HIST 405-01, The History of Anti-Semitism, Spring 2013

Abstract

This course is a thematic introduction to many of the events, figures, texts and ideas that have been central to Islamic thought and identity over the centuries. While we will study many major historical events, the course is not intended as a comprehensive historical survey. Instead, we will focus on some of the pivotal moments that have been most meaningful in the eyes of later generations of Muslims. By looking at key moments and intellectual trends, we will develop an understanding of how Muslims of the past and present defined themselves and elaborated their sense of what it means to be Muslim and follow Islam. The course’s primary aim is to explore the diversity in Muslim thought and interpretation.