History of Islam

Objectives

a) List the different dimensions of space-time history of Islam since the Hijrah until the Early Modern Age.
b) Identify the major political, economic, social and cultural processes that characterized the history of Islam since the Hijrah until the Early Modern Age.
c) Understand the specificity of the islamic religion and civilization,
d) Know the main historiographical interpretations of the subjects studied.
e) Know the basic bibliography of the subject and be able to work with historical documents of the same.
f) Develop ability to communicate orally and in writing, integrating integrating the vocabulary and specific categories of Islam’s history.

General characterization

Code

01110341

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Alexandra Maria Pinheiro Pelúcia

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 168

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

  • - HUGHES, Aaron W., Muslim Identities. An Introduction to Islam, Nova Iorque, Columbia University Press, 2013.
  • - SCHMIDTKE, Sabine (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Theology, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016.
  • - SOURDEL, Dominique e Janine Sourdel (dir.), Dictionnaire Historique de l’Islam, Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 1996.
  • - THOMAS, David (ed.), Routledge Handbook of Christian-Muslim Relations, Londres – Nova Iorque, Routledge, 2019.
  • - VAN STEENBERGEN, Jo, A History of the Islamic World, 600-1800: Empire, Dynastic Formations, and Heterogeneities in Pre-Modern Islamic West-Asia, Oxon - Nova Iorque, Routledge, 2021.

Teaching method

Theoretical lessons are based in lectures conducted by the teacher. Practical lessons are based on the discussion of topics by students, under the guidance of the teacher, using the presentation, analysis and commentary of documental sources, critical bibliography, audiovisual products, maps and other iconographic materials.

Evaluation method

Continuous assessment - Two written tests (50% each). (100%)

Subject matter

I. Introduction
1.1 Elementary concepts
1.2 Pre-Islamic Arabia and the genealogy of monotheisms
II. The Foundations of Faith and State
2.1. The Prophet: preaching and combat
2.2 The doctrinal sources: the Koran and the Sunnah
2.3 The pillars of faith and religious life
III. Internal Fractures
3.1. The problem of the Prophet's succession
3.2 The political-ideological branches of Islam
IV. Classical Islam
4.1. The blazing expansion
4.2. The relationship with the other Peoples of the Book
4.3. The Arab empire of the Umayyads
4.4. The Muslim empire of the Abbasids
V. Islam in Transition
5.1. The emergence of regional centres of power
5.2 The genesis of the Turks' leading role
5.3 The Crusades and the counter-offensives
VI. ‘Barbarian’ Islam
6.1 The Mongols, from conquerors to converts
6.2 The Mamluk and Timurid Empires
6.3 The Ottoman and Safavid Empires

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: