INTRODUCTION TO THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST
Traces the formation of the states and societies that compose the contemporary Middle East. How have global phenomena, including two world wars, the Cold War, women's movements, and modern science, technology, and fossil fuels, affected the politics, culture, and daily lives of Middle Eastern people? What is Islamism, and how should we explain its influence? Why has the United States had such a troubled relationship with this part of the world? Balances a generally thematic approach with several weeks of country-specific studies, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: None Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities or Social Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the origins of the Middle East nation-states Audience: Undergraduate 2. Compare the larger Middle East nation-states in terms of politics, economy, and society Audience: Undergraduate 3. Analyze trends in the development of U.S. relations with the Middle East Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain the modern Middle East in terms of global processes of change Audience: Undergraduate 5. Use primary sources to support all of the above Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the origins of the Middle East nation-states Audience: Undergraduate 2. Compare the larger Middle East nation-states in terms of politics, economy, and society Audience: Undergraduate 3. Analyze trends in the development of U.S. relations with the Middle East Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain the modern Middle East in terms of global processes of change Audience: Undergraduate 5. Use primary sources to support all of the above Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027