2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3026 People, Water and Sand: An Environmental History of the Middle East

40 creditsClass Size: 16

Module manager: Nir Arielli
Email: n.arielli@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2024/25

Module replaces

HIST3743

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

How have humans sought to shape the environment around them and how have changes in the environment affected human societies? The module explores environmental history by focusing on the Middle East, with special emphasis on the period since 1900. Themes examined in the module include water management, agricultural practices, fossil fuel extraction, climate change, urban development, and nature conservation.

Objectives

The module aims to apply many of the insights developed by environmental history in recent decades to the study of the modern Middle East. It will make use of a wide range of sources, including diplomatic documents, memoirs, press reports and satellite imagery. Through the analysis of such sources, the module aims to explore some of the immense transformations the Middle East has undergone since 1900. Themes examined will include: the transformation from a region with an agricultural sector largely sustained by rainfall and traditional irrigation methods to one with elaborate and contested water management systems; and the shift from sparsely populated desert areas to one of the world’s most important energy providers.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. critically analyse key themes in environmental history and demonstrate their use in studying the modern Middle East
2. Use effectively a wide array of written and visual sources to study transformations in the region
3. Evaluate insightfully the political consequences of changes in the environment of the Middle East

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. weigh up different arguments and use different types of evidence to form arguments and ideas
5. present complex arguments and ideas clearly, both in written and spoken form

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	4	1.00	4.00
Seminar	22	2.00	44.00
Private study hours			352.00
Total Contact hours			48.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Essay
Students will receive a 15-minute one-to-one meeting with the module tutor during semester 1 to discuss the themes they intend to cover in the essay and will receive feedback from the tutor. Students will be asked to send the tutor a plan (500 words) and initial list of sources before the meeting, with the tutor providing further suggestions.

Presentation
Students will receive a 15-minute one-to-one meeting with the module tutor during semester 2, in which students will outline their plan for the presentation and the research questions it tackles. Students will receive oral feedback on their plan from the module tutor.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000-word essay	50.00
Presentation	20-minute presentation	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Presentation: • Resit would be a recorded presentation

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/03/2024

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