History 212: Islamic History: Origins and Empire,

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1 History 212: Islamic History: Origins and Empire, American University of Beirut Department of History and Archaeology Instructor: Nadia El Cheikh College Hall, room 442, ext Office hours: Tuesday: 11:00-1:00 Learning outcomes This course outlines fundamental aspects of Islamic history and culture from the rise of Islam in the early seventh century, down to the fall of the Umayyad dynasty in 750. Upon completion of this course you can expect to have acquired knowledge of: The origins of Islam in Arabia, Islamic expansion, internal divisions, and the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty. The course emphasizes the themes of: Expansion and adaptation, the historical roots of Shiism, institutional developments, problems of societal integration and factors of decline. In addition you will be expected to improve your skills in: *Gaining a sense of historical change and methodologies. *Analyzing primary texts and documents. *Improve through class discussions constructive oral skills. *Improve your writing skills. *Improve your critical reasoning skills. Resources Available to Students Textbook: Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, 2 nd edition (London: Longman, 2006). Other assigned readings are placed on reserve in Jafet Library. Web resources: Grading Class participation contributes to 15 % of your final grade The students are required to write a mid-term exam 35% And a final exam: 50% Grading for History majors A mid-term exam:25% A final exam: 35% Book-Review: 25% Class participation: 15% Course Policy This course has a lecture-discussion format. Regular and informed participation in class is essential. All students must come to class having read and reflected on the readings and are expected to participate actively in class discussion. This course, in line with the university policy regarding academic honesty, considers any form of cheating a serious offense.

2 Schedule and September 30 Introduction October 2 (al-fitr holiday) Week I: The Problem of Sources Why is it so difficult to obtain a clear view of "what actually happened" at the origins of Islam? What are the strengths and limitations of the various literary-historical sources that purport to tell us about Islam's origins? October 7 Sources, Periodization and Historical Writing October 9 Problems of Sources: Discussion of Donner s Narratives of Islamic Origins, Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, Fred Donner, Narratives of Islamic Origins, Week II: Pre-Islamic Near East What were the political, social, economic and religious realities of pre-islamic Arabia? What was the significance of Mecca in pre-islamic Arabia? October 14 The Roots of Islamic Society October 16 Religion in Pre-Islamic Arabia: Discussion of Gibb s "Pre-Islamic Monotheism in Arabia." Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, H.A.R. Gibb, "Pre-Islamic Monotheism in Arabia," Harvard Theological Review 55 (1962), Week III: Muhammad in Mecca What can explain Muhammad s success? How might Islam have been perceived as a threat to Meccan society? October 21 The Near East in the Early Seventh Century October 23 The Early Life of Muhammad Discussion of Peters A Reader on Classical Islam, : Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, F. E. Peters, A Reader on Classical Islam,

3 Week IV: Muhammad and the Early Community in Madina What was the nature of the early community of Believers? How clear-cut were the community's boundaries in the beginning? October 28 The Community in Madina Discussion of Sergent s The Constitution of Madina. October 30 Confrontations and Triumph Reading: R. B. Sergent, The Constitution of Madina, Islamic Quarterly 8(1964), Week V: The Conquests Why were the Islamic armies able to make such rapid military advances? How was the early expansion of the Believers organized? How were conquered non-muslims to be treated? How were the Muslims perceived in the new conquered territories? How was the Muslim community affected by its conquests of the Byzantine and Sassanian empires? November 4 The Succession of Abu Bakr and the Spread of the Conquests November 6 Early Views of Islam: Discussion of: Brock, "Syriac Views of Emergent Islam," and Hoyland s Seeing Islam as Others Saw It, Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, Fred Donner, The Early Islamic Conquests, Sebastian Brock, "Syriac Views of Emergent Islam," in G.H.A. Juynboll (ed.), Studies on the First Century of Islamic Society, 9-21 (notes ). Robert Hoyland, Seeing Islam as Others Saw It, WeekVI: The Umma s Divisions What were the major divisions in the Muslim community? what circumstances occasioned them, and what, in your opinion, is the greater historical significance of those divisions? November 11 The Murder of Uthman Discussion of al-tabari s The Murder of Uthman. November 13 The Caliphate of Ali Heinz Halm The Commander of the Faithful: Ali b. Abi Talib, Shi a Islam: From Religion to Revolution, Al-Tabari, The Murder of Uthman. November 18 MID-TERM

4 Week VII: The Quran How was the Quran revealed? How and when was it collected? What are its external forms and features? Lecture November 20 The Quran I Reading Michel Cook, The Koran, a very Short Introduction, 3-20 and Week VIII: The Quran Perspectives on women in the Qur an. The Formation of the Islamic canon and its relation to women s status, including polygamy and the veil. Comparison of creation stories in Bible and Qur an. November 25 The Quran II November 27 The Quran and Women Discussion of Status of Women in the Quran, Fazlur Rahman, Status of Women in the Quran, Guity Nashat (ed), Women and Revolution in Iran (Boulder, 1983), Quran: Sura 12 (Yusuf). Week IX: Women & Islam What was the predominant historical context within which Islam emerged? Did Islam reinforce patriarchy or did Islam actually advocate egalitarian gender relations? December 2 Gender Relations in Transition: Women and the Rise of Islam December 4 An Early Muslim Woman: Aisha Leila Ahmed, "Women and the Advent of Islam," Signs 11(1986)#4, Denise Spellberg, "Political Action and Public Example: Aisha and the battle of the Camel," in Women in Middle Eastern History: Shifting Boundaries in Sex and Gender, eds. Nikki Keddie and Beth Aron, Week X: The Umayyad Caliphate December 9 Al Adha holiday December 11 The Umayyad Caliphate: Islamization and Arabization Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, G. R. Hawting, The First Dynasty of Islam,

5 Week XI: The Umayyad Caliphate: the Sufyanid Period What was the importance of al-sham in the Umayyad period? What were the transformations in Syria from antiquity to Islamdom? December 16 The Reign of Mu awiya Discussion of Beg s The Reign of Mu awiyya: A Critical Survey. December 18 Identity, Elites and Regionalism M. A. J. Beg, The Reign of Mu awiyya: A Critical Survey, Islamic Culture 51(1977), Week XII: The Umayyad Caliphate: Transition In what ways did Karbala and the subsequent civil war change the character of the caliphate? In what ways was the Arab-Muslim Madina different from the Hellenistic Polis? December 23 Karbala January 8 The Civil War Discussion of Kennedy s From Polis to Madina. Hugh Kennedy, The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, G. R. Hawting, The First Dynasty of Islam, Hugh Kennedy, From Polis to Madina: Urban Change in Late Antique and Early Islamic Syria, Past and Present 106(1985), Week XIII: The Umayyad Caliphate: The Marwanids Can we identify the key institutions that permit us to describe the community of Believers as a state, and when did they appear? What can be discerned from the Umayyad building projects about their state? January 13 The Marwanid Caliphate: Changes in Government and Administration January 15 Al-Walid and Umar b. Abd al-aziz Discussion of Donner s The Formation of the Islamic State. R. Ettinghausen, The Proclamation of Universal Power: the Umayyad Monuments, Arab Painting, Fred M. Donner, "The Formation of the Islamic State," Journal of the American Oriental Society 106 (1986), Week XIV: The Fall of the Umayyads and the Dawn of a New Age January 20 The fall of the Umayyads January 22 Revision