RELST 2297

Muslims on the Silk Road

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

The Crossroads of the World. The Pivot of History. The heart of the Silk Road. For all its grand nicknames and associations, Inner Asia remains a region little-studied in the West. This course endeavors to separate fact from fantasy while introducing the social, cultural, and political history of Inner Asia in the medieval and early modern periods. We will explore the impact of cross-cultural contacts on the region's diverse societies as we witness the rise and fall of empires, both nomadic and sedentary. We will focus especially on the histories of Muslim communities, as Islam has been the predominant religious tradition in the region for the last millennium. Special emphasis will be given to reading texts produced by Inner Asian authors, as we endeavor to consider the region's history not only from the vantage point of foreign observers and conquerors, but also from within.

When Offered Fall.

Breadth Requirement (GHB)
Distribution Category (HA-AS)

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