HISTORY OF THE NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST FROM MUHAMMAD TO CONTEMPORARY AGE

History of the Middle East from the emergence of Islam to Contemporary Age is about events, politics and structures of a large geographic area beyond nowadays national borders. It is therefore essential for any students involved with languages and cultures of the Near/Middle East.

Students will learn essential data concerning Medieval, Early-Modern and Contemporary Near/Middle East, such as peculiar events linked to the history of Islam and of other religions of the concerned area, as well as structural patterns that have influenced it in the middle and long term. Acquiring knowledge and awareness on such topics, the students will then be able to progress towards further education in Oriental Studies.

No previous knowledge in the field is required.

First Part: 600-1000
- Foundation of Islam
- Impact of conquests
- Context of religious dissent and Sciism
- Concept of leadership
- Implications of sectarian divisions
- Status of non-Muslim communities
- Challenges of the imperial order
- Law and Society
- Reasons behind political fragmentation
- Scientific and philosophical progress
- Art and architecture
- Expression of Arabic and Persian identities through literature, urban culture, international trade, handwriting considered as cultural value
Second Part: 1000-1500
- Establishment of Turkic dynasties
- Expansion of Islam in Anatolia and South Asia
- Origin and role of the New Persian Language
- Institutionalization of Sufism
- Origin of medrese
- Impact of Crusades
- Theoretical and applied sciences
- Mongol invasions
- Social and political re-establishment after the invasions
Third Part: History of Modern Near East
The Near East during and after the Ottoman rule, from the emergence of Muhammad Ali to the end of the First World War, with special focus upon the decentralization processes and the formation of autonomous states.

A. Bausani, La civiltà musulmana da Maometto (570-632) alla fine del Califfato abbaside (1258), in A. Guillou, F. Burgarella e Id., L'Impero bizantino e l'Islamismo, Nuova Storia Universale dei Popoli e delle Civiltà, Vol. VI, Parte prima, Torino, UTET 1981, pp. 269-370.

A. Bausani, La Persia dalla conquista islamica ad oggi, in A. Guillou, F. Burgarella e Id., L'Impero bizantino e l'Islamismo, Nuova Storia Universale dei Popoli e delle Civiltà, Vol. VI, Parte prima, UTET 1981, pp. 371-508.

E. Ashtor, Storia economica e sociale del Vicino Oriente nel Medioevo, Torino, Einaudi 1982.

W.L. Cleveland e M. Bunton, A History of the Modern Middle East, Westview Press 2012.

Written test based on five open questions. Specific knowledge and, furthermore, personal interpretations and comparisons will be welcome.

Lectures and discussion of assigned readings.

Italian

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development