History and Institutions of the Muslim World

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

In this course, we learned about the history of Islam and the religious world of the Middle East at the time of the formation of Islam. Specifically, we learned about many of the religions and religious subsects that were present in the middle east around the start of Muhammad's life (Zoroastrianism, Melkite Christians, Dyophysitism, Judaism, etc.). We learned the differences between these sects, how they interacted with each other, and what influences they had on the formation of Islam. We also learned about the life of Muhammad from direct sources, the beliefs he professed, and how his group interacted with the other tribes of Arabia, who were pagan, and also the Jewish community of Arabia. We also discussed the similarities and continuities between the Arabic tribes' pagan religion and Islam. We then examined the structure of religious and political systems of Islam, and how these differences led to the different sects of Islam such as Sunni, Shia, and others. Additionally, we analyzed the writings and the way news traveled in the Islamic world and how these affected the spread and practice of the faith. Additionally, we examined the early Islamic conquests and the religious meaning of them. Overall, this course was a deep dive into the religion of Islam and its foundations, and taught me much about the practices and origins of Islam, and how they compare to other prominent faiths.