MUSLIMS AND JEWS
Explores the historical relationship between Muslims and Jews in a variety of contexts from the seventh century to the present. Surveys literary and cultural exchanges against the background of shifting political and social conditions across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Considers also the parallel legacies of anti-Semitism, Orientalism, and Islamophobia. Major themes include comparative religion, secularization, migration, and colonialism, as well as the politics of history and cultural memory. Introduces readings in English translation of medieval and modern texts originally written across languages, and especially in Hebrew and Arabic.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate contextual knowledge of major historical events, figures, social conditions, religious communities, and geographies of Muslim Iberia (al-Andalus) from the eighth to sixteenth centuries Audience: Undergraduate 2. Situate al-Andalus in relation to wider developments in politics, culture, and religion of the Middle East and North Africa, from the eighth century to the present Audience: Undergraduate 3. Understand the terms and conditions that have shaped Muslim-Jewish relations from the seventh century until the present, including frameworks of theology, lived religious experience, and Orientalist representation Audience: Undergraduate 4. Integrate relevant theoretical frameworks, debates, and conversations regarding the distinction between historical writing and cultural memory Audience: Undergraduate 5. Discern divergent and contradictory representations of the history of al-Andalus in contemporary memory culture Audience: Undergraduate 6. Cultivate skills in textual analysis and evaluate a range of formal and structural elements in written and visual materials across genres (philosophy, literature, religion, film) as well as in primary and secondary historical sources Audience: Undergraduate 7. Generate original ideas and texts, through coherent writing and compelling argumentation, by experimenting and taking risks, solving problems, and answering questions in a range of media Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate contextual knowledge of major historical events, figures, social conditions, religious communities, and geographies of Muslim Iberia (al-Andalus) from the eighth to sixteenth centuries Audience: Undergraduate 2. Situate al-Andalus in relation to wider developments in politics, culture, and religion of the Middle East and North Africa, from the eighth century to the present Audience: Undergraduate 3. Understand the terms and conditions that have shaped Muslim-Jewish relations from the seventh century until the present, including frameworks of theology, lived religious experience, and Orientalist representation Audience: Undergraduate 4. Integrate relevant theoretical frameworks, debates, and conversations regarding the distinction between historical writing and cultural memory Audience: Undergraduate 5. Discern divergent and contradictory representations of the history of al-Andalus in contemporary memory culture Audience: Undergraduate 6. Cultivate skills in textual analysis and evaluate a range of formal and structural elements in written and visual materials across genres (philosophy, literature, religion, film) as well as in primary and secondary historical sources Audience: Undergraduate 7. Generate original ideas and texts, through coherent writing and compelling argumentation, by experimenting and taking risks, solving problems, and answering questions in a range of media Audience: Undergraduate
Catalogue variants
- MUSLIMS AND JEWS · 3 credits.