HIST 182 The Social and Cultural History of the Modern Middle East

This is a survey course in which we will explore the cultural and social historical experience of the Middle East from the 19th century to the present. Our goal in this class is to develop a sense of how people in the region view themselves and their history. We consider the currents of social change wrought by political and economic transformation, focusing particularly on the rise of new social movements and cultural currents. Here we will focus on issues of gender, religion, new social categories, and notions of personhood, and new forms of collective and individual identity. Finally, we look at the emergence of modern nation-states and their attendant juridical notions of citizenship and minority status.

Survey Requirement Met: Middle East and Africa