This course will cover the history of the Middle East from the late 18th century to the Arab Spring, presenting students with a foundational understanding of the political, economic, and social dynamics that have propelled the Middle East to the forefront of modern world history. Several key topics that are central for such an understanding will be addressed, including the breakdown of the Ottoman Empire, the Franco-British mandates, the socio-economic foundations of the postwar Middle East, the power of religion and of Islam, the rise of nationalism, secularism and the Arab Left, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Cold War dynamics, the Arab-Persian (un)split, and the uprisings of 2011.
- Teacher: Carl Rihan