BA Art History and History / Course details

This is an introductory course on the History and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, with sections devoted to geography, history, politics, economics, society, religion, gender, literature, arts, and cinema.

Two principal thematic questions generally run throughout the course, linking its various sections. They are: “What, if anything, is distinctive and exceptional about the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)?” and “How has the MENA changed during the modern age?” 

To better understand these issues the course provides a theoretical framework through the study of the work of Edward Said including Orientalism and Covering Islam. Furthermore, students will be introduced to a range of sources relating to the History, cultures, and Politics of MENA, including reference and survey works, studies of particular subjects, and internet resources.

The principal objective of this module is to lay the foundations for a deeper study of MENA while facilitating acquisition of intellectual and personal transferable skills.

It is the aim of this course to:

• Introduce students to the study of a rapidly changing Middle East and North Africa from a multidisciplinary angle. The module will, in addition to removing any fogginess students might have about the MENA, debunk preconceived stereotypical ideas they might have acquired through the media about a region often typified as a war zone and an area rife with conflict.
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the MENA from multifarious angles including History, Politics and Culture.
• Lay the foundations for the study of various MEST modules at subsequent levels.
• Help students determine their pathways in further study about the MENA.
   

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Gain knowledge of the history, and politics of a diverse and ever changing MENA region
• Gain an informed understanding of the MENA region and its people beyond media stereotypes
• Understand and discuss theoretical issues behind the study of the MENA from a multidisciplinary angle
• Demonstrate familiarity with the core texts on Middle Eastern Studies
• Have appropriate command of key concepts and terminologies related to the multidisciplinary study of MENA

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Relate their learning experiences to the social, cultural, political, and other dimensions which characterize the Middle East and North Africa.
• Gain a good understanding about the history, cultures, religions, and the politics of the region and its people.
• Build awareness about the diversity which distinguishes the MENA as well as its Cultures, religions and populations.
• Gain access to the study of a range of specialist areas within the discipline

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Develop their analytical and critical thinking
• Gain skills in synthesis and analysis of data and information
• Develop advanced skills of written and verbal communication
• Improve their abilities of organization and expression of ideas

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Increase their discussion and debating ethics
• Use library, electronic and online resources
• Improve their reporting skills
• Develop their group ethos
• Engage in self and peer review/evaluation

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Gain skills in independent learning.
• Develop their abilities in co-operative learning and team work.
• Develop their time management and punctuality skills
• Gain skills in debating and presentation
• Apply Subject Knowledge
• Understand group dynamics and intercultural backgrounds in the use of negotiating skills to reach objectives.

Resit Assessment

1. Dale F. Eickelman, The Middle East and Central Asia: An Anthropological Approach, (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, third edition 1998)
2. Gerner J. D. and G. Schwedler (eds), Understanding the Contemporary Middle East (Boulder CO and London: Lynn Rienner, 2004)
3. Khalaf, S., and R.S. Khalaf, Arab Society and Culture: An essential guide ( London: Saqi Books, 2010)
4. Owen, R., State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East (London: Routledge, 2000).
5. Said W. E., Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient (London: Penguin, 2003)
6. Salhi, Z S., Gender and Diversity in the Middle East and North Africa (London: Routledge, 2010).

Lectures  

• The opening Lecture will introduce students to the module components in terms of content, assessment, weekly reading and tutorials. Subsequent lectures will be devoted to covering the detailed syllabus. 

• While the module leader’s role will be the coordination of the overall module and the delivery of some lectures, other members of AMES will lecture on their particular specialisms.  

• Lectures will introduce the topic of the weekly reading which will then be discussed in the weekly tutorials. 

• Readings will be distributed ahead of the lectures/tutorials, and uploaded to the blackboard. 

• Students will be expected to come to their lectures and tutorials well-prepared and to participate vigorously in class discussions. It is essential that they complete all the required readings before the lecture/tutorial. 

• Students will be expected to take notes on the lectures which will constitute additional materials to be used for revision for their written exam. 

Tutorials  

• Lectures will introduce the topic of the weekly reading, which is then discussed in the tutorial of the subsequent week.  

• Students are expected to prepare the reading so that they can better engage with the lecture and contribute critically to the discussion of the compulsory reading in the tutorial group. 

• Readings will be assigned in advance for students to prepare their 15 minutes seminar presentation. 

• The weekly reading assignments require regular work outside classes and in advance of the tutorials, including close