AKKD 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Akkadian I-II-III.

The first two quarters of this sequence cover the elements of Babylonian grammar and the cuneiform writing system, with reading exercises in Old Babylonian texts (ca. 1900 to 1600 B.C.), such as the Laws of Hammurabi. The third quarter introduces Standard Babylonian, the literary language of ca. 1200 to 600 B.C., with readings in royal inscriptions and literary texts.

AKKD 20314. Akkadian Historical Texts II. 100 Units.

Reading of selections, in Akkadian language and cuneiform script, from Assyrian and Babylonian royal inscriptions, chronicles, and other written sources for the narrative frameworks of Mesopotamian history.

Instructor(s): Stolper     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): One year of Akkadian, or consent of instructor.

AKKD 20341. Old Babylonian Letters. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): Dix     Terms Offered: Winter

AKKD 20342. Old Babylonian Literary Texts. 100 Units.

Old legal documents.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Spring

AANL 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Hittite I-II-III.

This three-quarter sequence covers the basic grammar and cuneiform writing system of the Hittite language. It also familiarizes students with the field’s tools (i.e., dictionaries, lexica, sign list). Readings come from all periods of Hittite history (1650 to 1180 BC).

AANL 20125. Advanced Readings in Hittite. 100 Units.

 The focus of this course is the close reading and analysis of selected Hittite texts; specific texts and topics may vary from year to year.

Instructor(s): P. Goedegebuure     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Elementary Hittite

AANL 20301. Hieroglyphic Luwian I. 100 Units.

This course introduces the student to the grammar and writing system of the Hieroglyphic Luwian language of the first millennium B.C. (1000 to 700). Once the grammar is discussed, older and younger texts of that period are read, including the Karatepe Bilingual.

Instructor(s): van den Hout, Theo     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor

ARAB 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Arabic I-II-III.

This sequence concentrates on the acquisition of speaking, reading, and aural skills in modern formal Arabic. The class meets for six hours a week.

ARAB 10250. Colloquial Levantine Arabic. 100 Units.

Spoken Levantine Arabic is a proficiency-based course designed to develop the linguistic skills necessary for personal day-to-day life. The course focuses on spoken rather than Standard written Arabic, and will therefore target primarily the oral/aural skills. Through the knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic and the introduction of colloquial vocabulary, expressions and grammar, the course will build the students’ competence in spoken Arabic. Students will also be introduced to the Levantine culture of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.

Instructor(s): O. abu-Eldedam     Terms Offered: Spring

ARAB 20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Arabic I-II-III.

This sequence concentrates on speaking, reading, and aural skills at the intermediate level of modern formal Arabic.

ARAB 20588. Media Arabic. 100 Units.

Media Arabic is a course designed for the advanced student of Modern Standard Arabic. The course objective is to improve students listening comprehension skills. Students will advance toward this goal through listening to a variety of authentic materials from Arabic TV (on politics, literature, economics, education, women, youth, etc.).

Instructor(s): Abdel Mobdy Hala      Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ARAB 30588

ARAM 10401. Elementary Syriac I. 100 Units.

The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read Syriac literature with a high degree of comprehension. The course is divided into two segments. The first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of Syriac grammar and vocabulary. The third quarter is spent reading a variety of Syriac prose and poetic texts and includes a review of grammar

Instructor(s): S. Creason     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Second-year standing

ARAM 10402. Elementary Syriac II. 100 Units.

The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read Syriac literature with a high degree of comprehension. The course is divided into two segments. The first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of Syriac grammar and vocabulary. The third quarter is spent reading a variety of Syriac prose and poetic texts and includes a review of grammar

Instructor(s): S. Creason     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): ARAM 10401

ARAM 10403. Elementary Syriac III. 100 Units.

The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read Syriac literature with a high degree of comprehension. The course is divided into two segments. The first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of Syriac grammar and vocabulary. The third quarter is spent reading a variety of Syriac prose and poetic texts and includes a review of grammar

Instructor(s): S. Creason     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): ARAM 10402

ARAM 20501. Jewish Babylonian Aramaic 1. 100 Units.

This course will consist of an intensive investigation of the grammar of the Jewish Babylonian Aramaic dialect of Late Aramaic, focusing on the orthographic, phonological, and morphological differences of this dialect as compared with other, earlier dialects of Aramaic. Reading of some representative texts written in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic will accompany the investigation of the grammar.  

Instructor(s): Creason Stuart      Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of at least two other dialects of Aramaic

ARME 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Modern Armenian I-II-III.

This three-quarter sequence utilizes the most advanced computer technology and audio-visual aids enabling the students to master a core vocabulary, the alphabet and basic grammatical structures and to achieve a reasonable level of proficiency in modern formal and spoken Armenian (one of the oldest Indo-European languages). A considerable amount of historical-political and social-cultural issues about Armenia are skillfully built into the course for students who have intention to conduct research in Armenian Studies or to pursue work in Armenia.

ARME 20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Modern Armenian I-II-III.

The goal of this three-quarter sequence is to enable students to reach an advanced level of proficiency in the Armenian language. This sequence covers a rich vocabulary and complex grammatical structures in modern formal and colloquial Armenian. Reading assignments include a selection of original Armenian literature and excerpts from mass media.

EGPT 10101-10102. Introduction to Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphs I-II.

This course examines hieroglyphic writing and the grammar of the language of classical Egyptian literature.

EGPT 10103. Middle Egyptian Texts I. 100 Units.

This course features readings in a variety of genres, including historical, literary, and scientific texts.

Instructor(s): STAFF     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 10101-10102 or consent of the instructor
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 30502

EGPT 10201. Introduction to Coptic. 100 Units.

This course introduces the last native language of Egypt, which was in common use during the late Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods (fourth to tenth centuries CE). Grammar and vocabulary of the standard Sahidic dialect are presented in preparation for reading biblical, monastic, and Gnostic literature, as well as a variety of historical and social documents.

Instructor(s): J. Johnson     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Second-year standing required; knowledge of earlier Egyptian language phases or Classical Greek or Koine Greek helpful but not required
Equivalent Course(s): HCHR 30601

EGPT 10202. Coptic Texts. 100 Units.

This course builds on the basics of grammar learned in EGPT 10201 and provides readings in a variety of Coptic texts (e.g., monastic texts, biblical excerpts, tales, Gnostic literature).

Instructor(s): B. Muhs     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 10201
Equivalent Course(s): HCHR 30602

EGPT 20101. Middle Egyptian Texts II. 100 Units.

This course features readings in a variety of genres, including historical, literary, and scientific texts.

Instructor(s): B. Muhs     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 10101-10102-10103 or consent of the instructor

EGPT 20102. Introduction to Hieratic. 100 Units.

This course introduces the cursive literary and administrative script of Middle Egyptian (corresponding to the Middle Kingdom period in Egypt) and is intended to provide familiarity with a variety of texts written in hieratic (e.g., literary tales, religious compositions, wisdom literature, letters, accounts, graffiti).

Instructor(s): B. Muhs     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 10101-10102-10103 or equivalent required; EGPT 20101 recommended

EGPT 20110. Introduction to Old Egyptian. 100 Units.

This course examines the hieroglyphic writing and grammar of the Old Kingdom (Egypt's "Pyramid Age"), focusing on monumental readings from private tombs, royal and private stelae, administrative decrees, economic documents, and Pyramid texts. Some attention is given to Old Egyptian texts written in cursive Hieratic.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 10101-10102-10103 or equivalent required; EGPT 20101 recommended

EGPT 20210. Introduction to Late Egyptian. 100 Units.

This course is a comprehensive examination of the grammar, vocabulary, and orthographic styles of the nonliterary vernacular of New Kingdom Egypt (Dynasties XVII to XXIV), as exhibited by administrative and business documents, private letters, and official monuments. We also study the hybrid "literary Late Egyptian" used for tales and other compositions. Texts from the various genres are read and analyzed in EGPT 20211.

Instructor(s): R. Ritner     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 10101-10102-10103 or equivalent required; EGPT 20101 recommended

EGPT 20211. Late Egyptian Texts. 100 Units.

Building on the basics of grammar, vocabulary, and orthographic styles learned in EGPT 20210, this course focuses on the reading and analysis of Late Egyptian texts from the various genres.

Instructor(s): R. Ritner     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): EGPT 20210
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 34200

HEBR 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Classical Hebrew I-II-III.

The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read biblical Hebrew prose with a high degree of comprehension. The course is divided into two segments: (1) the first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of descriptive and historical grammar (including translation to and from Hebrew, oral exercises, and grammatical analysis); and (2) the third quarter is spent examining prose passages from the Hebrew Bible and includes a review of grammar.

HEBR 10501-10502-10503. Introductory Modern Hebrew I-II-III.

This three quarter course introduces students to reading, writing, and speaking modern Hebrew. All four language skills are emphasized: comprehension of written and oral materials; reading of nondiacritical text; writing of directed sentences, paragraphs, and compositions; and speaking. Students learn the Hebrew root pattern system and the seven basic verb conjugations in both the past and present tenses, as well as simple future. At the end of the year, students can conduct short conversations in Hebrew, read materials designed to their level, and write short essay.

HEBR 20001. Hebrew Letters and Inscriptions. 100 Units.

This course involves reading and analysis of the inscriptional material from Palestine written during the first millennium BC (including texts from Transjordan).

Instructor(s): D. Pardee     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): HEBR 10103 or equivalent
Note(s): This course is offered in alternate years.

HEBR 20002. Phoenician Inscriptions. 100 Units.

This course involves reading and analysis of the inscriptions, primarily on stone and primarily from the Phoenician homeland, that belong to the early and middle first millennium BC.

Instructor(s): D. Pardee     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): HEBR 20001
Note(s): This course is offered in alternate years.

HEBR 20003. Punic Inscriptions. 100 Units.

This course is a continuation of HEBR 20002. Texts resulting from the Phoenician expansion into the Western Mediterranean (primarily North Africa) are studied.

Instructor(s): D. Pardee     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): HEBR 20002
Note(s): This course is offered in alternate years.

HEBR 20104-20105-20106. Intermediate Classical Hebrew I-II-III.

A continuation of Elementary Classical Hebrew. The first quarter consists of reviewing grammar, and of reading and analyzing further prose texts. The last two quarters are devoted to an introduction to Hebrew poetry with readings from Psalms, Proverbs, and the prophets.

HEBR 20301-20302. Tannaitic Hebrew Texts I-II.

This course consists of readings in the Mishnah and Tosefta, the main corpus of legal and juridical texts assembled by the Palestinian academic masters during the second and early third centuries. Goals are to introduce: (1) views and opinions of early rabbinic scholars who flourished in the period immediately following that of the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls; (2) aspects of the material culture of the Palestinian Jews during that same period; and (3) grammar and vocabulary of what is generally called “early rabbinic Hebrew” and thereby to facilitate the ability to read and understand unvocalized Hebrew texts.

HEBR 20501-20502-20503. Intermediate Modern Hebrew I-II-III.

The main objective of this course is to provide students with the skills necessary to approach modern Hebrew prose, both fiction and nonfiction. In order to achieve this task, students are provided with a systematic examination of the complete verb structure. Many syntactic structures are introduced (e.g., simple clauses, coordinate and compound sentences). At this level, students not only write and speak extensively but are also required to analyze grammatically and contextually all of material assigned.

NEAA 10630. Islamic Art and Architecture, 1100 to 1500. 100 Units.

This course surveys the art and architecture of the Islamic world from 1100 to 1500. In that period, political fragmentation into multiple principalities challenged a deeply rooted ideology of unity of the Islamic world. The course of the various principalities competed not only in politics but also in the patronage of architectural projects and of arts (e.g., textiles, ceramics, woodwork, arts of the book). While focusing on the central Islamic lands, we consider regional traditions from Spain to India and the importance for the arts of contacts with China and the West.

Instructor(s): P. Berlekamp     Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): Students must attend first class to confirm enrollment. For nonmajors, any ARTH 14000 through 16999 course meets the general education requirement in the dramatic, musical, and visual arts.
Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 16709,ARTH 16709

NEAA 17205. Islamic Gardens in Landscape and Image. 100 Units.

Garden imagery is ubiquitous in the art and architecture of the Islamic world from the eighth century to the eighteenth, and from Spain to India. The poetic trope whereby a visually pleasing object or site is compared to the garden of paradise is equally ubiquitous. But does this imply any historical consistency in the significance of garden imagery, of actual gardens, or of the poetic trope? In this class we explore this question by examining both garden imagery and actual gardens from many different times and places in the Islamic world. How do their visual forms and cultural significance shift according to specific historical circumstances?

Instructor(s): P. Berlekamp     Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): Students must attend first class to confirm enrollment. For nonmajors, any ARTH 17000 through 18999 course meets the general education requirement in the dramatic, musical, and visual arts.
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 17205

NEAA 20035. Zooarchaeology. 100 Units.

This course introduces the use of animal bones in archaeological research. Students gain hands-on experience analyzing faunal remains from an archaeological site in the Near East. Topics include: (1) identifying, aging, and sexing animal bones; (2) zooarchaeological sampling, measurement, quantification, and problems of taphonomy; (3) computer analysis of animal bone data; and (4) reconstructing prehistoric hunting and pastoral economies (e.g., animal domestication, hunting strategies, herding systems, seasonality, pastoral production in complex societies).

Instructor(s): G. Stein     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Introductory course in archaeology
Equivalent Course(s): NEAA 30035

NEAA 20045. Economic Organization of Ancient Complex Societies. 100 Units.

,This course provides undergraduate and graduate students with an overview of some of the basic theoretical and methodological issues involved in the study of ancient complex societies, primarily through archaeological evidence supplemented by textual data.,

Instructor(s): G. Stein     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ANTH 26740,ANTH 36740,NEAA 30045

NEAA 20061-20062. Ancient Landscapes I-II.

The landscape of the Near East contains a detailed and subtle record of environmental, social, and economic processes that have obtained over thousands of years. Landscape analysis is therefore proving to be fundamental to an understanding of the processes that underpinned the development of ancient Near Eastern society. This class provides an overview of the ancient cultural landscapes of this heartland of early civilization from the early stages of complex societies in the fifth and sixth millennia B.C. to the close of the Early Islamic period around the tenth century A.D.

NEAA 20123. Mesopotamian Archaeology III. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): M. Gibson     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): NEAA 20122 or Consent of the Instructor

NEAA 20124. Mesopotamian Archaeology IV. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): M. Gibson     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): NEAA 20123

NEAA 20521. Archaeology of Coptic and Islamic Egypt. 100 Units.

This course is an exploration of the continuities of Egyptian culture after the Ptolemaic period down to modern times, a span of over 2000 years. Our emphasis is on the archaeology of Coptic and Islamic Egypt. The focus is on the role of medieval archaeology in amplifying the history of economic and social systems. It is this connective quality of archaeology that contributes to an understanding of Pharaonic culture and fills the gap between ancient and modern Egypt.

Instructor(s): D. Whitcomb     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Introductory course in archaeology

NEAA 20533. Problems in Islamic Archaeology: Regional Studies. 100 Units.

This seminar will consider the development of Islamic Archaeology in various aspects revealed in a new publication.  This is The Archaeology of the Early Islamic Settlement in Palestine by Jodi Magness (Winona Lake IN Eisenbrauns, 2003).  This volume began with concerns raised in Magness’ dissertation, particularly misperceptions in the transition from Late Antiquity to Early Islam and the utilization of archaeological evidence for this problem.  The specific region is southern Palestine and the Negev, where a critical mass of archaeological evidence is now available; the broader patterns of historical archaeology are implicit in research on this material.

Instructor(s): D. Whitcomb     Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): This sequence does NOT meet the general education requirements in civilization studies.

NEAA 20801. Art, Architecture, and Identity in the Ottoman Empire. 100 Units.

Though they did not compose a “multi-cultural society” in the modern sense, the ruling elite and subjects of the vast Ottoman Empire came from a wide variety of regional, ethnic, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. The dynamics of the Empire’s internal cultural diversity, as well as of its external relations with contemporary courts in Iran, Italy, and elsewhere, were continuously negotiated and renegotiated in its art and architecture. This course examines classical Ottoman architecture, arts of the book, ceramics, and textiles. Particular attention is paid to the urban transformation of Byzantine Constantinople into Ottoman Istanbul after 1453, and to the political, technical, and economic factors leading to the formation of a distinctively Ottoman visual idiom disseminated through multiple media in the sixteenth century.

Instructor(s): P. Berlekamp     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 23400,ARTH 33400,NEAA 30801

NEAA 29700. Reading and Research Course: Near Eastern Art and Archaeology. 100 Units.

Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.

Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of faculty adviser and counselor for undergraduate studies

NEHC 10101. Introduction to the Middle East. 100 Units.

Prior knowledge of the Middle East not required. This course aims to facilitate a general understanding of some key factors that have shaped life in this region, with primary emphasis on modern conditions and their background, and to provide exposure to some of the region's rich cultural diversity. This course can serve as a basis for the further study of the history, politics, and civilizations of the Middle East.

Instructor(s): F. Donner     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 15801

NEHC 16709. Islamic Art and Architecture, 1100 to 1500. 100 Units.

This course surveys the art and architecture of the Islamic world from 1100 to 1500. In that period, political fragmentation into multiple principalities challenged a deeply rooted ideology of unity of the Islamic world. The course of the various principalities competed not only in politics but also in the patronage of architectural projects and of arts (e.g., textiles, ceramics, woodwork, arts of the book). While focusing on the central Islamic lands, we consider regional traditions from Spain to India and the importance for the arts of contacts with China and the West.

Instructor(s): P. Berlekamp     Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): Students must attend first class to confirm enrollment. For nonmajors, any ARTH 14000 through 16999 course meets the general education requirement in the dramatic, musical, and visual arts.
Equivalent Course(s): NEAA 10630,ARTH 16709

NEHC 20001-20002-20003. Ancient Near Eastern History and Society I-II-III.

NEHC 20004-20005-20006. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and Literature I-II-III.

Taking these courses in sequence is not required.

NEHC 20011-20012-20013. Ancient Empires I-II-III.

This sequence introduces three great empires of the ancient world. Each course in the sequence focuses on one empire, with attention to the similarities and differences among the empires being considered. By exploring the rich legacy of documents and monuments that these empires produced, students are introduced to ways of understanding imperialism and its cultural and societal effects—both on the imperial elites and on those they conquered.

NEHC 20025. Introduction to Islamic Law. 100 Units.

This course introduces students to the structure and central concepts of Islamic law, and explores its implementation in practice through its long history. The course pursues two parallel strands of inquiry. One weekly class meeting is dedicated to a close reading and discussion of primary legal texts in translation. In the second meeting, we trace the historical role of Islamic law in Muslim societies, beginning with the emergence of localized normative traditions and ending with a consideration of the nature of Islamic law in the modern globalized world. All readings in English.

Instructor(s): A. El Shamsy     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): ISLM 30025,LAWS 80212,RLST 20801

NEHC 20401-20402-20403. Jewish History and Society I-II-III.

Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. Students explore the ancient, medieval, and modern phases of Jewish culture(s) by means of documents and artifacts that illuminate the rhythms of daily life in changing economic, social, and political contexts. Texts in English.

NEHC 20404-20405-20406. Jewish Thought and Literature I-II-III.

Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. Students in this sequence explore Jewish thought and literature from ancient times until the modern era through a close reading of original sources. A wide variety of works is discussed, including the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and texts representative of rabbinic Judaism, medieval Jewish philosophy, and modern Jewish culture in its diverse manifestations. Texts in English.

NEHC 20411-20412-20413. Medieval Jewish History I-II-III.

This sequence does NOT meet the general education requirement in civilization studies. This three-quarter sequence deals with the history of the Jews over a wide geographical and historical range. First-quarter work is concerned with the rise of early rabbinic Judaism and development of the Jewish communities in Palestine and the Eastern and Western diasporas during the first several centuries CE. Topics include the legal status of the Jews in the Roman world, the rise of rabbinic Judaism, the rabbinic literature of Palestine in that context, the spread of rabbinic Judaism, the rise and decline of competing centers of Jewish hegemony, the introduction of Hebrew language and culture beyond the confines of their original home, and the impact of the birth of Islam on the political and cultural status of the Jews. An attempt is made to evaluate the main characteristics of Jewish belief and social concepts in the formative periods of Judaism as it developed beyond its original geographical boundaries. Second-quarter work is concerned with the Jews under Islam, both in Eastern and Western Caliphates. Third-quarter work is concerned with the Jews of Western Europe from the eleventh through the fifteenth centuries.

NEHC 20501-20502-20503. Islamic History and Society I-II-III.

This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. This sequence surveys the main trends in the political history of the Islamic world, with some attention to economic, social, and intellectual history. Taking these courses in sequence is recommended but not required.

NEHC 20507. Byzantine Empire, 1025 to 1453. 100 Units.

Internal and external problems and developments. Internal tensions on the eve of the arrival of the Seljuks. Eleventh-century economic growth. The Crusades. Achievements and deficiencies of Komnenian Byzantium. The Fourth Crusade and Byzantine successor states. Palaeologan political and cultural revival. Religious topics such as relations with the papacy, Bogomilism, and Hesychasm. Readings will include M. Angold, The Byzantine Empire 1025–1204; D. M. Nicol, Last Centuries of Byzantium; the histories of Michael Psellos and Anna Comnena. Course grade will include a final examination and a 10-page paper.

Instructor(s): W. Kaegi     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 21703,ANCM 36700,HIST 31703

NEHC 20510. Byzantine Military History. 100 Units.

Interpretation of major issues of institutional, operational, and strategic history between the fourth and fourteenth centuries. Readings include selections from Byzantine military manuals and historians, as well as recent historical assessments. Among topics are debates on the theme system and numbers. Final examination and short paper.

Instructor(s): W. Kaegi     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 34606,NEHC 30510,HIST 32002,HIST 22002

NEHC 20568. Balkan Folklore. 100 Units.

This course is an overview of Balkan folklore from ethnographic, anthropological, historical/political, and performative perspectives. We become acquainted with folk tales, lyric and epic songs, music, and dance. The work of Milman Parry and Albert Lord, who developed their theory of oral composition through work among epic singers in the Balkans, helps us understand folk tradition as a dynamic process. We also consider the function of different folklore genres in the imagining and maintenance of community and the socialization of the individual. We also experience this living tradition first hand through our visit to the classes and rehearsals of the Chicago-based ensemble "Balkanske igre."

Instructor(s): A. Ilieva     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): SOSL 26800,CMLT 23301,CMLT 33301,NEHC 30568,SOSL 36800

NEHC 20573. The Burden of History: A Nation and Its Lost Paradise. 100 Units.

This course begins by defining the nation both historically and conceptually, with attention to Romantic nationalism and its flourishing in Southeastern Europe. We then look at the narrative of original wholeness, loss, and redemption through which Balkan countries retell their Ottoman past. With the help of Freud's analysis of masochistic desire and Žižek's theory of the subject as constituted by trauma, we contemplate the national fixation on the trauma of loss and the dynamic between victimhood and sublimity. The figure of the Janissary highlights the significance of the other in the definition of the self. Some possible texts are Petar Njegoš's Mountain Wreath; Ismail Kadare's The Castle; and Anton Donchev's Time of Parting.

Instructor(s): A. Ilieva     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): CMLT 23401,CMLT 33401,NEHC 30573,SOSL 27300,SOSL 37300

NEHC 20601-20602-20603. Islamic Thought and Literature I-II-III.

This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. Taking these courses in sequence is recommended but not required.

NEHC 20605. Colloquium: Sources for the Study of Islamic History. 100 Units.

This course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic problems and concepts as well as the sources and methodology for the study of pre-modern Islamic history. Sources will be read in English translation and the tools acquired will be applied to specific research projects to be submitted as term papers. 

Instructor(s): J. Woods     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 30605,HIST 36005,HIST 26005

NEHC 20645. History of the Fatimid Caliphate. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): P. Walker     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 30645,HIST 24401,HIST 34401

NEHC 20766. Shamans and Oral Poets of Central Asia. 100 Units.

This course explores the rituals, oral literature, and music associated with the nomadic cultures of Central Eurasia.

Instructor(s): K. Arik     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of Arabic and/or Islamic studies helpful but not required
Note(s): NEHC 20765 and 20766 may be taken in sequence or individually.
Equivalent Course(s): ANTH 25906,EEUR 20766,EEUR 30766

NEHC 20885. Returning the Gaze: The Balkans and Western Europe. 100 Units.

This course investigates the complex relationship between South East European self-representations and the imagined Western "gaze" for whose benefit the nations stage their quest for identity and their aspirations for recognition. We also think about differing models of masculinity, the figure of the gypsy as a metaphor for the national self in relation to the West, and the myths Balkans tell about themselves. We conclude by considering the role that the imperative to belong to Western Europe played in the Yugoslav wars of succession. Some possible texts/films are Ivo Andric, Bosnian Chronicle; Aleko Konstantinov, Baj Ganyo; Emir Kusturica, Underground; and Milcho Manchevski, Before the Rain.

Instructor(s): A. Ilieva     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): SOSL 27200,CMLT 23201,CMLT 33201,NEHC 30885,SOSL 37200

NEHC 20911. Prophets in Jewish and Islamic Traditions. 100 Units.

In this course, we will study the tales of the prophets as found in the Bible, the Qur’an, and Jewish and Islamic interpretive traditions. By examining and enjoying the narratives of individual prophets, we will develop an understanding of prophecy as a broad religious phenomenon. The course offers opportunities for comparative enquiry into two sacred scriptures—the Bible and the Qur’an—and the rich interpretive literature that Jewish and Islamic communities created in order to understand them. All readings will be in English translation. Assignments include three short essays, an oral presentation, and a final exam.

Instructor(s): J. Andruss     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 20910,JWSC 20910

NEHC 20996. History of Israeli-Arab Conflict. 100 Units.

This lecture course traces the development of the Arab-Israeli conflict from its nineteenth-century origins to the present day. It examines the social and ideological roots of Zionism and Palestinan Arab nationalism, the growth of Arab-Jewish hostility in Palestine during the late Ottoman and British mandate periods, the involvement of the Arab states and the great powers, the series of Arab-Israeli wars, the two intifadas, and the zigzag progress towards negotiated agreements between Israel and the Arab states and between Israel and the Palestinians.

Instructor(s): B. Wasserstein     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 25902,HIST 35902,INRE 36000,INST 25902,JWSG 35902,NEHC 30996

NEHC 20997. Armenians, Arabs, and Jews in Late Ottoman State and Society. 100 Units.

The seminar examines the connected histories of Armenians, Arabs, and Jews in the Ottoman Empire beginning from the long 19th century until World War I. By situating them in the proper historical context, the seminar aims to analyze the major transformations that these groups experienced in the Ottoman Empire from a comparative perspective. This will allow us to compare and contrast these groups and understand their political and socio-economic evolution in the age of modernity.

Instructor(s): PENDING PENDING      Terms Offered: Spring

NEHC 28002. Islamic Art and Architecture of the Medieval Perso-Turkic Courts (11th–15th Centuries) 100 Units.

This course considers art and architecture patronized by the Seljuk, Mongol, and Timurid courts from Anatolia to Central Asia from the eleventh to the fifteenth centuries. While the princes of these courts were of Turkic and/or Mongol origin, they adopted many of the cultural and artistic expectations of Perso-Islamicate court life. Further, many objects and monuments patronized by these courts belong to artistic histories variously shared with non-Islamic powers from the Byzantine Empire to China. Questions of how modern scholars have approached and categorized the arts and architecture of these courts will receive particular attention. Each student will write a historiographic review essay with a research component.

Instructor(s): P. Berlekamp     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 28002,ARTH 38002,NEHC 38002

NEHC 29500. Introduction to the History and Culture of Armenia. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): H. Haroutunian     Terms Offered: Winter

NEHC 29600. Islam in the Digital Age. 100 Units.

The introduction of new media, such as the Internet, satellite television and cell phones, in the Arab/Muslim world imposed new realities and invited new dynamics, whether in the political, social, cultural or communication landscapes. This course tackles the complexities and implications of this new digital age, with all its multi-faceted dimensions. In the communication arena, it pays special attention to the discourses and deliberations exchanged in cyberspace between Muslims and non-Muslims, on one hand, as well as between Muslims belonging to different sects, on the other hand. In doing so, it pays special attention to the myriad of complex factors which could be conducive, or constraining, to digital dialogue. Politically, it unveils the multiple roles played by new media in mobilizing and catalyzing resistance movements in many parts of the Muslim world, with a special emphasis on the phenomenon of “cyberactivism,” or the deployment of new media to boost socio-political change, as manifested in the “Arab Awakening” movements, in particular. Socially, it tackles the contemporary tides of social change in Muslim societies, which have been both conducive to, as well as reflective of, new patterns and forms of communication, and investigates how and why they have been closely related to each other. Culturally, it investigates the shifts in Arab and Muslim identities cross-generationally and cross-culturally, with a special emphasis on diasporic Muslim communities, in an attempt to deeply understand the interplay of different variables, including new media consumption, in shaping, as well as reflecting, the complexity of Muslim identities today.

Instructor(s): Staff, Staff     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): CMST 39500,ISLM 39500,NEHC 39600,CMST 29500

NEHC 29700. Reading and Research Course. 100 Units.

Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of faculty adviser and counselor for undergraduate studies

NEHC 29800. BA Paper Seminar. 100 Units.

Required of fourth-year students who are majoring in NELC. This is a workshop course designed to survey the fields represented by NELC and to assist students in researching and writing the BA paper.

Instructor(s): A.El-Shamsy     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor and counselor for undergraduate studies

NEHC 29999. BA Paper Preparation. 100 Units.

Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. In consultation with a faculty research adviser and with consent of the counselor for undergraduate studies, students devote the equivalent of a one-quarter course to the preparation of the BA paper.

Instructor(s): A. El-Shamsy     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor and counselor for undergraduate studies

NELG 20301. Introduction to Comparative Semitics. 100 Units.

This course examines the lexical, phonological, and morphological traits shared by the members of the Semitic language family. We also explore the historical relationships among these languages and the possibility of reconstructing features of the parent speech community.

Instructor(s): R. Hasselbach     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): One year of a Semitic language or introduction to historical linguistics
Equivalent Course(s): LGLN 37900

NELG 20901. Advanced Seminar: Comparative Semitic Liguistics. 100 Units.

This course is an advanced seminar in Comparative Semitics that critically discusses important secondary literature and linguistic methodologies concerning topics in the field, including topics in phonology, morphology, syntax, etc.

Instructor(s): R. Hasselbach     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Introduction to Comparative Semitics. Undergraduates require consent of instructor.

PERS 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Persian I-II-III.

This sequence concentrates on modern written Persian as well as modern colloquial usage. Toward the end of this sequence, students are able to read, write, and speak Persian at an elementary level. Introducing the Iranian culture is also a goal.

PERS 20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Persian I-II-III.

This sequence deepens and expands students’ knowledge of modern Persian at all levels of reading, writing, and speaking. Grammar is taught at a higher level, and a wider vocabulary enables students to read stories, articles, and poetry. Examples of classical literature and the Iranian culture are introduced.

SUMR 10103. Elementary Sumerian III. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): C. Woods     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): SUMR 10102

TURK 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Turkish I-II-III.

This sequence features proficiency-based instruction emphasizing grammar in modern Turkish. This sequence consists of reading and listening comprehension, as well as grammar exercises and basic writing in Turkish. Modern stories and contemporary articles are read at the end of the courses.

TURK 10105-10106-10107. Introduction to Old Turkic I-II-III.

An introductory course in the written language of the Orkhon Inscriptions, dating back to the fifth-to-eighth-century Kök Türk State of Central Eurasia, and of related inscriptions from the Yenisei River area, Mongolia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. The language of the inscriptions is considered to be the ancestor of the majority of Turkic languages spoken today and uses a distinctive alphabet sometimes known as the Old Turkic Runiform Alphabet. The course covers a brief historic overview, basic grammar, reading selections from the inscriptions in the original and in translation, and familiarization with the alphabet itself.

TURK 20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Turkish I-II-III.

This sequence features proficiency-based instruction emphasizing speaking and writing skills as well as reading and listening comprehension at the intermediate to advanced levels in modern Turkish.  Modern short stories, novel excerpts, academic and journalistic articles form the basis for an introduction to modern Turkish literature. Cultural units consisting of films and web-based materials are also used extensively in this course, which is designed to bring the intermediate speaker to an advanced level of proficiency.

UZBK 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Modern Literary Uzbek I-II-III.

This sequence enables students to reach an intermediate level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing modern literary Uzbek, the most widely spoken Turkic language after Turkish. Students learn both the recently implemented Latin script and the older Cyrillic script versions of the written language and view audio-video materials in Uzbek on a weekly basis.

UZBK 20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Modern Literary Uzbek I-II-III.

This sequence enables students to reach an advanced level of proficiency in modern literary Uzbek. The curriculum includes a selection of Uzbek literature and excerpts from the written media, as well as audiovisual materials from Uzbekistan.