Courses

Students should enroll in both courses for two Northwestern credits:

HISTORY 301-SA-1 New Lectures in History: City and Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean World

Cities are unique cultural entities. They not only are the epitome of technological and economic achievements of the periods that they represent, but also cities reflect the most complex stage of human socioecosystems. They represent more than the sum of their parts, which make them invaluable objects of research. Adopting a mainly anthropological perspective, this course will discuss how the cities emerged, which factors contributed to their development, what they represented for their society, and what have been the unique challenges to sustain cities in the context of the eastern Mediterranean. While lectures will focus on various case studies, cities in Turkey will be discussed more frequently. Excursions to important sites in Istanbul will complement the program.

RELIGION 359-SA Islam and the West

This course aims to help students to challenge the key categories of Europe, the West and Islam, through examining the relationships between religion, multiculturalism, colonialism, orientalism, modernization, nationalism and globalization. Through a focus on the different definitions of and encounters with the West as they shaped national and ethnic identities, gender dynamics, and religious and cultural debates in Turkey in particular and in the Middle East in general, we will examine how local histories, societies, and cultures are related to global processes of politics, economics, and culture. Readings are drawn from various areas, including history, anthropology, and literature. Students are encouraged to think critically about and beyond both popular Western images of the Middle East and supposed boundaries between nations and civilizations.

Optional Independent study course

An Independent Study should be focused on a clearly defined subject matter of genuine intellectual and academic substance. The student has responsibility for asking an appropriate faculty member to sponsor the independent study. If a faculty member agrees to sponsor an independent study, s/he is expected to meet with the student several, provide guidance for the student's independent work, evaluate the student's work, and assign a grade.

For further information and syllabi please contact Rita Koryan r-koryan@northwestern.edu 847.467.1152