HIST409 HISTORY OF ISLAM
| Course Code: | 2400409 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | History |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assist.Prof.Dr ŞEFİKA AKİLE ZORLU DURUKAN |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
This course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the political, religious, and cultural developments in Islamic history, from pre-Islamic Arabia to the rise of key Islamic dynasties such as the Umayyads, Abbasids, Buwayhids, and Seljuks. By examining religious movements, social structures, and linguistic transformations, students will develop an understanding of the historical forces that shaped Islamic civilization. Special emphasis will be placed on the political and administrative systems of early Islamic empires and their contributions to the broader historical narrative.
Course Content
This course will provide a survey of political and religious movements beginning with pre-Islamic Arabia, birth of Islam, and a brief survey of other contributors to Islamic History such as Buwayhids and Seljuks. The themes of the subject will be religion, culture, social structure and language both before and after the birth of Islam. A special attention will be given the Umayyad period and the Abbasid periods.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Explain the social, cultural, and political landscape of pre-Islamic Arabia.
Analyze the emergence of Islam and its impact on the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
Evaluate the political structures and governance of the Umayyad and Abbasid periods.
Assess the role of later Islamic dynasties, such as the Buwayhids and Seljuks, in shaping Islamic history.
Examine the evolution of religious and cultural movements in the early and medieval Islamic world.
Interpret historical sources related to Islamic history and engage with scholarly debates on key topics.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | are familiar with general world historical periods and trends; demonstrate knowledge of key facts, ideas, societies, organizations, cultures, structures and processes related to a variety of historical contexts. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | are familiar with existing scholarly literature, historiography and historical methodology; and have developed the ability to approach them critically. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | are acquainted with interdisciplinary approaches. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | are able to generate research questions and conduct independent historical research by locating and analyzing primary and/or secondary sources; can construct viable arguments based on source interpretation. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | have developed sufficient English language skills; additionally, they have acquired the skill to read both printed texts and manuscripts in Ottoman Turkish. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | are able to present research results both in oral and written form. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | are able to work individually or as part of a team. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | are equipped with academic ethics. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | are aware of modern day issues and current events; have the skills and knowledge to generate informed opinions. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution