History 315
The Modern Middle East
Dr. Mahmood Ibrahim
Office: 94-325; x-3867
mibrahim@csupomona.edu
This course is survey of the modern history of the Middle East. Students will learn about significant events, issues, trends, and other developments in the history of the region during the 19th century to the present. Students will recognize how that history contributes to what we, as students and citizens, witness today. Thus, students will acquire a long range view and perspective on the history of the region and its place in global affairs. Students should gain a greater understanding of the issues and concerns of the region and develop a more informed opinion of the region and its history.
There is simply too much to cover. Therefore, class attendance is mandatory since lectures and discussion will cover more than just the readings. Also, it is important to keep up with the readings which had been divided on a weekly basis.
Students are required to submit 6 essays worth 10 points each. These essays should be five pages, double spaced and formatted 1 inch margin all around. The essays adhere to the essay format by providing an introduction, the body of the argument, and a conclusion. These essays will be based on a comprehensive reading of the assigned pages for that week and will be responses/answers to questions formulated to cover the weekly readings. Students will have a final exam on Tuesday June 5th at 3:50 PM. The final will count for 30% of the grade. Participation in class discussion will be awarded up to 10%.
The assigned textbooks are:
Thabit Abdullah. A Short History of Iraq
Ali Ansari. Modern Iran since 1921.
William Cleveland. A Modern History of the Middle East.
Charles Smith. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict.
1st Week
March 27th: Introduction: The region and its diversity
March 29th: Background to the 19th Century
Cleveland, 1-56;
Abdullah, Chapters 1 and 2; Ansari, Chapter 1; Smith, Chapter 1
2nd Week
April 3rd: Reform and modernization.
April 5th\: Government and military led reforms.
Cleveland, 57-103;
Abdullah, Chapters 3 and 4; Ansari, Chapter 2; Smith, Chapter 2.
3rd Week
April 10th: Islamic modernism
April 12th: Nationalism on the eve of WWI
Cleveland, 119-170;
Ansari, Chapter 3; Smith, Chapter 3.
4th Week
April 17th: The emergence of the nation-state and the British.
April 19th: The emerging nation state and the French.
Cleveland, 171-173; 193-271;
Abdullah, Chapter 5; Smith, Chapter 4.
5th Week
April 24th: The Palestine Mandate.
April 26th: Turkey and Iran: Authoritarian modernization.
Cleveland, 175-193;
Ansari, Chapter 4; Smith, Chapter 5 and 6.
6th Weeek
May 1st: Turkey and Iran.
May 3rd: Radicalization of the Middle East.
Cleveland, 275- 300;
Abdullah, Capter 6 ; Ansari, Chapter 5; Smith, Chapter 7.
7th week
May 8th: The age of Nasser: The Arab Cold War.
May 10th: The age of Nasser: the 1970's.
Cleveland, 301-367;
Ansari, Chapter 6; Smith, Chapter 8.
8th week
May 15th: Time of Trouble: Lebanon
May 17th: The bath in Syria and Iraq.
Cleveland, 369-423;
Abdullah, Chapter 7; Ansari, Chapter 7; Smith, Chapters 9 and 10
9th week
May 22nd: The Islamic Revolution of Iran
May 24th: The Arabian Peninsula.
Cleveland, 423-473;
Ansari, Chapter 8; Smith, Chapter 11.
10th week
May 29th: Uprising in Palestine
May 31st: The Middle East after the Gulf War.
Cleveland, 499-end.
Smith, Chapter 12.