Courses
History Courses
HST101 20th Century History of Lebanon and the Region
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course examines the situation of Lebanon during and in the aftermath of World War I, the proclamation of Greater Lebanon after the war, and the French mandate until the independence of the Arab country in 1943. The course also encompasses the modern history of Lebanon in relation with the history of its neighboring Arab countries: Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
HST230 History of Lebanon—from Antelias Man to the Ottoman Conquest (1516)
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course surveys the history of Lebanon from prehistoric times through the Phoenician and Roman periods and on to the Middle Ages and the Crusades, ending with the Ottoman conquest at Marj Dabiq in 1516. The emphasis is on those features that define the peoples of Mount Lebanon and the Mediterranean coastal settlements throughout this span of time, and how the foundations for the later emergence of a distinct Lebanese polity and culture were laid. Among the themes explored by the course are the pre-Christian era, the coming of Christianity, the immigration into the Lebanese mountains of a variety of peoples including the early Maronites, the coming of Islam, the arrival of the Druze, rivalries and precarious balances, external factors and the economic viability or lack thereof of the mountain.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
HST231 History of Lebanon—from the Imarah to the 1975-1990 War
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Tracing the history of Lebanon from the rise of the Imarah to the 1989 Ta’if agreement, this course focuses on the formation of the Lebanese polity and identity and its place in the wider Arab world. It may deal with pivotal figures such as Fakhr Ed-Deen and Emir Bachir, the role of the Maronites and their relations with France and the Vatican, the Ottoman period, the impact of the Tanzimat and the rise of the Mutasarrifiya. Key events and developments in the 20th century include the First World War, the French Mandate, Lebanese independence in 1943, the National Pact, the 1958 events, and the 1975-1990 War. How could the initial years of prosperity lead to the outbreak of war in 1975? The interaction between internal factions and communities and outside powers will be emphasized.
HST231H History of Lebanon—from the Imarah to the 1975-1990 War
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Tracing the history of Lebanon from the rise of the Imarah to the 1989 Ta’if agreement, this course focuses on the formation of the Lebanese polity and identity and its place in the wider Arab world. It may deal with pivotal figures such as Fakhr Ed-Deen and Emir Bachir, the role of the Maronites and their relations with France and the Vatican, the Ottoman period, the impact of the Tanzimat and the rise of the Mutasarrifiya. Key events and developments in the 20th century include the First World War, the French Mandate, Lebanese independence in 1943, the National Pact, the 1958 events, and the 1975-1990 War. How could the initial years of prosperity lead to the outbreak of war in 1975? The interaction between internal factions and communities and outside powers will be emphasized.HST240 History of the Arab Peoples
[3–0, 3 cr.]
The focus of this course is on the Arabs as a people and their achievements throughout history. From their Semitic origins in Arabia to their many successive sub-variations throughout the Middle East the course traces the development of the Arabs and their civilization into modern times. The rise of Islam and the revelation of the Koran in the Arabic language to an Arab Prophet made the Arabs special in their own eyes and in those of all Muslims. Whether it is the life of the courts and cities under the Umayyads, the Abbasids, and in Arab Spain, or the everyday existence of common people in the countryside, the course provides students with a rich portrait of Arab culture and history. Critiques such as those of Ibn Khaldun and some of the later writers of the Nahda period starting in the second half of the 19th century could be germane to the presentation. How the Arabs interacted with Turks, Persians and Europeans and how these outsiders perceived the Arabs could also be central to the course’s thematic approach.
HST240H History of the Arab Peoples
[3–0, 3 cr.]
The focus of this course is on the Arabs as a people and their achievements throughout history. From their Semitic origins in Arabia to their many successive sub-variations throughout the Middle East the course traces the development of the Arabs and their civilization into modern times. The rise of Islam and the revelation of the Koran in the Arabic language to an Arab Prophet made the Arabs special in their own eyes and in those of all Muslims. Whether it is the life of the courts and cities under the Umayyads, the Abbasids, and in Arab Spain, or the everyday existence of common people in the countryside, the course provides students with a rich portrait of Arab culture and history. Critiques such as those of Ibn Khaldun and some of the later writers of the Nahda period starting in the second half of the 19th century could be germane to the presentation. How the Arabs interacted with Turks, Persians and Europeans and how these outsiders perceived the Arabs could also be central to the course’s thematic approach.HST241 History of Islam in the Middle East
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course may either provide an overview of the history of the Islam from its conception in the 7th century to the present-day or focus on particular themes in the history of Islam. As well as introducing students to the history of one of the world’s major religious faiths, the course examines Islam’s development as a creed and a complete way of life. A particular focus will be the challenges arising from Islam’s relations with the non-Muslim world. The historical survey may include such pivotal events and developments as the life and message of the Prophet Mohammed, the first four wise Caliphs, the Sunni-Shiite split, the schools of Islamic jurisprudence, the shari’a and the five pillars. The Umayyad and Abbasid Empires and the expansion of Islam will be discussed. Important topics in the medieval history of Islam are the flowering of Islamic culture, the role of the Ayyubids, Fatimids and Seljuks, the Crusades, the Mongol invasion, the conversion of Iran to Shiism and the emergence of the Ottomans. In modern history we might focus on Whahabism, Abdu and Afghani, Qutub and Banna, and Khomeini and Bin Laden.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
HST242 Europe and the Middle East (1798-1956)
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course provides students with an overview of European-Middle Eastern relations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Introducing students to the stormy and complex interactions between European powers and the peoples and states of the Middle East, the course will not just deal with the political, military and diplomatic events but also with their social, economic and cultural impact on both Europe and the Middle East. The period reveals both Europe and the Middle East evolving rapidly, but not always in tandem.Examples might include the history of Egypt from Napoleon’s invasion in 1798 to the 1952 officer’s revolution led by Nasser; the history of the Ottoman Empire from the Tanzimat to its decline; British, French, German and Russian interests in the Middle East; the impact of the two World Wars, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the creation of modern Turkey and the rise of the Arab state system.
HST242H Europe & the Middle East (1798-1956)
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course provides students with an overview of European-Middle Eastern relations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Introducing students to the stormy and complex interactions between European powers and the peoples and states of the Middle East, the course will not just deal with the political, military and diplomatic events but also with their social, economic and cultural impact on both Europe and the Middle East. The period reveals both Europe and the Middle East evolving rapidly, but not always in tandem.Examples might include the history of Egypt from Napoleon’s invasion in 1798 to the 1952 officer’s revolution led by Nasser; the history of the Ottoman Empire from the Tanzimat to its decline; British, French, German and Russian interests in the Middle East; the impact of the two World Wars, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the creation of modern Turkey and the rise of the Arab state system.
HST243 Economic History of the Middle East
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course provides a country by country account of economic development in the Middle East and North Africa from early modern to modern times. Emphasis may be put on the shift from early cottage industries to the rudimentary irrigation schemes and cotton cultivation in Mohammad Ali’s Egypt. The collapse of Ottoman finances and the growing dependence on international financers may be another topic as well as the increased international competition in the textile and cotton industry. The importance of the region for the major trade routes between Europe and Asia will be emphasized throughout. Key events are the opening of Suez Canal in 1869, the High Dam project and the discovery of oil in Arabia. Charles Issawi’s classic work on the economic history of the region is used as a guide for basic readings along with other more recent authoritative treatments of specific economic issues.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
HST244 History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course focuses on the emerging clash between the nascent Zionist project starting in the 19th century and the gradual dispossession of the Arab inhabitants of Palestine culminating in the 1948 creation of the state of Israel. It aims to shed light on the historical progression of the conflict and the external players impacting its development. The course also assesses the Arab responses to Israel as well as the internal evolution of the Jewish state from frontier kibbutzim to nuclear power. Among events and developments leading up to 1948 the course may zoom in on the conception of Zionism, relationships between Zionists and the British and Ottoman Empires, early migration into Palestine and the impact of the two World Wars and the Holocaust. It will also address international responses to the existence of Israel arising from Arab and Palestinian nationalism, the Arab-Israeli wars, the emergence of the Palestinian Fedayeen and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the impact of Israel on surrounding Arab states and the Islamist factor.
HST305 Contemporary Europe (1945–1989)
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course covers the period from the end of World War II to the fall in 1989 of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe and Russia. Its main focus is on the post-war ascendancy of both the United States and the Soviet Union and the developing rivalry between them known as the Cold War. Main flashpoints of the Cold war include Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, the Middle East, and Afghanistan. In addition to the history of the Cold War, the course may also address topics such as the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights, the civil rights movement, feminism, the 1968 student revolutions and the technological and information revolutions.
HST340 Topics in the History of Ideas
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course offers students a glimpse into the exiting world of intellectual history. It can either immerse the students into the intellectual tenor of a particular period through a discussion of this age’s interplay between history, philosophy, theology, literature and the arts. Or it can survey the history of a particular set of ideas, or an ideology. Students will engage primarily with primary sources, thus providing them with a firsthand feel for the history of ideas.
Prerequisite: ENG202 Advanced Academic English
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
HST401 Special Topics in History
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Some possible topics could include: social history, oral history, history of slavery, history of architecture, history of changing tastes, history of ideologies, history of revolutions, comparative nationalisms, comparative empire building, causes of historical decline, and much more. Specific periods to be covered can also be designated.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.