11-12
 February 27:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 13

First Take Home Midterm distributed in class Tuesday.
Week 6 – Palestine from 1920-1948 and the Origins of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
 March 4:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 14
 March 6:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 13
Week 7 – Israel and its Wars against its Arab Neighbors
 March 11:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 17
 March 13:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 18

First Take Home Midterm due in Class on Thursday
Week 8: -- Spring Break – No Class
Week 9 – Israel and the Arab World from Oslo to the Present
 March 25:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 22
 March 27:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 23
Week 10 – The Iranian Revolution
 April 1:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 18
 April 3:
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 19

Second Midterm Exam distributed in Class Tuesday
Week 11 – Iran: from Revolution to Present
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
April 8:
o Read: TBD
April 10:
o Read: TBD
Week 12 – Egypt from WWII to the Revolution
 April 15:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 15-16
 April 17:
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 19

Second Midterm Exam due in Class on Thursday
Week 13 – Egypt’s Revolution?
 Readings TBD
Week 14 – The Modern Middle East and the Challenges of Radical Islamism
 April 29
o Read: Gelvin Ch. 20
 April 31
o Read: Cleveland Ch. 25-26
Week 15 – The Modern Middle East post 9/11
Final due May 19 – Noon.
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