Texts and Traditions in Islamic Intellectual History
| Module title | Texts and Traditions in Islamic Intellectual History |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARAM248 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Istvan Kristo-Nagy (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
In this module we will focus on the close reading and analysis of texts shaping and reflecting the traditions of Islamic intellectual history. As such, you might read works of philosophy, legal theory, political thought, theology, belles-lettres, Sufism as well as other elements of the Islamic learned traditions. This is a research-led module, and you will be introduced to the study of principal sources by leading experts working on their exploration. You will read writings of universal importance, as well as eminent scholarly studies about them. You will discuss in class both the primary and the secondary sources read and you will produce your own research. The module is a core for the MA in Islamic Studies but is also open to students studying for other degrees.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will introduce you to core texts in Islamic intellectual history. You will obtain deep insights into the evolution of Islamic thought and civilisation. You will develop an understanding of both the specific contexts of the texts studied as well as of their significance for universal history. In addition to learning about the texts studied, you will also acquire the skills to read, contextualise and analyse primary sources, explore and assess the scholarly literature, build on the existing knowledge and identify gaps as well as problematic areas necessitating reconsideration. These skills will prepare you for producing original research in the dynamic field of Islamic intellectual history, which is also linked to social and political as well as other cultural outputs, such as art, architecture, music, etc. The formative assessment for the module consists of a presentation followed by a discussion. This will prepare you for presenting at conferences and similar professional meetings. It will also give you the opportunity to present the outline of your research and integrate the feedback received while producing your summative assessment, an academic essay.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. acquire the skills necessary for the close reading and in depth study of key texts in Islamic intellectual history;
- 2. reach the ability to contextualise primary sources and discuss their significance both for the study of the close context of their production and for the overall evolution of Islamic and universal intellectual history.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. develop an understanding the importance and the methods of text-based studies in the field of Islamic studies;
- 4. build up an overview of Islamic intellectual history and its links to social and political history as well as to other cultural outputs;
- 5. attain the ability to locate Islamic intellectual history in universal history of humankind, including such fields as religious studies, philosophy, literature and political thought.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. produce original research based on the exploration and assessment of secondary sources (available scholarly literature) and the study of primary sources (original texts);
- 7. prepare and deliver a conference-style oral presentation
- 8. participate in scholarly/collegial discussions, give, accept and respond to feedback by peers;
- 9. present your research in clear and accessible manned in writing in the form of an academic essay.
Syllabus plan
The module’s content may vary from year to year, but the syllabus will always consists of readings and in-class discussion of key primary sources of Islamic intellectual history, as well as of relevant scholarly studies. Depending on the number of students taking the module, one, two or even more classes will be dedicated to student presentations and the following discussion.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 11 x 2 hr. classes (lectures and discussion based on the required readings). |
| Guided independent study | 48 | Reading the set texts. |
| Guided independent study | 80 | Research and writing up of final term 2,750-word essay. The title and structure of the essay is determined in consultation with your module convenor. The formative assessment will provide you an opportunity to present your outline for the essay and receive feedback both from the module convenor and the other students in the module. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| A short verbal presentation of the outline of the essay | 10 minutes | 1-8 | Written and verbal |
| Discussion during the lecture | 60-90 minutes per class | 1-5; 8 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100 | 2,750 words | 1-6, 9 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,750 words) | 1-6; 9 | August/September re-assessment period. |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Encyclopaedias:
Jane Dammen McAuliffe, general editor, Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an:
The Encyclopaedia of Islam New Edition (EI2):
The Encyclopaedia of Islam Three (EI3):
Encyclopaedia Iranica
Databases for scholarly studies:
Index Islamicus
JSTOR
Databases for texts:
http://www.alwaraq.net/Core/index.jsp?option=1
Dictionaries:
http://www.tyndalearchive.com/tabs/lane/
http://lexicon.quranic-research.net/
http://arabiclexicon.hawramani.com/
The Arabic text of Qur'an and various translations:
http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp
Michael Cook, The Koran : a very short introduction, Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2000, available online at
Hadith
Tafsir:
Illustrations in manuscripts:
http://www.islamicpaintedpage.com/
Books on world history, by scholars on the field of Islamic history:
Richard W. Bulliet et al., The Earth and its peoples: A global history (several editions since 1997).
Michael A. Cook, A brief history of the human race (New York: W.W. Norton, 2003).
Patricia Crone, Pre-industrial societies (Oxford, GB and Cambridge, Mass.: Blackwell, 1989, republished Oxford: Oneworld, 2003 and 2015),
Marshall G. S. Hodgson, Rethinking world history: Essays on Europe, Islam and world history (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993), available online at
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 10/12/2020 |
| Last revision date | 05/06/2023 |
