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CS92PROD
Sophomore Seminar: The United States and the Middle East: From the Shores of Tripoli to Baghdad
HIST 165
Spring 2008
Section: 01  

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.

Essential Capabilities: Writing
This course will introduce students to the writing of history from primary documents, how evidence may be used, and historical arguments constructed. There will also be many assigned short papers in the class,
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available

Last Updated on MAR-29-2024
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