History. See the future. It’s in the past.

This course will take you on a journey through the history of Islamic civilisations; beginning with the Dark Ages in the 7th century, through the Renaissance in the 16th century, until the beginning of the 20th century when the Ottoman Caliphate was abolished in 1924. The Dark Ages was a particularly interesting period, with Islamic civilisations flourishing and stretching from China in the East to Spain in the West.

In what ways can medieval and early modern Islam be seen as responsible for making Western civlisation? How much did European cultures borrow from Islamic cultures? The course traces these achievements and contributions to human civilisation. The course also examines changing perceptions of Islamic culture, from respect to enmity.

Aims

This course aims to provide you with an understanding of the historical forces that have shaped the rise and fall of Islamic civilisations, from their beginning on the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century, until the demise of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• discuss the nature of the rise and fall of empires
• analyse the rise of Islamic civilisations beginning in the seventh century
• recognise historical continuity
• develop and extend your knowledge and understanding of cultural, artistic and political systems of Islamic civilisations
• appreciate the cross-cultural interactions