An Introductory to the Middle East. Cleveland State University Spring 2018

Transcription

1 An Introductory to the Middle East Cleveland State University Spring 2018 The Department of World Languages, Literature, and Culture and the Department of Political Science Class meets TTH: 10:00-11:15 MC 402 Dr. Nozar Alaolmolki Dr. Neda Zawahri Office: RT 1605 Office: RT Office Hours: T-TH: 11:30-12:30 Office Hours: Office Hours: Mondays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Course Description: This course examines the geography, histories, culture, and diverse societies of the Middles East. It starts with a geographical and historical background, which illustrates the contributions of the ancient Middle Eastern civilizations to the history of the world. We will then proceed chronologically focusing on the important historical junctions that influenced and shaped the region today, specifically the emergence of Islam. Throughout the course we will concentrate on some major themes that will tie together the different areas under study, i.e. colonialism and anticolonial struggle, the rise and the consolidation of state power, changing gender relations, and new ways of expressing group identity (e.g. local patriotism, Arab nationalism, and Islamism). The class will consist of lectures, discussions, films and other activities. Our reading will draw on a variety of approaches chronological, thematic, and comparative. In addition to General Education requirements (listed below) the class also meets requirements for the Middle East Studies Minor. Course Requirements: I. Class attendance and participation (20 % of the final grade): all students are expected to participate in the discussions and raise questions. Among the aims of the lectures are to highlight different aspects of the readings. We will not simply summarize the book in class. In fact, there are parts of the readings we probably will not cover in class, but this does not absolve you from knowing these sections. II. III. Quizzes (20 % of the final grade): there will be four quizzes. Mid-term and Final Exams (30% each): the exams consist of short identifications and long essays. All students MUST take the exam at the scheduled time. General Education Requirements

2 This course fulfills the Arts and Humanities category of the Breadth of Knowledge General Education requirement. Specific skill areas promoted include Writing and Critical Thinking. Criteria for this requirement and skill areas are listed below: Criteria for Arts and Humanities General Education requirement: 1. Courses must be offered at the 100/200 level in an arts and humanities discipline including but not limited to English, History, Philosophy, Art History, Music History, Religious Studies, or Modern Languages. Courses offered in other disciplines may be approved if they meet the other conditions indicated below. 2. Courses must provide students with background knowledge and analytical skills that will allow them to: a. Demonstrate understanding of how human beings interpret, translate, and represent diverse experiences of the world through language, literature, the historical record, philosophical systems, images, sounds, and performances. b. Apply that understanding to the study of the human condition, cultural heritage, cultural artifacts, creativity, and history. **Additional criterion for courses NOT specifically focused on Asia, Latin America, Africa or the Middle East: Courses must be survey courses that provide an overview of a broad topic or field of knowledge. **Additional criteria for courses focused on Asia, Latin America, Africa and/or the Middle East: 1. The primary focus of the course must be on a society or societies in Asia, Latin America, Africa and/or the Middle East. Courses that compare these societies to those of North America and/or Europe may be approved only if the majority of the course material concerns the first group of societies and the principal purpose of the course is to improve students understanding of those societies. 2. Content must be presented from the perspective(s) of the societies being studied, not simply European and/or American perceptions of those societies. Criteria for Writing Skill Area: To qualify in the skill area of writing a course must: 1. Designate that at least 15% of the student s grade in the course is based on an evaluation of writing. 2. Include writing assignments that directly relate to the course goals. 3. Include instruction in writing-to-learn and/or writing-to-communicate. While writing-tolearn emphasizes the student s experience, writing-to-communicate highlights the reader s experience. Both are necessary to produce a thoughtful text that observes academic writing s conventions. 1 1 Writing-to-learn helps students use writing to explore many aspects of the course as well as their own reflections; these activities should foster learning at deeper levels than memorization or

3 4. Require that students write a total of 2,000 words (8 pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font, with 1 margins) in multiple assignments. 5. Assign writing throughout the semester. Criteria for Critical Thinking Skill Area: To qualify in the skill area of critical thinking a course must: 1. Designate that at least 15% of the student s grade in the course is based on an evaluation of critical thinking. 2. Require students to attain skills beyond lower-level knowledge, thereby requiring: a. higher-order thinking (analysis, synthesis, evaluation); OR b. skills that involve the use of content knowledge (e.g. finding information to solve a problem); OR c. the recognition of the importance and usefulness of knowledge and skills gained in the course (e.g. recognize the ability to and importance of working with others to solve intellectual problems). Rules and Regulations: 1) All wireless devices (cell phones and computers) MUST be turned off during class. 2) No guests (this includes children) are allowed to attend class without prior permission from the professor. 3) During the exam the student MAY NOT leave the examination room until the examination is completed. If a student leaves the room, he will receive F for that exam. 4) Make-up exams are provided only under exceptional circumstances and with proper documentation. 5) If there is a death in the family, major illness, or religious holiday, it must be documented. Grading System: A C A C B C B D B- Below 60 F Course Materials: Required books: 1) Julia Clancy-Smith/Charles D. Smith, The Modern Middle East and North Africa: A History in Documents, (2014) NY; Oxford University Press. recitation. Writing-to-communicate emphasizes aspects of writing (style, grammatical correctness, coherence, focus) that allow a reader to navigate the writing as he or she wishes.

4 2) The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 8th Edition by Mark Gasiorowski and Sean Yom, (2017), West View Press, Boulder, Colorado. Course Schedule Week One: January 16 and 18 Course Introduction Geographical Characteristics and Ethnic and Linguistic Differences 1. Evolution of the Middle East 2. Religions in the Middle East, 3. Who Are Arabs? 4. Emergence of Islam & the Islamic Empire Julia Clancy-Smith/Charles D. Smith, Introduction, pp Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair, Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power, pp Hand-out Week Two: January 23 and 25 Expansion of Islam into the neighboring areas 1. Military Expansion into North Africa, Spain and Portugal 2. Cultural Confrontation between the Existing and the Imposed Islamic 3. Introduction of Islamic Art and Architecture and the Number System among others Julia Clancy-Smith Charles D. Smith, The Modern Middle East and North Africa, pp Quiz One: January 23 Map of the Middle East Week Three: January 30 and February 1 Western Colonization in the Middle East and North Africa A. French Invasion of Egypt 1. French Colonialism in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon and Syria B. British Invasion of Egypt and Colonization of the Country 1. Expansion of British Colonialism to Persian Gulf Arabian Peninsula 2. Impact of Colonialism on the Regional countries 3. Discovery of Oil in Iran Early 20 th Century Julia Clancy-Smith/Charles D. Smith, Week Four: February 6 and 8

5 C. Defeat of Ottoman Empire at the End of WWI 1. Regional Consequence of the Collapse and the Break-Up of Ottoman Empire Week Five: February 13 and 15 Middle East since the End of WWII The Emergence of Muslim Brothers in Egypt A. Departure of Colonial Powers B. The United States Regional Prominence C. The Impact of Cold War on the Regional States D. Zionism and the Establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and Consequences 1. The Israeli War with Neighboring Countries: 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 Julia Clancy-Smith/Charles D. Smith, pp Week Six: February 20 and 22 Iran Mark Gasiorowski and Sean L. Yom, pp Second Quiz: February 20 Week Seven: February 27 and March 1 Persian Gulf countries Mark Gasiorowski/Sean L. Yom, Gulf countries pp Week Eight: March 6 and 8 Emergence of Radical Islamist Movements The Role of the Egyptian Muslim Brothers Emergence and the Spread of Al-Qa ida March 8, Midterm Exam Week Nine: March 13 and 15 Spring Break Week Ten: March 20 and 22 Government, Politics and Economics of the Middle East in comparative perspective Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter One

6 Week Eleven: March 27 and 29 Republic of Turkey Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter Seven Week Twelve: April 3 and 5 Syrian Arab Republic Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter Two Quiz Three April 5 Week Thirteen: April 10 and 12 Arab Republic of Egypt Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter Thirteen Week Fourteen: April 17 and 19 The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter Four Quiz Four April 19 Week Fifteen: April 24 and 26 Republic of Iraq Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter Eight Week Sixteen: May 1 and 4 Republic of Lebanon Gasiorowski and Yom Chapter Three Final Exam will be on Tuesday May 8 from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.