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The Middle East Since 1914


Course Description

History of the Middle East from World War I to the present, focusing on political, religious, cultural, and economic circumstances.


Athena Title

MID EAST SINCE 1914


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in HIST 2560 or HIST 3570H


Semester Course Offered

Offered every year.


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

The principal objective of the course is to teach students to think critically for themselves about the relationships between the past and the present, to learn to ask questions of the past that enable them to understand the present and mold the future, and to become attuned to both the limitations and possibilities of change. In general students will be expected to: 1. read a wide range of primary and secondary sources critically. 2. polish skills in critical thinking, including the ability to recognize the difference between opinion and evidence, and the ability to evaluate--and support or refute--arguments effectively. 3. write stylistically appropriate and mature papers and essays using processes that include discovering ideas and evidence, organizing that material, and revising, editing, and polishing the finished papers.


Topical Outline

The Ottoman Empire and World War I Nationalism and Imperialism in the Middle East The Rise of Pan-Arab Nationalism The Arab-Israeli Conflict The Cold War in the Middle East The Oil Boom and the Changing Balance of Power The Changing Role of Women in the Region The United States and its Role in the Middle East The Iranian Revolution The Iraq Wars New Media and Public Opinion


Syllabus