HIST 392 History of the Contemporary Middle East

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HIST 392 is an exploration of the causes underlying the rise of sovereign nation-states in the Middle East. Topics considered include modernization, Westernization, and secularization in a traditional society, and shifting political and economic power groupings in a regional and worldwide context.

Textbooks

Cleveland, William: A History of the Modern Middle East. 2nd Edition, Westview, 2000. 0-8133-3489-6
Yapp, M. E.: The Near East Since the First World War: A History to 1995. 2nd edition, Longman, 1996. 0-582-25651-8

Currently, we are considering changing the textbook selection to include only ONE of these survey books and one other book, either a reader of primary sources or a specialty book on one particular issue, Iran or the Israel-Palestine conflict, perhaps. There will be supplementary readings in any case.

Methodology and Assignments:

Class Participation

This class will be tought over four weekends in September and October. A class system for evaluating participation in that format, which is new to the instructor, is still being developed.

Research Paper

Students will be required to write a research paper on the topic of their choice. If you have never written a research paper before or have had difficulty doing so, please consult my Research Guide. My standard Policy on Research Papers outlines my general expectations.

Book Review

Each student will read a book on Middle East history and present it to the class. Please have the book approved by the instructor in advance.

Exams

During the last day of class, there will be a two-hour essay exam.

Source Readings:

Primary Sources

This list is still under construction.

Excerpts from Herzl: On the Jewish State (1896)
The Balfour Declaration (1917) (at the Avalon Project)
The British White Paper on Palestine of 1922 (at the Avalon Project)
League of Nations Mandate on Palestine (1922) (at the Avalon Project)
The British White Paper on Palestine of 1939 (at the Avalon Project)
Muta Alami (1948): The Lesson of Palestine. Edited version in English available in The Middle East Journal, October, 1949.(JSTOR)