ISS 211 Islamic History I

ISS 211: ISLAMIC HISTORY I
Credit: 2
Instructor: Abdurrahman Atcil
Office: West Campus, TB13
Ext: 9740
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: on Mon. 11-12 a.m. (by appointment)
Course Description
This course is a survey of political, socio-economical, and cultural aspects of the history of the
Islamic World from the rise of Islam until the capture of the Abbasid capital by the Mongols in
1258. A chronological account will be paired with the treatment of themes such as scripture, law,
science, philosophy, mysticism, court culture, literary traditions and daily life throughout the
course. In addition to lectures, the course will draw upon discussions, which will give students a
hands-on approach. In these sessions, significant products of Islamic civilization will be discussed.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
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name and identify individuals, events, themes, and issues of major importance in the
Islamic history
demonstrate competence in differentiating the major turning points in the Islamic history
and understanding the significance of historical context
recognize the features of great intellectual and artistic works of Islamic civilization
acquire the ability to make comparative observations between civilizations
Required Texts
Vernon O. Egger, A History of the Muslim World to 1405: The Making of a Civilization, 2004.
Recommended Texts
.)١٩٩١ ،‫ مكتبة الجيل‬:‫ تاريخ اإلسالم السياس ي والديني والثقافي واالجتماعي (بيروت‬،‫حسن إبراهم حسن‬

)‫ دار الفكر العربي‬:‫ بيت الحكمة في عصر العباسيين (القاهرة‬،‫خضر أحمد عطاء هللا‬
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Marshall G. S. Hodgson, The Venture of Islam, The Classical Age of Islam (Chicago:
Chicago University Press, 1977).

R. Stephen Humphreys, Islamic History: A Framework for Inquiry (Princeton, NJ:
Princeton University Press, 1991).
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Adem Apak, Anahatlarıyla İslam Tarihi, 4 vols. (Istanbul: Ensar, 2008).
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Eyüp Baş, ed., İslam Tarihi (Ankara : Grafiker Yayınları, 2012).

İsenbike Togan, “Uluğ Bey Zamanında Yasa ve Şeriat Tartışmaları,” Tarih Çevresi 10
(1994): 9–16.
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Işın Demirkent, “Haçlılar,” DİA, XIV: 525-546.
Course Requirements
Attendance and Participation: Students are expected to make the required readings before
coming to the class each week. Missing more than three classes without documented excuse will
certainly affect the final grade adversely.
Quizzes: There will be 4 unannounced quizzes. They will test your knowledge about geography,
chronology and key terms. There is no make-up for them.
Exams: 2 midterm exams will consist of multiple-choice and identification questions, in which the
emphasis will be placed on specific information regarding dates, names, and terms. 1 final exam
will test your grasp of major trends and turning points in the Islamic history. (In the exams, there
will be some Arabic and Turkish questions, which will be answered in respective languages.)
Essay: Students will write a final essay (1,000-1,200 words) on the selected topics. The use of
primary and secondary sources as well as their interpretation with attention to geographic,
chronological context and perspective of the author will be graded. Further instructions about the
essay will be provided.
Grading
10 % Attendance and Participation
10 % Quizzes
30 % Mid-term exams (15% each)
30% Final Exam
20 % Final Essay
Lectures and Reading Assignments
I
The Rise of Islam
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 20–32.
II
The Early Muslim State
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 33–44.
III
The Umayyads
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 44–61.
IV
The Development of Sectarianism and the Abbasid Revolution
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A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 62–84.
٢١-‫ـ‬-٧ :٢ ،‫ تاريخ اإلسالم السياس ي والديني والثقافي واالجتماعي‬،‫حسن إبراهم حسن‬
R. Stephen Humphreys, Islamic History: A Framework for Inquiry, 104–127.
V
The Abbasids and the Rise of Religious Scholars
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 85–93.
VI
First mid-term
Intellectual and Devotional Traditions
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 114–138
٥٤ ‫ـ‬٢٢ ،‫ بيت الحكمة في عصر العباسيين‬،‫خضر أحمد عطاء هللا‬
VII
The Dissolution of the Abbasid Absolutism
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 89–93 and 139–144.
VIII
The Ismaili Faith and the Fatimid Empire
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 74–79, 94–98 and 154–162.
IX
The Muslim North Africa and Spain
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 162–171.
Mehmet Özdemir, “Endülüs,” in İslam Tarihi, ed. Eyüp Baş, 397–456.
Movie Screening (When the Moors rule in Europe - History of Islam in Spain)
X
The Turks and their Empires
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 145–154.
Hakkı Dursun Yıldız, İslamiyet ve Türkler (Istanbul: İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat
Fakültesi, 1976) 45–86.
XI
Second mid-term
The Crusades
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A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 172–178.
Işın Demirkent, “Haçlılar.”
XII
The Ayyubids and the Mamluks
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 178–182; 269–273
XIII
The Social Order: Muslims, non-Muslims, women and slaves
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 229–241 and 248–251.
XIV
The Mongols
A History of the Muslim World to 1405, 260–269.
İsenbike Togan, “Uluğ Bey Zamanında Yasa ve Şeriat Tartışmaları.”
Movie Screening (Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan)
XV
Conclusion and Final Examination
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