Overview
This course offers students an overview of modern Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) history. Following a mix of thematically and chronologically organized topics, it surveys key historical events in the region from the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the present day. In doing so, the course covers the topics of colonialism, nationalism, decolonization, modern state-building, gendered citizenship, consolidation of authoritarian rule, Islamism, and the Middle Eastern and North African uprisings of 2011.
One important feature of this course is its commitment to amplifying the voices of the peoples of MENA societies, allowing for original insights into contemporary issues of concern. By prioritizing these perspectives, the course encourages students to critically analyze the mainstream historical narratives that have shaped the MENA region.
Outline
HIST 385 is divided into twelve units, organized in three parts:
Unit 1: Introducing the Course
Part I: Introduction (7th century–1914)
Unit 2: The Advent and Expansion of Islam (610–661)
Unit 3: From Tribes to Empires (661–18th century)
Unit 4: The Era of Transformation (18th century–1914)
Part II: Colonialism, Nationalisms, and Modern State-Building (1914–1950s)
Unit 5: The Creation of the MENA (1914–1930s)
Unit 6: Nationalisms and Modern Feminisms (1914–1945)
Unit 7: The Creation of Israel (1948)
Part III: Independent States: Some Features (1940s–1970s)
Unit 8: Religion in Modern State-Building (1940s)
Unit 9: Human Rights in Modern State-Building (1940s–1960s)
Unit 10: Power Dynamics in Modern State-Building (1940s–1970s)
Part IV: Popular Revolts Against Authoritarian Rule (1979 & 2011)
Unit 11: The Iranian Revolution (1979)
Unit 12: MENA Revolts of 2011
Learning outcomes
HIST 385 has five major learning outcomes. After completing this course, students should be able to:
- Describe the history of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region from the 19th century to present.
- Describe the history of European and American imperialism in the MENA region.
- Analyze postcolonial and feminist approaches to history.
- Synthesize your interest in research, reading, and field work.
- Apply your critical thinking skills, developed through the completion of reading and writing assignments.
Evaluation
To receive credit for HIST 385, you must complete and submit a Work-Integrated Learning Project (30%), three Elective Assignments (20% each) selected from the list below, and a Final Quiz (10%). You must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the project, each of the assignments, and the quiz, as well as an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the course.
You will be evaluated on your understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on your ability to apply those concepts. Your final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the completed project, assignments, and quiz.
Mandatory Assignments (40%)
Complete and submit:
- Work-Integrated Learning Project (30%)
- Final Quiz (10%)
Elective Assignments (60%)
Complete and submit three of:
- Research Paper (20%)
- Experiential Learning Paper (20%)
- Presentation (20%)
- Book Review (20%)
- Film Review (20%)
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Al-Taweel, Hekmat. Come my Children. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 2023.
Clancy-Smith, Julia, & Charles D. Smith. The Modern Middle East and North Africa: A History in Documents. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Gelvin, James L. The Modern Middle East: A History. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.
Other Materials
The course also includes a range of podcasts and documentary films that explore themes related to the history of the contemporary Middle East and North Africa. Access to these readings, documentaries, and podcasts is facilitated through links provided within the course materials.