Corso di laurea magistrale in Scienze storiche

The course will consist in an in-depth historical analysis focused on the following contexts: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq (including Iraqi Kurdistan), Israel, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya. A particular attention will be given to the emergence of bottom-up grassroots ideas and local anti-colonial movements; the formation of modern nation states and the interactions among them; the role of Islamic and non-Islamic groups in the “political reform processes”; the influence and legacy of long-standing regional conflicts; the (active) role of local women in pressure groups and political movements; the impact of colonialism and imperialism on the Middle East and North Africa; the lives of ordinary men and women in the late modern and contemporary era; the “Arab cold war”; the “revival of Islam” and the role of non-Muslim communities; and the rising regional orders in the 2000s and 2010s.

Overall, students will acquire knowledge, abilities and skills related to the contemporary history of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the history of international relations, which are crucial components of the degree in Historical Sciences.

By the end of the course students should be able to:

-acquire an in-depth understanding of the modern and contemporary history of some key countries in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as of a number of local ethnic and religious groups, political movements and non-state actors.

-acquire a more informed knowledge of where to look for, and how to get, scholarships, grants, and research funds, for national and international projects or programs.

-enhance their verbal presentation and written skills.

The programme, with the readings of each lesson, can be accessed at the following link: https://www.academia.edu/44559559/History_of_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa_2024_2025_

The course consists of 12 lessons (3 hours each) and 1 final “laboratory” (3 hours).

All teaching materials will be made available to students in a dedicated page on dropbox.

Students are asked to prepare the required readings carefully in order to be able to participate to class discussions. They will be asked to send to the teacher 2 or 3 questions/inputs regarding the content of the required reading of each lesson.

Additionally, each student will be asked to prepare an oral presentation (about 12 minutes long) on one source included in the reading list (see in the programme: "Presentation delivered by one student:"). The list of presentations will be agreed during the first lesson.

Frontal lectures, students' presentations, use of media, class discussion.        

Grades in this course will be based on the following assignments:

Class participation 40%

Oral presentations 20%

Final examination 40% (as an alternative to the final written exam, students can opt for a final written paper on one of the key topics addressed during the course, to be agreed with the teacher)

Grading criteria for participation:

• Demonstration of reading assigned materials prior to class
• Contribution to discussion
• Ability to critically analyze the readings

Grading criteria for oral presentation:

• Well-organized and clear structure (the presentation has a clear Intro, body, and conclusion)
• Demonstration of understanding the main ideas/thesis that the article intends to propose
• Raise critical comments to readings
• Raise questions to be discussed in the class

Grading criteria for final exam:

• 6 multiple choice & 8 open questions: all taken only from the required readings

As an alternative to the "final examination", students can opt for a final written paper to be agreed with the teacher. Grading criteria for the final written paper:

• The final written paper should present a clear research question, and will be evaluated assessing the latter, as well as the quality of research (to what extent have you adequately uncovered and documented the information necessary to sustain your thesis?), the quality of analysis (to what extent have you have provided a well-structured argument in support of your thesis?), and the quality of presentation (to what extent does your paper’s organizational structure effectively communicate its thesis?).

Overall, students who achieve an independent vision of the themes explored in class, combined with good critical capacity, a command of expression using precise language, will be assessed with a very good or excellent grade (28–30 and honors); a primarily mnemonic or somewhat under developed acquisition of the contents of the course, with a linguistic and logical competence which is not always adequate will be valued with a grade from fair (21–24) to good (25–27); a minimal level of understanding of the contents of the course, combined with gaps in training or inadequate linguistic and logical competence, will earn a sufficient grade (18–20); the absence of the minimal level of understanding of the course contents, combined with inadequate linguistic and logical competencies and with training gaps, will produce an insufficient grade (<18/30).

Students with disabilities or learning difficulties can find information on the university facilities, study support, and exam procedures at the following links.

Services:

https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa

Support:

https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilita

Exams:

https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con

For the book chapter, or the academic article, assigned as a "required reading" for each lesson, please see the section "programma".

Non-attending students should agree with the teacher 2 among the following books to prepare for their oral exam.

S. Faroqhi, Women in the Ottoman Empire, I.B. Tauris, London 2023.

K. Salibi, A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered, I.B. Tauris, London 2002.

C. Aydın, The Idea of the Muslim World, Harvard UP, Cambridge (Ma) 2017

L. Kamel, L, Trombetta, Sciismo e Potere. Il peso della storia tra Iran, Libano e Iraq, Istituto per l’Oriente C.A. Nallino, Rome 2021.

L. Kamel, The Middle East from Empire to Sealed Identities, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh 2019.

A. Marzano, Terra Laica, Viella, Roma 2023.

U. Makdisi, Age of Coexistence: The Ecumenical Frame and the Making of the Modern Arab World, University of California Press, Oakland 2019.

A. Hannoum, The Invention of the Maghreb, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2021.

L. Kamel, Terra Contesa. Israele, Palestina e il peso della Storia, Carocci, Roma 2022.

If you are a student with a temporary or permanent disability, please be aware that the University of Turin provides specific services to encourage the creation of an inclusive environment: https://www.unito.it/interno-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa