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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 241"
COURSE NAME: "History of Islam II: Mamluks & Ottomans (1250-1918)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Roggema Barbara
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 14:30-15:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment, preferably Tue/Thu at 17.15
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The aim of this course is to give students an in-depth survey of the history of the Middle East from the time of the crusaders to the end of the Ottoman Empire (i.e. 13th-19th c.) and to teach them how to interpret political, religious and cultural developments in the Muslim world in the light of the material surveyed. The course complements courses on medieval and modern Europe and Middle Eastern politics.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course will review the major political and religious developments of this period, beginning with the dynamic thirteenth century that witnessed the Mongol conquest and the end of the Abbasid dynasty. Next, the course will discuss the politics and culture of the Mamluks (1250-1500) and the Ottomans (1500-1900), with in-depth discussions of religious and social aspects, and with a focus on the manifestation of Islam in these societies.  
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students who have successfully completed the course will:
-- have thorough knowledge of this historical period, especially regarding the growth of Islam and the social and cultural worlds of the Mamluk and Ottoman eras.
-- be able to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to understand medieval and modern political and social processes in the Middle East
-- be able to express their own critical views on historical developments in Middle East
-- have improved their writing skills
-- have improved their critical reading skills
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
A History of Islamic SocietiesIra LapidusCambridge University Press 0521779332     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
1st written assignmentcritical analysis of a scholarly article on the Mamluk system10%
2nd written assignmentcritical analysis of two scholarly articles on the rise of the Ottomans10%
short paper and presentationanalysis of an aspect of Ottoman society as described by Suraiya Faroqhi in Subjects of the Sultan. Culture and daily life in the Ottoman Empire, New York, 2005.25%
midtermmidterm exam20%
final examfinal exam25%
active participationactive participation in classroom discussions, including responses to presentations of other students10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

A- excellent, B- good, C- satisfactory, D- poor but passing, F- failing

For a more detailed description of attendance and grading policy, see the university catalogue.


-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Three classes may be missed. If a student misses more classes, the participation grade (10% of total) will result in an F.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE


Class

Date

Subject[1]

Readings[2]

Additional notes

1

Jan 17

Introduction

2

Jan 19

Middle Eastern history 600-1250

Lapidus, 3-17

3

Jan 24

Middle Eastern history 600-1250

Lapidus, 18-33

4

Jan 26

Middle Eastern history 600-1250

Lapidus, 45-66

H. Kennedy, ‘The Caliphate’, in Y.M. Choueiri (ed), A Companion to the History of the Middle East, Malden, 2005, 52-67 = MyJCU

5

Jan 31

13th c. Middle East: Ayyubids, Crusaders, Mongols and Mamluks

Lapidus, 283-294

1st writing assignment due

6

Feb 2

13th c. Middle East: Ayyubids, Crusaders, Mongols and Mamluks

A.-M Eddé, ‘Bilad al-Sham, from the Fatimid conquest to the fall of the Ayyubids (359-658/970-1260), in M. Fierro (ed), New Cambridge History of Islam, Cambridge, 2010, vol. 2, 161-200 = MyJCU

7

Feb 7

Political and military aspects of Mamluk society

A. Levanoni, ‘The Mamluks in Egypt and Syria: the Turkish Mamluk sultanate (648-784/1250-1382) and the Circassian Mamluk sultanate (784-923/1382-1517)’, in M. Fierro (ed), New Cambridge History of Islam, Cambridge, 2010, vol. 2, 237-284 = MyJCU

(corrected version of 1st writing assignment due)

8

Feb 9

Political and military aspects of Mamluk society

U. Haarmann, ‘Joseph’s Law – the careers and activities of Mamluk descendents before the Ottoman conquest of Egypt’, in: T. Philipp and U. Haarmann (eds), The Mamluks in Egyptian politics and society, Cambridge, 1998, 55-84 = MyJCU

Class discussion (+ written preparation for discussion)

9

Feb 14

Social and religious aspects of Mamluk society

(corrected version of 1st writing assignment due)

10

Feb 16

Social and religious aspects of Mamluk society

J.P. Berkey, ‘The Mamluks as Muslims: the military elite and the construction of Islam in medieval Egypt’, in: T. Philipp and U. Haarmann (eds), The Mamluks in Egyptian politics and society, Cambridge, 1998, 163-73 = MyJCU

Class discussion

11

Feb 21

Summary and review: the Middle East, 600-1517

12

Feb 23

MIDTERM EXAM

13

Feb 28

Origins and rise of the Ottomans

Lapidus, 248-268

C.E. Bosworth, The New Islamic Dynasties, Edinburgh, 2004, 239-42 = MyJCU

14

Mar 1

Origins and rise of the Ottomans

K. Fleet, ‘The rise of the Ottomans’, in M. Fierro (ed), New Cambridge History of Islam, Cambridge, 2010, vol. 2,  

313-331 = MyJCU

D. Goffman, The Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe, Cambridge, 2002, 27-54 = MyJCU

15

Mar 6

Ottoman power 1450-1700

Lapidus, 268-275

2nd writing assignment due

16

Mar 8

Ottoman power 1450-1700

Documentary film

17

Mar 13

Ottoman power 1450-1700

J. McCarthy, The Ottoman Turks. An Introductory History to 1923, London, 1996,

145-91 = MyJCU

(corrected version of 2nd writing assignment due)

18

Mar 15

Social, cultural and religious aspects of Ottoman society

S. Faroqhi, Subjects of the Sultan. Culture and daily life in the Ottoman Empire, New York, 2005 [excerpted chapters, to be distributed as photocopies]

Class presentations

19

Mar 27

Social, cultural and religious aspects of Ottoman society

id.

Class presentations

20

Mar 29

Social, cultural and religious aspects of Ottoman society

id.

Class presentations

21

Apr 3

Unity and diversity in Ottoman-ruled lands

K. Barkey, Empire of difference. The Ottomans in comparative perspective, Cambridge, 2008, 109-53 = MyJCU

Class presentations

22

Apr 5

Unity and diversity in Ottoman-ruled lands

id.

PAPER DEADLINE

23

Apr  10

The transformation and decline of the Ottoman empire 1700-1923

Lapidus, 489-511

24

Apr 12

The transformation and decline of the Ottoman empire 1700-1923

D. Quataert, The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922, Cambridge, 2005, 54-73 = MyJCU

M. Sukru Hanioglu, A Brief History of the Late Ottoman Empire, Princeton, 2008, 72-108 = MyJCU

25

Apr 17

Religious trends in Islam 1250-1900

J. Hathaway, The Arab Lands under Ottoman Rule, 1516-1800, London, 2008, 114-37 = MyJCU

26

Apr 19

FINAL EXAM

27

Apr 21

The Muslim World beyond the Ottoman empire

Lapidus, 356-399

28

Apr 26

The Muslim World beyond the Ottoman empire

Lapidus, 400-449


[1] The topics printed in italics are thematic sessions. The other classes consist of chronological surveys.

[2] The readings listed here do not include occasional handouts and short reference materials. This list may be subject to small changes.