20809287The Anthropology of Islamic Societies and Cultures
Course Information
Description
During this 16 week course, we will be exploring the emergence and development of Islam in 7th century Arabia as well as examining how the religion changed in the time since the 7th century and as Islam moved out of the Hijaz into Africa and Asia, and in its historical and continuing encounters with the West. We will be seeking answers to such questions as "why did Islam arise when and where it did?", "how is Islam similar to yet different from other religions associated with the region such Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism?", "what were the doctrinal, social and cultural consequences of the encounters between Islam (a religion founded in an Arab context) and non-Arab cultures of Africa and Asia?", "What were the reactions of Islam to European imperial expansion, colonialism and the spread of capitalism (i.e., globalization)?" And much more...
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Discuss the major tenets of Islam as expressed in the Five Pillars of Islam;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner earns a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner names "The Five Pillars of Islam"
    learner discusses the historical roots of "The Five Pillars of Islam"
    learner discusses the effects of "The Five Pillars of Islam" on social structure and behavior in 7th century Arabia
    learner discusses the effects of "The Five Pillars of Islam" on social structure and behavior in contemporary Islamic societies in various parts of the world today
    learner explains how the five pillars reflect pre-Islamic Arabic beliefs
    learner explains how the five pillars reflect beliefs adopted from Judaism and Christianity

  2. Discuss the social and political economic conditions within which Islam was founded;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses the place of the peoples who came to be known as "Arabs" as they were affected by the great empires of the ancient (pre-Islamic) Near East and Eastern Mediterranean
    learner discusses the region that came to be known as "Arabia" [i.e., the Arabian peninsula] as they were affected by the great empires of the ancient (pre-Islamic) Near East and Eastern Mediterranean

  3. Discuss the religious controversies that existed in the area of the eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula at the time of the founding of Islam;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses the differences between monotheistic and polyeheistic religions of the region
    learner discusses the relations and conflict among the Abrahamic monotheisms
    learner discusses the relations and conflict among the various sects that developed within monotheistic and polytheistic religions

  4. Discuss the changes and developments in Islam in the years following the death of Muhammad;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner demonstrates a working knowledge of the major events of the life of Muhammad so as to discuss the origins of the Qur'an, the Hadith and the Sunnah

  5. Discuss the social, political economic and religious context of the differences between Sunni and Shi a Islam;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper

  6. Discuss the emergence, development and significance of Islamic jurisprudence;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses the development of the major schools of Islamic law and its interpretation
    learner discusses that law is applied to social structure and behavior in various Islamic societies

  7. Discuss the emergence, development and significance of Sufism;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses the differences between the notion of the "letter of the law' and the "spirit of the law"
    learner discusses how the Sufi movement emerged and developed as an expression of the "spirit of the law"
    learner discusses how the practices and beliefs of the Sufi orders spread among Muslims and non-Muslims

  8. Apply anthropological concepts dealing with myth, ritual and religion and to an understand the development of Islam in various parts of the world;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner applies anthropological concepts having to do with various theories of religion, ritual and myth to an understanding of Islamic doctrine and practice
    learner understands the encounters between Islam and other religious systems

  9. Discuss how Islamic belief and practice changed as that religion moved into North and Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and China;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper

  10. Discuss how Islamic belief and practice changed as that religion encountered the West and when it moved into Europe and North America;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner earns a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses the difficult, often contentious, relationship between the Islamic societies and the societies of the Christian West

  11. Discuss how the tenets, doctrines and practices of Islam have affected the societies and cultures into which it has moved;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner discusses how the non-Islamic or pre-Islamic social forms and cultures of various peoples in Africa have been altered by their encounters with Islam
    learner discusses how the non-Islamic or pre-Islamic social forms and cultures of various peoples in Asia have been altered by their encounters with Islam

  12. Apply anthropological concepts dealing with social structure and cultural process to Islamic cultures and societies;
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper
    Criteria
    learner has earned a passing grade on the aforesaid assignments
    learner interprets through discussion how various anthropological concepts having to do with the structure and dynamics of society and culture apply to an understanding of Islamic society and culture

  13. Apply anthropological concepts dealing with modernity and globalization to Islamic critiques of the West as well as an understanding of the reactions in the various parts of the Muslim world to modernity and globalization.
    Assessment Strategies
    their responses to regularly administered essay examinations
    their participation in classroom discussions
    the quality of their work in a required research paper

This Outline is under development.