2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ARAB1150 Early and Medieval Islamic History

20 creditsClass Size: 100

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

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

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

This module is approved as a skills discovery module

Module summary

This module examines the rich and complex story of how Muslim societies developed between the advent of Islam in the 6th century up to the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in the 16th. Our geographical focus includes the Middle East, North Africa and China. Using diverse sources in languages including Arabic (in English translation) and a decolonial lens, we explore sources such as historiography (chronicles and biography), archaeology and coinage, to offer an essential historical contextualisation of the role of Islam and Middle Eastern culture in the world today.

Objectives

Through interactive lectures and student-led seminars, this module aims to equip students with a critical and in-depth understanding of how Muslim societies developed over time, and the multiple interacting religious, economic, intellectual, cultural, political and environmental forces that shaped these societies. We give/pay particular attention to those marginalised from the narratives of history: for example, women, enslaved people, religious minorities. The two assessments allow research to be conducted and expressed using different kinds of learning and communications skills.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students are expected to have reached competence in the following in their study of Islamic history: -

1. Apply relevant methodologies to the study of Islamic history

2. Preparing a clear argument, orally or in written form, in essays and presentations on key debates in Islamic history, backed up with evidence.

3. Critically analysing historical sources from a range of cultural backgrounds.



Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following academic skills learning outcomes:

1. Time management: the ability to plan and prioritise tasks, and balance academic and personal commitments effectively.

2. Information searching: the ability to interpret and present ideas from others, and synthesise these ideas to support arguments, interpretations and theories.

3. Academic integrity: the ability to search for, evaluate and use suitable and relevant information to strengthen the quality of academic work and independent research, and knowing when, why and how to acknowledge someone else’s work or ideas.

Syllabus

This module begins with a discussion of how we study Islamic history, then moves to the life of the Prophet, the founder of Islam. Following this, we will examine: the Islamic caliphate: the Arab conquests; the wide-ranging roles of women in Islamic history; slavery in the pre-modern Islamic world; the Crusades from Middle Eastern perspectives; education and learning in the Islamic world; the history of Islamic Spain; and the rise and fall of Muslim dynasties including the Umayyads, ‘Abbasids, Fatimids, Ayyubids and Mamluks. We will also examine the history of Muslim presence in the non-Arab world, notably 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

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored using the following methods:-

1. Written / oral assignments, including anonymous peer feedback for presentations

2. Student questionnaires

3. Personal appointments with tutor

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Research essay of 2000 words	70.00
Presentation	Group presentation: 10 mins of speaking per student	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students who find presentations difficult due to disability or social anxiety will be offered the option to deliver their presentation in a one-to-one setting with the module tutor, in written format or a Powerpoint with pre-recorded voiceover.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/03/2024

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