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The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World

Approx. 25 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Explore the fascinating history and culture of Medieval Arabia in this course, from the rise of Islam to the golden age of Arabic science and philosophy.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the political, social, and cultural developments of Medieval Arabia
Gain insight into the contributions of Islamic scholars and scientists
Discover the rich literary tradition of Arabic poetry and prose

Learning Outcomes

Understand the political, social, and cultural developments of Medieval Arabia
Explore the contributions of Islamic scholars and scientists to the fields of science, math, and philosophy
Appreciate the rich literary tradition of Arabic poetry and prose

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of Middle Eastern history and culture
Interest in Islamic civilization and its contributions to world history

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online self-paced course
Video lectures
Reading assignments
Quizzes and exams

Similar Courses

Islamic Civilization
Arabic Poetry and Prose
Middle Eastern History

Notable People in This Field

Reza Aslan
Laila Lalami
Khaled Hosseini

Related Books

Description

Did you know that Arabic was for centuries the lingua franca in an area stretching from the south of Spain to the Chinese border? Did you know that the Middle East under Muslim rule in those days was the world’s beating heart of trade, but also of science and scholarship?

Did you know that Islam in its formative period was heavily influenced by existing cultures in the region, like Indian, Greek, Persian and Byzantine culture? Did you know that for many centuries after the establishment of the Muslim Empire the majority of the population remained largely Christian and Jewish? Did you know that they held a protected status in Islamic law? Did you know that this generally open-minded, curious and open society stimulated many great innovations and inventions? Did you know that European scholarship in the Renaissance leaned heavily on the texts and inventions from the Middle East which were the outcome of this sophisticated advanced society? In this course we will focus on the fascinating history of the Arabic Medieval World. We will take you on a journey through the Middle Ages starting off in eighth-century Baghdad. Along the old pilgrim trails we will go to places like Mecca, Jerusalem and Najaf. We will show you the impressive markets of places like Cairo and Samarkand. However we will not hide the dark sides of society either, by introducing you to the flourishing widespread slave trade. We will visit the Abbasid court, the Harem of the caliph, and the palace of the Mamluk Sultan. We will show you some beautiful medieval manuscripts, that live on as the silent witnesses of the impressive achievements of scientists and medical doctors of this forgotten era. All along we will present you with historiographical debates and dilemma’s. Reflecting on the way we look at and interpret history. And while taking you on this journey, we will travel back and forth in time explaining to you how events of the past affected and shaped the world as we know it today. Welcome to the Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World! Enroll now and follow this course for free. --- Testimonial: Dear Prof. Sijpesteijn I am sending this email in gratitude for the Leiden University team for this course. Please thank the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs for offering it on Coursera, the Faculty of Humanities for creating the lovely course content and the excellent reading material. Rarely have I seen an MOOC that is this well-researched and thought through. This is in addition to the excellent resources provided and the creative media. I finished the course and presently doing the honors-track. If I may introduce myself, I am Radi Radi, a Palestinian-Jordanian who lives on "Shajaret Al Dur" St. in Amman, Jordan. It was quite an coincidence to learn about her here. I work as a pilot and currently we are not flying anywhere currently so I thought of finishing this course. I am a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Ryerson Univeristy, Canada and this really felt like the 100-level electives I took in that it really is a university-level course. I have bought a few books that I have read about in your course and that meant that I have something else to do in this corona-imposed hiatus. After Once aviation kicks back into gear, I hope to be flying to Amsterdam Again. When that happens, I plan on bringing you guys a gift from Amman for your efforts. Many Thanks Radi Radi

Knowledge

In this course you will find out that the Arabic Medieval World was diverse, advanced and connected.
In this course you will learn that knowledge travels between cultures and that the Arabic Medieval World influenced the world as we know it today.

Outline

Welcome to this Course
Introduction
How to succeed in your online class?
Meet the instructor & her team
Leiden University: Facts & Figures
How to subscribe for J-stor
Complete our small survey
Community Guidelines
What is your learning path?

The Medieval Islamic City
The Islamic City
The Hammam
Podcast explained
Introduction to the Islamic City
Islamic City - Historic Myth, Islamic Essence and Contemporary Relevance
Hospitals
Source Material: Medical commentary
Why Islamic?
Islamic - Historic Myth, Contemporary Relevance
The Medieval Islamic City
Arabic versus Greek

Travel & Religion
Hajj Darb Zuybada
Minorities and different Islams
Shrines
Amulets (on location Volkenkunde Museum)
Podcast Explained
Source Material: Photos of Snouck
Jews in the Middle East and Europe
Origins of the Schism
Optional reading: Western Arabia in the Leiden Collections
Travelling to Jerusalem
Visiting Al-Haram al-Sharif
Muslim - Jewish relations
Religion
The Ascent to Heaven

Trade
The Effects of Trade on Islamic Society
Porcelain
Legal Inventions
The Slave Trade
Orientalism
Podcast explained
The travelling of Goods and Ideas: Vikings & Dirhams
Udovitch - Legal Innovations
Muslim Slaves in Early Modern Europe: A Forgotten History of Slavery
Optional reading: Slave Traders and Karimi Merchants during the Mamluk Period: A Comparative Study .
Focusing on 19th Century Orientalist Views
Legal Innovations
Trade & Orientalism
Naked versus Veiled

Power Play
Harems: Myth & Reality
The Pen and the Sword
What made the Mamluk army possible and when did it change?
Podcast explained
Optional: Shajarat al-Durr
Political Intercession at Court
The Pen and the Sword
Optional: Mamluks through European Eyes
Further Reading
Jonathan Brown's view on Slavery
Political Intercession at Court
Power Play

Science
1001 inventions part 1
1001 inventions part 2
The Travel of a Book (translation movement)
The travelling of knowledge (University Library Leiden)
Podcast explained
Arabic Science
The travelling of Medical knowledge
Transcultural experiences
Optional: Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction
Further Reading
Creating Arabic collections in Europe
Science
Creating a collection

In conclusion: the Cosmopolitain Medieval Arabic World
Diverse world; Dynamic world; Connected world. Use & abuse of history

Summary of User Reviews

Read reviews for the Medieval Arabia course on Coursera. Students have praised the course for its in-depth exploration of the historical, cultural, and social aspects of medieval Arabia. Many users found the course to be engaging and enlightening, and they appreciated the opportunity to learn about a fascinating period in history. However, some users felt that the course was too focused on certain topics and could have provided more context for the events and ideas presented.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

In-depth exploration of historical, cultural, and social aspects of medieval Arabia.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and enlightening content
Opportunity to learn about a fascinating period in history
Expert instruction and guidance

Cons from User Reviews

Some users felt the course was too focused on certain topics
Could have provided more context for the events and ideas presented
Some users experienced technical issues with the course platform

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