History and Institutions of Islamic Countries

The course aims at providing students with an understanding of the basic concepts and institutions of Islam, and of the modern and contemporary history of the Middle East. At the end of the course students will have ALSO acquired the analytical tools to understand the most recent events taking place in this part of the world and the geostrategic, economic, cultural and religious forces driving them.

At the end of the course students will be acquainted with the evolution of the Islamic doctrine and Middle Eastern history, and with an in-depht udnerstanding of the historical processes that have shaped Islamic revivalism. They will thus have acquired the conceptual and terminological tools that are necessary to comprehend and analyse in a critical manner the most recent events taking place in the Middle East; students will also have acquired an adequate terminology. These skills will allow the students to continue their studies in an autonomous manner.