HIST 578 - History of Islam

3 Credits

This survey begins with the examination of the emergence of an Islamic society in Arabia in the seventh century and its rapid conquest of a world empire. It traces the subsequent development of Islam as a religion, legal system, political order, and civilization. Contributions of non-Arab peoples—Persians, Turks, Mongols—will be assessed. The conflict between orthodoxy and sectarianism, Islamic mysticism, the formation of Muslim states and kingdoms, and the spread of Islam to Spain in the west and China in the east will be covered.

Note
No previous knowledge of classical Islamic history (seventh through the fifteenth centuries) is required. Courses in the 500 series are open to undergraduate students as *400 series. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A course completed at the 400 level may not be taken at the 500 level with the same instructor.

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