This course provides an introduction to peoples and cultures of the contemporary Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. Topics covered in the course include Western images of "the Orient," pastoralism, the development of agriculture, and the interrelationship between nomads and settled peoples; tribalism in the establishment of states; the rise of Islam; orthodox Islam and the cult of saints; male-female relations and the dynamics of honor; the impact of European political and economic ascendancy on Middle Eastern society and culture. Materials to be used consist of ethnographies of pastoralists, peasants, and urban groups, as well as novels and films. The class format will include both lectures and class discussions. Requirements: a midterm, a final exam, and one 10-page paper. No prerequisites. Open to first-year students.
D. EDWARDS