GLS 220 - The Middle East and Islam

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: General

This course surveys the civilization of the Middle East from Muhammad and Islam to the Islamic caliphate and civilization, Ottomans, modernism, Western empires, Arab-Israeli conflict, contemporary Islamic revival, instability and terrorism, Muslim diaspora and the strategic importance of the Middle East to the United States and world economy.
Competencies

Broadly survey the physical and cultural geography of the Middle East
1. Discuss the term “the Middle East.”
2. Discuss the physical geography
3. Discuss the ethnic, linguistic and religious diversities of the Middle East.
Broadly survey the pre-Islamic history of the Middle East
1. Discuss the ancient civilizations
2. Discuss the Greco-Roman civilizations
3. Discuss the rise of the Christian East.
4. Discuss pre-Islamic Arabia
Survey the rise of Islam
1. Discuss the life of Muhammad
2. Discuss the five pillars of Islam
3. Discuss the rise of Islamic Arabia
Survey the expansion of Islam and the rise of Islamic civilization
1. Analyze the reasons for the rapid military expansion of Islam.
2. Discuss the Islamic synthesis of civilization
3. Discuss the intellectual achievements of Islamic civilization.
4. Discuss the universal Muslim caliphate
Survey the encounters of Islam with Europe and Asia
1. Discuss the importance of Muslim Spain and Sicily to Europe
2. Analyze the reasons for and the long term impact of the Crusades.
3. Explain the encounters between Islam and the regions of Asia.
Survey the Turkish contributions to the Middle East
1. Analyze the origins of the Turkish Empire
2. Discuss the encounters between Europe and the Turkish Empire.
Survey the impact of the West on the Middle East
1. Analyze the reasons for the growth of Western dominance in the Middle East
2. Explain the impact of Western science, industrialism, political ideas and military force on the Middle East
3. Analyze the reasons for the decline of the Middle East as the world?s dominant civilization
Survey the modern Middle East
1. Explain the rise of European empires in the Middle East.
2. Explain the rise of independent nation-states in the middle East
3. Explain the growth of American power and influence in the Middle East.
4. Explain the rise of Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict
Survey the problems of recent years and decades in the Middle East
1. Explain the rise of Muslim fundamentalism
2. Analyze the failures of the Middle East states and societies to modernize.
3. Examine the rise of terrorism and its origins in the Middle East and its impact world wide
4. Discuss the future of Islam, global Islam, the Middle East in foreign affairs and the Islamic Diaspora