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NEAR E 210
Introduction to Islamic
Civilization
Autumn 2003
Course Location: SMI 120 Time:
TTh 2:30-4:20
MAPS
Professor: Selim S. Kuru
Office Hours: Monday 2:00- 3:00 P.M.
E-mail: selims@u.washington.edu
Telephone: 543-0697
TA: Matthew Erickson
E-mail: matteric@u.washington.edu
Sections:
AA 10:30-11:20 DEN 206
AB 12:30-01:20 DEN 305
AC 01:30-02:20 DEN 305
AD 02:30-03:20 DEN 312
Description:
After the Koran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad,
starting in 610 AD on the Hira Mountain,
Islam spread quickly and today it shapes the lives of diverse communities all
over the world. In an attempt to
disclose the richness and diversity of Islamic cultures, this course
investigates Islam as a culture and its historical development, challenging
common, and at times distorted, vision of Islam in the West, and especially
in the US, through a close look at the genesis, precepts, and history of the
religion, with a particular focus on modern debates concerning Islamic
cultures.
In order to do this, we will look at the origins and
main features of Islam. The expansion
of Islamic culture to distant and different lands, under the banners of great
Islamic empires in the early modern era, will be discussed. Finally, we will study the transformations
in the Islamicate cultures with the impact of
modernization, and the Western expansion.
We will cover the history of Islam with its several manifestations in
different and remote corners of the world among people who speak a myriad of
languages and who belong to distinct national, ethnic and racial groups.
While we do our readings and discussions our approach
will be questioning and inquisitive, and involve several questions, some of
which can be listed as the following: Why do we say Islamic civilization, but
not Christian civilization or Buddhist civilization? What is the importance of Koran and prophet
Muhammad’s life to an understanding of this religion? How did Islam expand,
and what is the situation today? What
kind of a difference does Islam make in lives of several communities, and how
do these communities reinterpret and define Islam in return? What is the
dynamic core of Islam and the reasons behind its longevity?
Class format:
This class has two major components: lectures which will be held two times a
week by Kuru (TTh), and
discussion sections, which will be held by Erickson (F). Kuru's lectures
will focus on the readings for background information and clarification of
difficult points. In the discussion
sections there will be group work on reading material and lectures that will
be coordinated and evaluated by Erickson.
I will also be available to discuss lectures and/or readings during my
office hours.
Readings and Resources:
We will read three books during the quarter with a few
chapters on electronic reserve. The
textbooks are available for purchase at the University Bookstore. The main class reader Cambridge Illustrated History of Islamic World consists of
articles written by outstanding scholars of Islam. For working on maps in order to acquire a
general knowledge of ‘the geography of Islam’, we will work with The
Historical Atlas of Islam.
Finally, a novel by Amin Maalouf,
Leo Africanuswill
be read and discussed during the lectures. It will be appreciated that you
challenge what you read. You should also remember that you are still
responsible to understand and master the information and arguments in these
readings and in my lectures.
Required
Readings:
F. Robinson (ed.),Cambridge Illustrated History of Islamic World
M. Ruthven et al, Historical Atlas of Islam
A. Maalouf, Leo Africanus
Electronic Reserve (Under Kuru)
https://eres.lib.washington.edu/eres/coursepage.aspx?cid=4968&page=docs
The web-site will be your major resource for preparation to
the discussion sections, pop quizzes, and final exam.
Requirements:
Readings. You must do the assigned readings for developing your historical
awareness, geographical and cultural knowledge, because only this way you can
develop sensitivity to alternative ways of thinking about Islam. While my lectures parallel the readings,
you will also discuss the readings during the sections (see Study Groups
below).
History,
Geography and Language of Islam. Students will be
responsible for (i) a basic timeline of Islamic
history, (ii) the knowledge of major Islamic centers, cities and countries
and their locations on the map, and (iii) a set of Arabic origined
terms.
For the geography of Islam you should consult Historical
Atlas of Islam as you do your readings.
I will point out the major sites that you should know during the
lectures and post these on the web every week.
Your readings introduce a basic terminology of Islam in italic letters. I will reduce the number of these terms
according to the frequency they are used in English, and their importance for
an understanding of Islam and Islamic cultures.
Attendance. Everyone must attend lectures
and sections regularly. And they also should meet with their groups to
prepare presentations of readings and questions. Attendance will be taken regularly in
weekly sections and through two pop quizzes, one-minute essays.
Study
Groups. Each
student will present a country during the sections. More information will be
given during the first section. A separate syllabus will be available on-line
for the quiz sections.
Evaluation:
Pop Quizzes .
There will be two pop quizzes during the quarter. They will include vocabulary questions,
multiple choice questions, and map questions.
Midterm.The Midterm exam is tentatively
scheduled for November 14, and the details about the midterm will be
announced by the third week of classes.
Final Exam.
The final exam will cover the entire course
material and will be a combination of multiple choice questions, vocabulary,
map questions and an essay question.
One-Minute Essays. From time to time, there will be a
one-minute essay assigned at the end of lecture. These are not graded, but
are used to see how you are approaching and interpreting the subject
material, additionally, these will be used to count for you class
participation grade.
Grading
%10 Pop quizzes
%20 Midterm
%35 Final
%20 Discussion Session
Preparations and participation
%15 Participation
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