Conquerors, Caliphs, and Converts: The Making of the Islamic World, c.600-800
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| HIST2066 | History | 2 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- HIST2066
- School
- History
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
In 600, the Middle East was divided between two historic empires, Rome and Persia. By 700, however, this longstanding political order had been completely overthrown by the armies of the new Islamic caliphate. The Islamic conquests had profound and transformative consequences for Middle Eastern society (and beyond). This module will examine the remarkable speed and success of the conquests, and consider the conquerors’ approaches to managing their vast new territories. Following recent trends in historical research, it will also examine how the non-Muslim majority of the Middle East, including Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, viewed their new rulers and adjusted to their new situation. The module will reflect the diversity of the caliphate, drawing upon sources (in English translation) written in languages including Arabic, Greek, Syriac, Pahlavi, and Armenian, in genres ranging from scholarly Islamic histories to Christian and Jewish apocalyptic accounts. The module will also focus on the impressive material culture of the period, including monumental architecture such as the Dome of the Rock and the Umayyad Desert Palaces, as well as coinage and inscriptions. It will tackle big questions about cultural interaction, religious belief and belonging, conversion and community formation, and ask what had really changed between 600 and 800.
Target Students
Only available to year 2 students in the department of History, the department of Classics & Archaeology, and the department of Theology & Religious Studies, and BA Liberal Arts.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Students will be instructed via a series of lectures and seminars
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: Essay 2,500 words.
- 50% Coursework 2: Source based assessment 2,500 words.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims:1) To build students’ understanding of the main developments in Middle Eastern history, c.600-800 CE2) To develop students’ confidence and skills in tackling a wide range of primary sources of various genres (both textual and material)3) To enable students to analyse modern scholarly debates and interpretations of this period on the basis of primary source analysisLearning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding. By the end of the module, students will be able to:
- Describe and discuss the main developments in Middle Eastern history in the period 600-800
- Identify and analyse major trends in modern historiography on this period
Intellectual Skills. By the end of the module, students will be able to:
- Critically analyse, compare and synthesise primary sources of diverse genres and types (including archaeology and material culture) from the early Islamic period
- Debate and evaluate modern historians’ interpretations of early Islamic history, reaching independent judgements on the basis of primary source analysis
Transferable skills. By the end of the module, students will:
- Develop their critical thinking skills by comparing, synthesising, and analysing information of different types and from different sources
- Demonstrate confidence in oral communication, discussing complex debates and potentially sensitive topics in religious history in a responsible manner