This course focuses on the history, institutions, and practices of Sufism, popularly referred to as Islam’s “mystical” dimension. This course will examine the origins of Sufism, the development of …
Monuments of the Islamic World
This course explores the architecture of the Islamic world from the 7th - 12th centuries through the lens of its major monuments throughout the central Islamic lands, North Africa and Spain. Through …
Iconography of the Art and Material Culture of the Islamic World
The art and material culture of the Islamic world is rich in iconography - from Persian paintings to Afghan war rugs - with complex layers of meaning that are not necessarily understood at first …
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The Sufi Tradition in Islam
The history of asceticism and mysticism in the Islamic tradition, with particular attention to the formative period as well as the breadth and diversity of Sufism across the Islamic world, from West …
Heartland of Ancient Empires
Mesopotamia and the ancient Near East—the area of modern Iraq and adjacent regions—witnessed the rise of the first cities in the fourth millennium BC and the emergence of the world’s first empires in …
Early Islamic History: The Prophet and the Caliphates
The formative period of Islam, from its origins in the late antique Near East to the fall of Baghdad in the mid-13th century. This course serves to build a solid foundation in Middle East and Islamic …
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