The Middle East, 1794 - Present (HIS 306)
Term: 2024-2025 Academic Year Spring
Description
The course begins in 1794 with the establishment of the Qajar Dynasty in present-day Iran and emerging turmoil in the world's then-preeminent empire: the Ottoman Empire, headquartered in Istanbul. Primarily, the course traces the political, social, cultural, and economic evolution of the Middle East - while also considering such factors as geography and climate - through the fall of empires, the rise of European imperialism, the reestablishment of autonomy and independence, Middle Eastern "soft imperialism", post 9/11 turmoil, and ending with the post-Arab Spring period. Discussion of primary source readings in an important aspect of the course. Prerequisite: any 100-level or 200-level history course, or permission of the instructor.