2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ARAB1150 Early and Medieval Islamic History

20 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Fozia Bora
Email: f.g.bora@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module offers a stimulating and broad overview of the history of the Arab world, from the advent of Islam in the 6th century up to the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in the 16th. We will examine this history in political, social and intellectual terms, using a variety of source materials including historiography (chronicles and biography), archaeology and coinage. Teaching takes the form of lectures and seminars, and will include multi-media resources (film, journalism, podcasts) where possible. The module offers an essential historical contextualisation of the role of Islam and Middle Eastern culture in the modern world.

Objectives

To survey and analyse the political, social and intellectual history of Islam in the Arab world, from the sixth century CE up to the end of the Mamluk period in 1517.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students are expected to have reached competence in the following in their study of Islamic history:
- formulating a research question
- carrying out research using peer-reviewed scholarly materials
- using footnotes/in-text references and compiling a bibliography
- writing a well-structured essay offering a convincing argument, in clear, well-expressed English
- presenting your research orally to a live, interactive audience
- collaborating with your learning colleagues on a research question

Skills outcomes
Source analysis
Synthesising modern and historical interpretations of events
Examining historical texts against contexts

Syllabus

This module will examine the formative period of Islam including the life and career of the Prophet Muhammad, the development of the Islamic caliphate; the Islamic conquests; women’s contributions to key developments in Islamic history; slavery in Islamic contexts; Middle Eastern experiences of the Crusades; higher education in the Islamic world; conflict and coexistence in Islamic Spain; the rise and fall of successive Arab dynasties including the Umayyads, `Abbasids, Fatimids, and Mamluks; and Islam in China. A critical and decolonial discussion of historiography is conducted throughout the module.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	21	1.00	21.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			168.00
Total Contact hours			32.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

200 hours including the contact hours and also hours spent on student preparation for essays, seminars and the final exam.
168 hours of private study to be broken down as follows:
Preparation for seminars: 3 hours per seminar (33 hours in total)
Reading and note-taking for the two assessments: 60 hours
Essay planning, drafting, writing, checking and submission: 75 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored using the following methods:
- Written / oral assignments
- Designated feedback sessions (one per semester)
- Student questionnaires
- Personal tutee appointments
- Tutor office hours

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2000 word	70.00
Presentation	10 minutes presentation time per student	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 11/12/2023

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