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The Middle East before 1945

Module description

This module examines major social and political themes in the history of the modern Middle East between 1800 and 1945

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module examines major social and political themes in the history of the modern Middle East between 1800 and 1945

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. An understanding of the historical development of the Middle East during 1800-1945 from a continuity/change and comparative perspectives, particularly in the social and political fields.
• 2. At the end of the module the students will develop a multi-sided approach to the major themes of the history of the period.
• 3. In particular they will be able to critically discuss these themes through an evaluation of the different approaches to historical research within the field of Middle Eastern studies.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. An ability to work with primary sources under tutor guidance, and to evaluate these in the light of conceptual and theoretical debates.
• 5. An ability to engage with the cultural/political contexts within which historical literature was produced. An ability to understand themes and ideas of historical change from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Independent study and group work, including participation in oral discussion
• 7. Ability to organise data effectively to produce a coherent written argument to a deadline.

Syllabus plan

Week 1 - Introduction / Middle Eastern Historiography
Week 2 - Local Actors (Old and New Elites)
Week 3 - Outside Actors (Imperialism Powers)
Week 4 - Communities, Tribes, and the State
Week 5 - The Ottoman Empire
Week 6 - No class (reading break)
Week 7 - The Turkish Republic
Week 8 - Egypt
Week 9 - Iran under the Qajars
Week 10 - Iran under the Pahlavis
Week 11 - Palestine and Zionism
Week 12 - The Gulf States before Oil

Teaching sessions will normally include lecturing and class discussion. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical approaches to mainstream historical literature dealing with the period.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Justin McCarthy, The Ottoman Turks: An Introductory History to 1923 (1997).
Donald Quataert, The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922, 2nd edn. (2005).
Bernard Lewis, The Emergence of Modern Turkey, 3rd edn. (2002).
Nikki Keddie, Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution (2003).
Sami Zubaida, Islam, the People, and the State, rev. edn. (1993)
Roger Owen, State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East, 3rd edn. (2003)

Key words search

Middle East