HIST 37: Later Islamic Civilization & the Modern Muslim World

Sarah Shields

This course will survey the Islamic World from 1500 to today. Because Muslims can be found almost everywhere, it incorporates much of the world. This course will therefore provide only a sweeping outline of the rich and varied world that Muslims have defined, molded, and inhabited. We will read novels to get a sense of how people made choices and understood their lives in the past; we will search the internet to find out how Muslims view the world today. Students will keep journals about current issues and the way they are portrayed in our media. They will write short analyses of the books they read. Finally, students will examine the historical roots of current issues for a short final project. No previous experience or knowledge expected.