Department of History Trent University Hist-3650Y-A: History of the Modern Middle East, 1800-Today FW Peterborough

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1 Department of History Trent University Hist-3650Y-A: History of the Modern Middle East, 1800-Today FW Peterborough Instructor: Marion Boulby Office: Lady Eaton College, S101.1 Tel: (ext.7837) Lecture: Monday, 11:00-12:50, DNA B110 Office Hours, Tuesday, 2-4 and by appointment Course Description This is an introductory course covering major developments in the history of the modern Middle East from the last century of the Ottoman Empire to the present day. Topics covered will include the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, European colonization of parts of the Middle East, decolonization and the rise of nation states, the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, the emergence of twentieth/ twenty first century Islamist movements such as al-qaeda and Hamas, US foreign policy in the region and the war in Iraq. Although we will cover a broad sweep of political history in this course we will also discuss aspects of micro social and cultural history, the stories of not only the lifestyles of the rich and famous but of everyday Middle Eastern lives. Discussion and analysis of the region from individual perspectives forms a major part of the seminars (more information on these is included below). Course Format Peterborough Campus: a weekly two hour lecture, OCA 208, Monday, 16:00-17:50 and a biweekly one hour seminar. Learning Outcomes: I have developed the course to address several learning outcomes. By the end of this course a successful student should: 1

2 1. Have increased depth and breadth of knowledge about the Middle East 2. Have developed an awareness of different methodological approaches to studying the history of the region. 3. Have increased appreciation of the challenges of inter-cultural study 4. Have developed research skills. 5. Have enhanced oral and written communication skills. Course Evaluation Tutorial participation (attendance and participation 10%, research presentation 5%) 15% The tutorial sessions are an essential and integral part of this course. They provide a forum for small group learning and discussion. They will be used for discussion of readings, lectures, research methods and review. Tutorials will meet every second week. In the second term, students will have the opportunity in seminars of presenting their research paper topics to other students for discussion and peer feedback. Students are expected to be fully prepared for tutorials. Two book review assignments 20% DUE: Oct.15, Nov. 26, Feb.11, March 11. Approximately 1000 words. Students choose one of two assignments in each term. They are based on seminar discussions and questions assigned by the instructor. These assignments are intended to give students a variety of perspectives on Middle Eastern lives, to encourage lively discussion and to sharpen analytical skills. Mid-term Exam 20% November 19 Students will answer two questions in essay format in a two hour period. Final Exam 20% TBA Students will answer two questions in essay format in two hour period. These questions will be based on the material covered only after the mid term Exam. Research Paper Proposal 5% DUE: February 11 Approximately 300 words. The research proposal serves the purpose of giving students the opportunity, in close consultation with the instructor, of developing a feasible topic. The proposal should include a statement of an historical question, a hypothesis and a preliminary outline. Research Paper 20% DUE: March 18 2

3 Approximately 6000 words. The goal of the research paper is two-fold: first to provide students with an opportunity to work independently on a topic which is of interest to them; second to encourage the development of historical research skills. Students are encouraged to work with both primary and secondary sources and are expected to cite a bibliography of a minimum of 15 sources. Students will be encouraged to develop topics of their own choice with the guidance of the instructor. University Policies Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate yourself unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent s Academic Integrity website to learn more: Access to Instruction: It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Disability Services Office (BH Suite 132, disabilityservices@trentu.ca). for Trent University in Oshawa Disability Services office contact Complete text can be found under Access to Instruction in the Academic Required Texts Bari Atwan The Secret History of al-qaeda Cleveland and Bunton, A History of the Modern Middle East. Fernea, Elizabeth Warnock. Guests of the Sheikh Izzaldin Abuleish, I Shall Not Hate Riverbend, Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq Learning System/Blackboard PowerPoints will be posted on Blackboard after lectures. Students should make a habit of logging into the Learning System/Blackboard regularly to check for updates from the instructor, assignment postings and study guides. 3

4 . Lecture and Seminar Schedule Fall and Winter Terms N.B. This schedule may be slightly altered especially in the event of visiting speakers or film availability. Date: Topics Reading (Cleveland) Seminar Sept.10 Introduction Studying the Middle East Sept. 17 Islam and the Middle East 1-35 Studying the Middle East Sept. 24 Ottomans and Safavids Fernea Oct.1 Forging a Synthesis: Reforms Fernea Oct.8 NO CLASS Thanksgiving Oct. 15 Egypt and Iran in the 19 th century Riverbend October 15 th Fernea Assignment Due Oct.22 NO CLASSES READING WEEK Oct.29 Response of Islamic Society Riverbend Nov. 5 Debating Gender Roles Review Nov. 12 Modern Zionism Review Nov.19 Midterm Nov.26 World War 1 in the Middle East ; *Film Nov.26 Riverbend assignment due! Dec.3 World War 1 cont d. Film WINTER BREAK Jan. 7 Authoritarian Reform: Turkey and Iran, Abuleish Jan. 14 Palestine Mandate: Nat lism and Zionism, Abuleish Jan.21 World War II, Israelis and Palestinians, TBA 4

5 Jan.28 The 1967 war, Israelis and Palestinians, TBA Feb.4 Hafez al-asad and Saddam Hussein, Atwan Feb. 11 Iranian Revolution Atwan Feb.11 Abuleish assignments due! Research proposals due! Feb.18 NO CLASSES READING WEEK Feb. 25 Arabian Peninsula and Petrodollars Presentations March 4 Palestinian Intifada and Gulf War Presentations March 11 A Peace so Far? Israelis and Palestinians, Presentations March 11 Atwan assignments due! March 18 The Afghan Crucible and 9/ Presentations March 18 Research Papers Due! March 25 The Arab Spring **TBA Review April 7 Conclusions and review Review Course policies Written assignments should be submitted to the instructor in the online electronic drop box on the day they are due. If this is not possible they can be accepted by the professor in person in her office or in class on the day they are due. Extensions for assignments will only be given in cases of documented illness or personal emergency. In other cases late papers will be penalized by 5% a day. No papers will be accepted more than one week after the assignment due date without documentation *Dependent on film availability. ** Due to the rapidly evolving events of the Arab spring the instructor will provide a relevant reading assignment at a later date. 5