Course Description
Examines the contested encounter between Europe and the Islamic
World, from the medieval period until the present day. Topics
will include the origins of Christianity and Islam; conquest
and reconquest in the medieval era; the Habsburg-Ottoman
rivalry; Orientalism; and the Christian-Muslim frontier in the
modern period.
Athena Title
European Encounter with Islam
Prerequisite
Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the European encounter with Islam by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of the European encounter with Islam has shaped diverse social and cultural attitudes toward religion, race, and belonging, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
Topical Outline
- Introduction: Samuel Huntington and the Clash of Civilizations
- Origins: Genesis, the Gospels, and the Quran
- Muhammad and the Early Expansion of Islam
- Al-Andalus: Conflict, Conversion, and Assimilation in the Land of Three Faiths
- Crusades: Christians at the Crossroads of Civilizations
- Enemies at the Gate: Ottomans, Venetians, and Habsburgs
- Napoleonic Invasion of Egypt: Al-Jabarti's view of the French
- Edward Said: Orientalism in the Post-Enlightenment Era
- Europe and Islam in the Age of World Wars
- Decolonization: French Algeria
- What's in a Headscarf? Muslims in Modern Europe
- Conclusion: The Clash of Civilizations Revisited
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
