HIS4233 – Global Middle East: A Modern History of Connection and Circulation

The cultural and even geographic boundaries of what is today considered the Middle East should not be taken as a given. The term itself, "Middle East," has a relatively recent history and a clearly imperial genealogy. What if we displaced the received notions of this region as intrinsically isolated, unchanging, and steeped in tradition? What if we looked at the ways in which the Middle East has been crisscrossed by flows of different kinds? This course explores the connections and exchanges this region has historically sustained with other parts of the world with a special focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. By framing the Middle East in a global context, this course sketches alternative maps with constellations of points, unexpected patterns, and discontinuous lines. Looking into the mobility of individuals and groups and the movement of things and ideas into and out of the Middle East, the course exposes students to comparative and transnational histories, whose tools and approaches can help de-center the most West-centered of histories.

On successful completion of this course, you should be able to

• be familiar with the most recent historiographical trends on the global history of the modern Middle East
• identify the main scholarly debates and controversies in the literature
• undertake an original analysis based on primary and secondary sources

In terms of more general skills, you should be able to

• know how to design and implement a paper project on a topic in the history of the Middle East in global and/or comparative perspective
• initiate and participate in oral and written discussions of texts
• research a topic of choice
• read different kinds of academic texts in a critical and independent manner
• work with others in small groups
• give feedback on others’ work

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

The course is available to students admitted to the master's programmes in History, European History, and master`s specialization in history at the Teacher Education Programme.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

A good ability to read, write and understand English is required for this course.

The course is taught in seminars, where the students will be active participants. Students are expected to prepare the seminar readings for discussion and to contribute orally to the course.

Compulsory assignments:

• To qualify for the exam, students are required to submit an annotated bibliography and a synopsis of the final paper, and to participate in the peer-review session. Assignment details will be given in the seminars and on Canvas.

The course is assessed by a portfolio. The portfolio must consist of the following:

• annoted bibliography
• synopsis
• one individual essay of maximum 4500 words on a relevant topic, developed by the student and approved by any one of the teachers of the course.

The examination text is given in Englis. You submit your response in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.