131-046 Great Empires of Islamic Civilisation

Formerly available as 131-238/338. Students who have completed 131-238 or 131-338 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first year history or Islamic studies, see Prerequisites.

This subject examines the growth of Islamic civilisation in the period between the revelation of the Quran and the end of Muslim rule in Spain in 1492. The study focuses on the Arabic and Turkish-speaking areas of western Asia, North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, and its aim is to understand the conditions in which religiously founded political empires appeared; the relationships between religion, power, culture and economy; and the role of ethnicity and language in the creation of political and cultural communities. On completion of the subject students should be familiar with the theories about the causes of the rise and fall of the Islamic empires and understand the role of religion in integrating and disintegrating multi-ethnic states.

• be able to think critically and analyse complex issues;

• develop their ability to research in depth primary materials relating to such issues;

• have an ability to present their findings orally to a class, and in effective written prose for assessment.

A written document exercise of 500 words 15% (due in week 4), a written document exercise of 500 words 15% (due at the end of semester) and a project of 3000 words 70% (due during the examination period).

A subject reader will be available.