Sophomore Seminar: The United States and the Middle East: From the Shores of Tripoli to Baghdad
HIST 165
Spring 2010 not offered
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The United States has had a complicated relationship with the countries of the Middle East over the last two centuries. One of the first nations to recognize the young American Republic was the Sultanate of Morocco, and the first international crisis it faced was with the pirate states of North Africa. The 19th century witnessed the growth of United States missionary and philanthropic enterprises in the region and the beginnings of an American cultural presence. With the 20th century, the relationship grew more complicated with a burgeoning United States dependence on Mid-East oil, popular support in the United States for Zionism and later the state of Israel, and Cold War concerns about nationalism in both Iran and the Arab world all jostling for attention from foreign policy planners. With the establishment of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, strategic interests changed once again, and political Islam entered into the American consciousness. That was only heightened by the tragedy of September 11th and the war on terrorism. This course will examine some of the issues of United States' involvement in the region through primary historical sources from the birth of the republic through the second Iraq War. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Writing
Students will write eight short papers analyzing primary documents for the writing of history. They will then produce a final research paper of 8-10 pages using primary documents.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Douglas Little, AMERICAN ORIENTALISM
Rashid Khalidi, RESURRECTING EMPIRE
Abdul-Rahman Munif, CITIES OF SALT
Louis Brandeis, BRANDEIS ON ZIONISM
Mark Twain, INNOCENTS ABROAD
Films: Exodus, Turtles Can Fly
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Examinations and Assignments:
8 short response papers of 2-3 pages; final research paper 10 pages. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Regular attendance and participation |
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