Courses for Advanced Arabic Introduction to the Islamic Textual Tradition A survey of the foundational texts of the Islamic faith. Students will read extensively from the Qur’an, hadith, and biographies of the Prophet. Reading selections will be supplemented with commentaries by later Muslim authors, and emphasis throughout will be on understanding how Muslims have interpreted, contextualized, and debated these central works at different points in history. Readings in Islamic Law Students will gain first-hand exposure to Arabic legal texts that deal with topics including ritual purity, commercial transactions, marriage and divorce, relations with non-Muslims, and the regulations governing warfare and jihad. Special attention will be given to the methods of deriving law from the Qur’an and Prophetic hadith, the development of divergent legal opinions, and the place of independent reasoning in the formulation of Islamic law. The Arabic Literature of Islamic West Africa A survey of the principal Arabic writings that have emerged from West Africa. Readings will be drawn from the court chronicles and biographies of Timbuktu, hagiographies from Mauretania, and jihadist and revivalist treatises from Sokoto. Emphasis will be on appreciating how Muslim authors from West Africa adopted and modified literary models from North Africa and the central Islamic lands. Students will also be given a comprehensive introduction to the Arabic manuscript tradition of West Africa. Readings in the Classical Arabic Historians This course will survey the different varieties of historical literature that emerged during the first six hundred years of Islam, including accounts of the Prophet’s life, narratives of Islamic conquest, universal histories, genealogical treatises, regional histories, and biographical and hagiographical works. The course will conclude with an examination of the theory of history proposed by Ibn Khaldun and its relation to earlier Arabic historical works. Islamic Theories of Government An exploration of the nature of governance in the Islamic polity. This course will initially examine the institutions that form the basis of Islamic rule, including juridical consultation, the binding oath of loyalty, and, most importantly, the caliphate. The Quranic and Prophetic origins for these institutions will come in for considerable examination, and students will investigate how Muslims have understood and implemented these institutions at different points in history. The course will conclude with a study of the dismantling of the caliphate in the early twentieth century, the reasons and consequences of its demise, and recent efforts aimed at restoring a unified caliphate to the Islamic world. Muslims and Others in Islamic History This course will present a historical overview of the ways in which Muslims have interacted with non-Muslims, and will provide students with an understanding of the regulations that have governed these interactions. Readings will be drawn from the Qur’an, Prophetic hadith, early Islamic state correspondence, the pact of ‘Umar, legal texts from Andalusia, geographical accounts of non-Muslim peoples, and jihadist treatises from French-occupied Algeria and Senegal. The Literature of Muslim Granada Grenada was the last city to fall to the Christian reconquest of al-Andalus, yet far from being a period of decline, the final century of Muslim Grenada was a time of remarkable literary innovation and originality. Students will read selections from a number of figures writing during this final period of Andalusian history, including the court poet Ibn Zamrak, the polymath historian Ibn al-Khatib, and the jurist Ibrahim al-Shatibi. Consideration will be given to the Alhmabra as a monument to the final century of Islam in Iberia. Attention will also be given to the theme of civilizational demise as it appears in the works of these figures, their relation to political authority and religious orthodoxy, and the influence of official patronage on their writings. Jihad: Doctrine and Historical Development A survey of the most important Arabic writings on jihad, from the time of the Prophet to the period of European colonial occupation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Emphasis throughout will be on understanding the regulations which govern jihad, the historical evolution of these regulations, and internal debates concerning the nature of jihad. Rhetoric and Poetics in the Islamic Tradition The first part of this course will survey Muslim theories concerning literary and poetic creation. The second part of the course will examine the various schools of thought concerning the miraculous nature of the Qur’an and the inimitability of its language. Challenges to this doctrine will also come in for consideration. Readings will be drawn from both medieval and modern authors. Readings in Classical Arabic Poetry Students will read selections of poetry from the Pre-Islamic period, the early Islamic poetry of Damascus, and the highly mannered poetry of ‘Abbasid Baghdad. Attention will be given to the crucial transition from paganism to Islamic monotheism and the influence this exerted on poetic form and content. The function of Arabic verse in an increasingly urbanized society will be considered, as will the place of the poet in the development of Islamic court culture. The Poetry of Umayyad Damascus A survey of the six major poets of the Umayyad period, al-Akhtal, Dhu al-Rummah, ‘Umar Ibn Abi al-Rabi’a, Farazdaq, Jarir, and al-‘Ajjaj. Students will gain an appreciation for the verse composed by these poets during the first Islamic century and its relation to pre-Islamic poetic models. Emphasis throughout will be on understanding the place poetry occupied as an arm of the Umayyad state, the workings of artistic patronage in an early Islamic milieu, and the role of poets in the development of a court culture in Damascus. The course will conclude with an examination of the verse composed by dissident and schismatic groups during this important period of Islamic history. The Literary Culture of ‘Abbasid Baghdad An exploration of the literature composed during the half-millennium of ‘Abbasid rule in Baghdad, roughly 750 -1250 CE, a period which is often considered the golden era of Islamic civilization. The course will draw from a wide range of literary genres including historical narrative, poetic verse, comedic rhymed prose, and ethical and philosophical treatises. Particular attention will be given to understanding the place Arabic literature occupied in a multi-ethnic Islamic state, its relation to religious orthodoxy, and the challenges posed by a resurgent Persian cultural and literary identity. Readings in Classical Arabic Prose A survey of the most important genres of Arabic prose, including early Prophetic biography, historical narrative, mirrors for princes, ethical treatises, comedic rhymed prose, travel accounts, and epistolary literature, all of which were brought to a high degree of refinement during the first millennium of Islamic history. The course will conclude by examining the development of ‘belles-lettres’ among twentieth-century Arab authors and its relation with earlier literary models. Readings in the Arabic Literature of Islamic Spain A broad survey of the varieties of Arabic literature that emerged during eight centuries of Islamic rule in Spain, including historical narrative, poetic verse, epistolary literature, ethical treatises, travel accounts, and legal and theological works. Emphasis throughout will be on understanding the often contentious relation between Andalusian authors and their eastern literary forebears. Special consideration will be given to two uniquely Andalusian poetic genres, the muwashshah and the zajal, and their possible relation with Romance verse. History of the Islamic Lands of the Western Mediterranean A wide-ranging exploration of Islam as it developed in the lands of the western Mediterranean. The course will cover the period of the early Islamic conquests to the experience of European colonial occupation and independence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The glories of Islamic Spain and Sicily will come in for considerable examination, as will the reasons behind their decline and collapse. A related consideration will be Muslim responses to European expansion and conquest of Islamic lands over the last five hundred years. Each session will focus around the close reading of a primary document in Arabic. Topics in Contemporary Arab Thought The twentieth century was a period of great political turmoil and cultural ferment for the Arab world. This course will survey Arab intellectual responses to European colonial occupation, confrontation with Israel, the experience of Arab nationalism, the growth of religious extremism, and US intervention in the Arabian Gulf. The course will conclude with a survey of writings on recent cultural and literary developments in the Arab world. Readings in Modern Arabic Literature Students will read selections from the Arabic literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including literary essays, novellas and short stories, drama, poetic verse, and novels. Consideration will be given to the importation and adaptation of European literary models, the politicizing trend of Arabic literature in the post-independence period, and the problematic relation of modern authors with the Arabic literary tradition. Modern Arabic Literature from North Africa Much attention has focused recently on the Francophone literature of North Africa, yet comparatively little is known of the vibrant Arabic fiction of modern North Africa. This course will explore the most important authors writing in Arabic today across North Africa, including Mohammad Berrada, al-Tahar Wattar, Ibrahim al-Kuni, Mohammad Zifzaf, and Mohammed Shukri. A principle focus of the course will be on appreciating the highly critical stance these authors have adopted toward post-independence rule in North Africa. Modern Palestinian Literature A survey of the literature written by Palestinians in the second half of the twentieth century. Reading selections will be drawn from the resistance poetry of Mahmoud Darwish, the highly politicized plays and novellas of Ghassan Kanafani, and the fantastical tales of Emile Habibi. Students will gain an understanding of the important role this literature has played in the formation of a Palestinian identity, and the central place it continues to hold in the Palestinian struggle for nationhood. Courses Offered in Translation Great Cities of the Islamic World A historical survey of five great cities of the Islamic world: Kufa, Damascus, Baghdad, Fez, and Cordova. Topics to be covered include the genesis of the Islamic city, transformation and continuity between the city in late antiquity and early Islamic urbanization, and the theological and legal considerations in Islamic urban planning. One architectural site of particular importance from each city will come in for in-depth examination Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture A wide-ranging historical survey of the principal forms of art and architecture in the Islamic world, including calligraphy, miniature painting, ceramic ware and woodwork, and architectural design. Consideration will be given to historical development and regional variation. The theological underpinnings and political implications of artistic expression in the Islamic world will be given extensive treatment. Religious Extremism in the Middle East: Origins and Development An investigation of the origins and growth of religious radicalism in the Middle East during the twentieth century. Emphasis will be on understanding the doctrinal and intellectual bases of extremism in the contemporary Islamic world. A number of case studies will follow, including the experience of the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt, the FIS in Algeria, the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the transnational network of al-Qaeda. Revolutions in Islamic History An examination of revolutions that have occurred at different points in Islamic history. The course will begin with a consideration of what revolution means in an Islamic context, focusing specifically on the messianic and revivalist impulses that have often served as sources of revolution in Islam. A number of case studies will follow, including the initial rise and spread of Islam as a revolution, the ‘Abbasid revolution of 750, and the Iranian revolution of 1979. Special consideration will be given to understanding the effort to create an authentically Islamic state in the wake of revolution. Iran in the Twentieth Century An in-depth investigation of Iranian history in the twentieth century. Topics to be covered include the demise of the Qajar dynasty, the westernizing rule of the Pahlavis, the tumultuous revolution of 1979, protracted war with Iraq in the 1980’s, and recent efforts to create an authentically Islamic state. Particular emphasis will be given to understanding the vision of Islamic society and government, vilayat-i faqih, as articulated by the Imam Khomeini. Introduction to Islamic Law Students will read selections from a range of Islamic legal texts that deal with ritual purity, commercial transactions, marriage and divorce, relations with non-Muslims, and the regulations governing warfare and jihad. Special attention will be given to methods of deriving law from the Qur’an and Prophetic hadith, the development of divergent legal opinions, and the place of independent reasoning in the formulation of Islamic law. Arab Nationalism: Origins, Rise, and Demise An examination of the trajectory of secular nationalism in the Arab world in the twentieth century. Topics to be covered include the European antecedents of Arab nationalism, the articulation of secular Pan-Arabism, and conflicts with religious orthodoxy. The course will include three case studies of Arab nationalism: Egypt and the Pan-Arabism of Jamal ‘Abd al-Nasser, Iraq and the Ba’ath Party of Saddam Hussein, and Libya and the Socialist Jamahiriya of Mu’ammar al-Qaddafi. The Mediterranean in History A wide-ranging consideration of the ecologicall and civilizational history of the Mediterranean basin. This course will include a strong geographical and environmental component, and will survey the history and interactions of the major civilizations of the Mediterranean, including Phonecian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Byzantine, and Ottoman. The Mediterranean as a site of conflict will be investigated, as will its place as a conduit for intellectual and cultural exchange. History of Islamic Spain A broad survey of eight centuries of Islamic civilization in Spain, from the initial conquest in the seventh century to the final expulsion of Muslims from Iberia in the late fifteenth century. Topics will include the nature of Islamic rule in Spain, relations with other Muslim states, responses to Christian reconquest, artistic and literary production, and civilizational collapse. The place of Islamic Spain in contemporary Islamist discourse will also be considered. Modern Arabic Literature An extensive survey of Arabic literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Students will read literary essays, novellas and short stories, drama, poetic verse, and novels from the Middle East and North Africa. Consideration will be given to the importation and adaptation of European literary models, the politicizing trend of Arabic literature in the post-independence period, and the problematic relation of modern authors with the Arabic literary tradition. Classical Arabic Poetry Students will read selections of poetry from the Pre-Islamic period, the early Islamic poetry of Damascus, the highly mannered poetry of ‘Abbasid Baghdad, and the innovative verse of Islamic Spain. Attention will be given to the crucial transition from paganism to Islamic monotheism and the influence this exerted on poetic form and content. The function of Arabic verse in an increasingly urbanized society will be considered, as will the place of the poet in the development of Islamic court culture. Students will also read translated passages of Arabic poetic theory and criticism, both medieval and modern, to further their appreciation of debates that took place in Arab literary circles. Classical Persian Poetry An introduction to the poetic tradition of Persia. Students will read selections from a wide range of poetic genres, including the mystical verse of ‘Attar and Rumi, the epic poetry of Firdawsi, the lyrical verse of Saadi, and the amorous ghazals of Hafez. Emphasis throughout will be on understanding borrowings from Arab poetic models, and developing an aesthetic appreciation for an important example of non-western poetry. Special Topics Cinema in the Middle East and North Africa An survey of four prominent filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa, including the neo-realist films of Yusuf Chahine, the revolutionary cinema of Lakhdar Hamima, the historical cinema of Ferid Boughedir, and the recent Persian films of Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Elementary Persian An introduction to the language of modern Iran. Students will learn to read the Persian script, and will gain an introductory knowledge of Persian grammar, vocabulary, and an ability to converse at a basic level. Introduction to Akkadian An introduction to the language of ancient Iraq. Students will acquire a basic knowledge of Akkadian grammar and vocabulary, and will learn approximately 120 signs from the neo-Assyrian syllabary. The course will conclude with brief reading selections drawn from Hammurabi’s law code, the epic of Gilgamesh, and an omen text. Secondary readings on Mesopotamian history and society will also be assigned. Semitic Linguistics Students will receive an overview of the methods of historical and comparative linguistics, and will focus on the techniques of reconstructing proto-semitic vocabulary and early Semitic grammar. The place of Semitic within the larger Afro-Asiatic language family will also be considered, and the course will conclude with an investigation of the features of early Semitic society