COURSES SPRING 2008

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ARABIC | HEBREW | HINDI | MESAS | PERSIAN | SANSKRIT

ARAB 102: Elementary Arabic II

ARAB 202: Intermediate Arabic II

ARAB 302WR: Advanced Arabic II

ARAB 410R: Advanced Language and Culture

ARAB 497R: Supervised Reading in Arabic (undergraduate)

ARAB 510R: Intensive Arabic Training for Graduate Students

ARAB 797R: Supervised Reading in Arabic (graduate)

HEBR 102: Elementary Modern Hebrew II

HEBR 202: Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

HEBR 302: Advanced Modern Hebrew II

HEBR 430R: Modern Hebrew Literature

HEBR 497R: Supervised Reading in Hebrew (undergraduate)

HEBR 510R: Intensive Hebrew Training for Graduate Students

HEBR 797R: Supervised Reading in Hebrew (graduate)

HNDI 102: Elementary Hindi II

HNDI 202: Intermediate Hindi II

HNDI 302: Advanced Hindi II

HNDI 497R: Supervised Reading in Hindi (undergraduate)

HNDI 797R: Supervised Reading in Hindi (graduate)

MESAS 100: Introduction to the Middle East

MESAS 150: Discovering Ancient Egypt

MESAS 190S: Archaeology and the Bible

MESAS 300WR: Beyond Borders: Imagining the Middle East and South Asia

MESAS 335WR: South Asia: Language, Politics, Identity

MESAS 370R: Islam in Central Asia

MESAS 370R: Exploring the History of South Asian Art

MESAS 370R: Classical Indian Literatures

MESAS 370R: Non-US Economic History: The Israeli Economy

MESAS 370R: Non-US Economic History: International Oil Market and the Political Economy of the Middle East

MESAS 451S: Exodus: Egypt and the Settlement of Canaan

MESAS 490SWR: Senior Seminar in Middle Eastern And South Asian Studies

MESAS 495RWR: Honors Thesis

MESAS 497R: Supervised Reading in Middle Eastern Studies (undergraduate)

MESAS 570R: The Wrathful God: Religious Extremism in Comparative Perspective

MESAS 797R: Supervised Reading in Middle Eastern Studies (graduate)

PERS 102: Elementary Persian II

PERS 202: Intermediate Persian II

PERS 302WR: Advanced Persian II

PERS 497R: Supervised Reading in Persian (undergraduate)

PERS 797R:Supervised Reading in Persian (graduate)

SNSK 202: Intermediate Sanskrit II

SNSK 302: Advanced Sanskrit II

SNSK 497R: Supervised Reading in Sanskrit (undergraduate)

SNSK 797R: Supervised Readings in Sanskrit (graduate)

ARAB 102: Elementary Arabic II

Cornell, MWF 11:45-12:35, TH 1:00-2:15, MAX 15

Greeley, MWF 12:50-1:40, TH 2:30-3:45, MAX 15

Semaan, MWF 9:35-10:25, TH 10:00-11:15, MAX 15

Semaan, MWF 10:40-11:30, TH 11:30-12:45, MAX 15

Content: Continuation of Arabic 101. Second in a series of courses that develop reading, speaking, listening, writing, and cultural skills in Arabic. Course includes video materials, and stresses communication in formal and spoken Arabic.

Texts:

• Al-Kitaab, Part One, Brustad, Al-Batal & Al-Tonsi
• Dictionary of Modern Standard Arabic, Hans Wehr

Particulars: Daily homework (25%), attendance, preparation and participation (25%), quizzes (35%) and a final examination (15%).

Prerequisite: ARAB 101 or permission of instructor.

ARAB 202: Intermediate Arabic II

Semaan, MWF 3:00-3:50, TH 2:30-3:45, MAX 15

Content: A continuation of Arabic 201. Fourth in a series of courses that develop reading, speaking, listening, writing, and cultural skills in Arabic. Course includes video materials, and stresses communication in formal and spoken Arabic.

Texts:

• Al-Kitaab, Part One, Brustad, Al-Batal, Al-Tonsi
• Al-Kitaab, Part Two, Brustad, Al-Batal, Al-Tonsi
• Dictionary of Modern Standard Arabic, Hans Wehr

Particulars: Daily homework (25%), attendance, preparation and participation (25%), quizzes (35%) and a final examination (15%).

Prerequisite: ARAB 201 or permission of instructor.

ARAB 302WR: Advanced Arabic II 

Content: A continuation of Arabic 301. Sixth in a series of courses that develop reading, speaking, listening, writing, and cultural skills in Arabic. Course includes video materials, and stresses communication in formal and spoken Arabic.

Texts:

• Al-Kitaab, Part II, Brustad, Al-Batal, Al-Tonsi
• Al-Kitaab, Part III, Brustad, Al-Batal, Al-Tonsi
• Dictionary of Modern Standard Arabic, Hans Wehr

Particulars: Daily homework (25%), attendance, preparation and participation (25%), quizzes (35%) and a final examination (15%).

Prerequisite: ARAB 301 or permission of instructor.

ARAB 410R: Advanced Language and Culture

Cornell, TBA, MAX 15

Content: Study and discussion of written and audio-visual texts dealing with various aspects of Arab culture and society.

Texts: Vary according to interests of students.

ARAB 497R: Supervised Reading in Arabic (undergraduate)

Content: Students and professor work together to design a course outline. Possible topics include Arabic literature, intellectual history and Islamic texts.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and approval of MESAS Supervised Reading application.

ARAB 510R: Intensive Arabic Training for Graduate Students

Faculty, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisite: Permission of Arabic Language Coordinator.

ARAB 797R: Supervised Reading (Graduate)

Faculty, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

HEBR 102: Elementary Modern Hebrew II

Kreitman, MWF 11:45-12:35, TU 11:30-12:45, MAX 15

Kreitman, MWF 12:50-1:40, TU 1:00-2:15, MAX 15

Kadosh, MWF 2:00-2:50, TU 2:30-3:45, MAX 15

Content: A continuation of Hebrew 101 and the second in the Hebrew language instruction sequence. The purpose of this course is to provide a solid foundation and develop basic oral and writing skills in Hebrew. Class activities include: reading, writing, oral drills, short oral presentations, simulated situations, etc. designed to enable students to practice communication skills. The class includes exposure to Israeli culture.

Texts:

• Brandeis Modern Hebrew (2005), Ringvald et al
• Oxford English-Hebrew / Hebrew-English, Yaakov Levy (ed.). 1995.
• 501 Hebrew Verbs, Shmuel Bolozky

Particulars: There will be several oral and written exams, quizzes, and a final. The final grade is based on all exams and quizzes, class participation and homework.

Prerequisite: HEBR 101 or permission of the instructor.

HEBR 202: Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

Kadosh, MWF 12:50-1:40, TU 11:30-12:45, MAX 15

Content: A continuation of Hebrew 201 and the fourth in the Hebrew language instruction sequence. Emphasis is placed on speaking and creative writing. The course is a good preparation for students planing to study on a college level in Israel.

Texts:   

• Hebrew from Alef to Tav, Manzur, Naomi & Padan, Rena
• 501 Hebrew Verbs, Shmuel Bolozky

Particulars: Final grade is based on all exams, quizzes, written assignments, and class participation.

Prerequisite: HEBR 201 or permission of the instructor.

HEBR 302: Advanced Modern Hebrew II 

Content: A continuation of Hebrew 301 and the last in the Hebrew language instruction sequence. This course continues to develop the skills of speaking, writing, listening and reading comprehension. It includes advanced study of grammar, vocabulary and stylistics. Introduction to the language of the media and Israeli literature. Prepares students for advanced courses in Hebrew.

• Hapo'al Lelomdei Ivrit, Hara Farstei, Tamar Weil
• Hebrew from A to Z, volume 3, Naomi Mansur, Riva Padan, Tel Aviv University
• 501 Hebrew Verbs, Shmuel Bolozky, (Barron's Educational Series, 1996)
• Multi-dictionary, Edna Lauden, Liora Weinback, (paperback)

Particulars: There will be several short examinations during the term and a final paper. Participation in "Shenkin in Emory" is required.

Prerequisite: HEBR 301 or permission of the instructor.

HEBR 430R: Modern Hebrew Literature: 60 to 1948: Imagining the Promised State

Yeglin, TuTh 10:00-11:15, MAX 15

Crosslisted w/ JS 430R

Content: “60 to 48” is a disintegration of Israeli history as a myth, a voyage through 60 years of “Independence” in six stages, each associated with the end of a war (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, 2006). This course is based on reading in major documents in Hebrew, from the abstract concepts of nation and nationality, to the concrete and conclusions of several theoretical discussions and events. The Declaration of state, archive, textbook, letter, diary, art, song, fiction, and film:  All in which the heart of Israel beats loudest; the recollections and revitalization of national memory and commemoration of the foundations of Israeli history.

Particulars: reading Hebrew with a dictionary

HEBR 497R: Supervised Reading in Hebrew (undergraduate)

Kreitman, TBA, MAX 10

Content: This course is designed for students who have completed Hebrew 302 or equivalent. Students read selections in Modern Hebrew, such as stories, newspaper articles, and short novels. The number of credits varies from 2-8 (maximum). This course is helpful to students who would like to conduct research using source material in Hebrew and to those who want to get more acquainted with written works and daily life in Israel.

Particulars: Satisfactory completion of Hebrew 302 or equivalent (to be determined by the instructor). The final grade is based on written and oral presentations. The course can be used to fulfill the requirements for the Majors in MES and JS.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and approval of MESAS Supervised Reading application.

HEBR 510R: Intensive Hebrew Training for Graduate Students

Kreitman, TBA, MAX 15

Prerequisite: Permission of the Hebrew Language Coordinator to enroll.

HEBR 797R: Supervised Reading in Hebrew (graduate)

Kreitman, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

HNDI 102: Elementary Hindi II

Ranjan, MWF 9:35-10:25, TU 10:00-11:15, MAX 15

Tiwari, MWF 10:40-11:30, TU 11:30-12:45, MAX 15

Content: This is the second in a series of courses that seeks to develop listening, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural skills in Hindi. By the end of this course, students will be able to read simple Hindi stories and speak and write about a wide variety of topics.

Texts:

• Introduction to Hindi Grammar (with cassettes), Usha Jain
• Teach Yourself Hindi (with cassettes), Rupert Snell, et al
• The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, R.S. McGregor
• An English-Hindi Dictionary, Camille Bulcke

Prerequisite: HNDI 101 or permission of instructor.

HNDI 202 : Intermediate Hindi II

Tiwari, MWF 11:45-12:35, TU 1:00-2:15, MAX 15

Content: This is the fourth in a series of courses that seeks to develop listening, reading, speaking, writing and cultural skills in Hindi. In this course, students will continue to build on the skills developed in HNDI 201. By the end of the course students will be able to read, discuss and write about Hindi stories, screen plays, cultures and customs.

Texts:

• An English-Hindi Dictionary, C. Bulke
• The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, R.S. Mcgregor
• Intermediate Hindi, Usha Jain
• A Primer of Modern Standard Hindi, Michael C. Shapiro
• Teach Yourself Hindi, Rupert Snell & Simon Weightman

Prerequisites: HNDI 201 or permission of the instructor.

HNDI 302: Advanced Hindi II

Ranjan, MWF 10:40-11:30 MAX 15

Content: This is the sixth in a series of courses that seeks to perfect listening, reading, speaking, writing skills in Hindi. By the end of the course students will be able to read, write and discuss Hindi short stories, screen plays and films at the advanced level.

Texts:

• An English-Hindi Dictionary, C. Bulke
• The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, R.S. Mcgregor
• A Primer of Modern Standard Hindi, Michael Shapiro
• A Course in Advanced Hindi, Sheela Verma

Prerequisites: HNDI 301 or permission of the instructor.

HNDI 497R: Supervised Reading in Hindi (undergraduate)

Ranjan, TBA, MAX 10

Content: This course is designed for students who have completed HNDI 302 or equivalent. Students read selections in Modern Hindi, such as stories, newspaper articles, and short novels. The number of credits varies from 2-8 (maximum). This course is helpful to students who would like to conduct research using source material in Hindi and to those who want to get more acquainted with written works and daily life in India.

Particulars: Satisfactory completion of HNDI 302 or equivalent (to be determined by the instructor). The final grade is based on written and oral presentations. The course can be used to fulfill the requirements for the Majors in MES and JLL.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and approval of MESAS Supervised Reading application.

HNDI 797R: Supervised Reading in Hindi (graduate)

Ranjan, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

MESAS 100: Introduction to the Middle East 

Margariti, TuTh 10:00-11:15, MAX 30

Content: This course aims to provide students with a solid background in the history and cultures of the Middle East from the dawn of the Ancient Near East (3000 BC) through the Crusades (ca. 1300). Mastering the course material will enable you to place current events in historical perspective. Our inquiry will be text-based; close readings of the classic texts of Middle Eastern cultures will be our focus.

Texts: TBA

Particulars: Preparation, attendance, and participation (20%), weekly response papers (30%) quizzes (20%), attendance at extra-curricular events on the Middle East (15%), final exam (15%).

Prerequisites: None. This is a core course for the Middle Eastern Studies major. 

MESAS 150: Discovering Ancient Egypt

Lacovara, TuTh 2:30-3:45, MAX: 18

Content: This course examines both the culture of Ancient Egypt and the process by which European societies 'discovered' and uncovered that culture. We will study aspects of the heiroglyphic writing system as well as the process by which the system was deciphered in the nineteenth century.

Texts:

• J. Vercoutter, The Search for Ancient Egypt
• The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt
• M. Lurker, The Gods and symbols of ancient Egypt
• Other resources -- we will make use of the Egyptian and Near Eastern galleries at Emory's Carlos Museum

Particulars: Full participation in seminar discussions. Each Monday a written response to the week's reading is due. During the course there will be three reported looking assignments on basic information (dates, places, people). A research paper of approximately 15 pages is due on the last day of the course.

MESAS 190S: Archaeology and the Bible

Borowski, TuTh 10:00-11:15, MAX 18 (MESAS: 10/JS: 4/REL 4)

Cross-listed w/JS 190S/REL 190S

Content: An introduction to the field of Biblical Archaeology with careful examination of theory and methodology. The famous discoveries (inscriptions, architecture) and important sites (Megiddo, Hazor, Gezer, Dan) which form the historical background to some of the biblical stories will be examined as well as issues and topics such as the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac,Jacob), Exodus (Moses,) and settlement of Canaan (Joshua), the kings of Israel and Judah, and more. Other topics that will be studied include daily life, religion and ancient art. There will be a few early evening video screenings on related topics.

Texts:

• Walter E. Rast, Through the Ages in Palestinian Archaeology, (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1992)
• H.G. May, Oxford Bible Atlas, (New York, Toronto: Oxford University Press), 3rd edition
• The Bible (recommnded Oxford Study Bible)
• Course Packet

Particulars: Weekly reports (35%), 2 papers (25%+15%); oral reports (25%). This course fulfills the methodology requirements for a Minor in Mediterranean Archaeology

Prerequisites: Open only to freshmen.

MESAS 300WR: Beyond Borders: Imagining the Middle East and South Asia

Cornell, TuTh 11:30-12:45, MAX 18

Content: This course investigates the ways in which past and present interactions between South Asia and the Middle East have shaped each other’s cultures and civilizations.  Using the perspectives of critical geography, network studies, anthropology, history, Indian Ocean studies, and gender studies we will examine the interpenetration of social worlds across geographical, political, and perceptual boundaries.

Texts:

• The Myth of Continents: A Critique of Metageography, Martin Lewis and Karen Wigen (MOC)
• The Adventures of Ibn Battuta: A Muslim Traveler of the 14th Century, Ross E. Dunn (AIB)
• In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of A Traveler’s Tale, Amitav Ghosh (IAL)
• A Hundred Horizons: the Indian Ocean in the Age of Global Empire, Sugata Bose (AHH)
• Trade and Civilization in the Indian Ocean: An Economic History from the Rise of Islam to 1750, K. N. Chaudhuri (TAC)
• The History of Humayun, Gul-Badan Begum, translated by Annette S. Beveridge (HOH)

MESAS 335WR: South Asia: Language, Politics, Identity

Ranjan, TuTh 2:30-3:45, MAX 18 (MESAS: 6/LING: 6/ASIA: 6)

Cross-listed w/ LING 335/ASIA 370

Content: South Asia is an area of staggering linguistic diversity. Twenty official languages and hundreds of other languages make the regionlinguistically, socially and culturally very complex. This course will focus on the emergence of modern languages in South Asia, the development of multilingualism, and the use of different languages in different social and cultural settings. It will also discuss the relationship between language-dialect, issues related to political decisions and their effects on
the status of a language and the identity of a speaker in the multilayered, multilingual mobile environment. Special topics will include the role of films in constructing regional and national identities and Indian identity in Indian diaspora. By the end of the course, students will have been exposed to the basic questions and analytic categories of the sociolinguistic landscape of South Asia.

Texts:

• Aloysius, G. 1977, Nationalism Without a Nation in India, Delhi: OUP
• King, Robert D. 1998, Nehru and the Language Politics of India, Delhi: OUP
• Course Packet

Particulars: Participation (20%), three response papers (30%), mid-term research project (15%) and final paper (35%).

MESAS 370R: Islam in Central Asia

Seitalieva, TuTh 4:00-5:15, MAX 18 (MESAS: 9/ASIA: 9)

Cross-listed w/ ASIA375

Content: This course introduces the history of Central Asia and Kyrgyzstan from ancient times to the present, and examines the role of Islamic religion in everyday life and the educational system. It also explores the cultures of Central Asia and the current religious and political situation. Religious fundamentalism and extremism will be part of the conversation.

Texts:

• Course Packet

Particulars: Short quizzes on reading material will be given at the beginning of class (15%); Assignments on three themes, 2-3 pages each (30%); Participation on 1 focus group (5%); Midterm test (20%); Final exam (30%)

MESAS 370R: Exploring the History of South Asian Art

Juneja, MWF 12:30-1:40, MAX: 18 (MESAS: 6/ASIA: 6/ARTHIST: 6)

Cross-listed w/ ASIA375/ARTHIST 393

Content: This course is intended as a systematic overview of South Asia’s multifaceted visual past from the beginnings to modern times. It begins by drawing attention to the historical configurations in which what we describe today as the ‘arts of India’ came to be constituted as a distinct field of study in the early twentieth century, classified and written about in a specific conceptual mould. Going beyond an exercise in dismantling Orientalist and nationalist canons, the course seeks to enter the field of artistic production – sculpture, painting, architecture – of the Indian subcontinent through a recovery of what the experience of viewing, possessing and responding to objects of art meant to different groups of people and how visual culture has evolved historically.

Texts:

• Partha Mitter, Indian Art, Oxford 2001.
• Vidya Dehejia, Indian Art, London 1997.
• Catherine B. Asher and Thomas R. Metcalf (eds), Perceptions of South Asia’s Visual Past, New Delhi 1994.
• Richard H. Davis, Lives of Indian Images, Princeton and Delhi 1997.
• Monica Juneja (ed.), Architecture in Medieval India – Forms. Contexts, Histories, New Delhi 2001.
• Tapati Guha-Thakurta, The Making of a New ‘Indian’ Art’: Artists, Aesthetics and Nationalism in Bengal, Cambridge 1992.
• Yashodhara Dalmia, The Making of Modern Indian Art: the Progressives, New Delhi 2006.
• Gayatri Sinha, Expressions and Evocations: Contemporary Women Artists of India, Bombay 1996

Particulars: Participation, Oral presentation, mid-term paper of 4-5 pages on the history of a South Asian art object from the Carlos museum, written exam at the end of term. Each of these will count towards 25% of the final grade.

MESAS 370R: Classical Indian Literatures

Nayayana Rao, TuTh 11:30-12:45, MAX 18 (MESAS: 9/ASIA: 9)

Cross-listed w/ ASIA 375

Content: This course presents an overview of literatures written in India’s classical languages, Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil, and old Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi over a period of two thousand years. The organization of the course is conceptual and cultural rather than historical and chronological. It follows the major shifts in the development of literary cultures in pre-colonial India.

Classical literary traditions have exercised a powerful formative influence on Indian culture and its regional languages and literatures. India’s classical languages still continue to be read as part of education and training of poets and connoisseurs of poetry. In view of the living nature of classical traditions of India, literary appreciation of classical texts is presented as a continuing and living tradition rather than as a feature of the dead past. Major shifts in the appreciation of texts over their long history are discussed and literary debates are presented in context. Connections between Sanskrit literary tradition and literary traditions of other Indian languages are discussed to present a brief indication of the role of Sanskrit in Indian culture.

Texts:

• Annamayya. God on the Hill: Temple Poems from Tirupati Tr. Narayana Rao & Shulman
• Miller, Barabra Stoler. The Plays of Kalidasa: Theater of Memory.
• Suranna, Pingali. Sound of the Kiss or A story that must never be told. Tr. Narayana Rao & Shulman.Van Buitenen
• J.A.B. Tales of Ancient India.
• Course packet.

Particulars: Regular reading and required attendance. Two book reviews, 3-4 double spaced pages each. Two quizzes of half hour duration. Final take-home examination.

MESAS 370R: Non-US Economic History: The Israeli Economy

Rivlin, MAX: 30

Cross-listed w/ ECON 351/JS 371/HIST 351

Content: This course traces the history of the pre-independence and modern economy, examining the role of population growth and immigration; problems of inflation and stabilization; the balance of payments and sectoral developments. It analyses the role of the Histadrut, the defense budget; the economics of the peace process of the 1990s and Israel's integration into the world economy. The effects of the second Intifada and the current rapid growth of the economy are also examined.

MESAS 370R: Non-US Economic History: International Oil Market and the Political Economy of the Middle East

Rivlin, MAX: 30

Cross-listed w/ ECON 351/HIST 351

Content: This course examines the connections between the world's reliance on oil and the political economy of the Middle East. The first part of the course examines world energy markets and their development, with emphasis on the USA. It then places oil consumption into the wider energy context. The rise of China and India as energy consumers is also examined and some environmental issues are analyzed. The second part looks at the Middle East as an oil supplier: what was the role of the West and how rentier states have come into being. Economic and strategic conclusions are drawn.

MESAS 451S: Exodus: Egypt and the Settlement of Canaan

Borowski, TuTh 1:00-2:15, MAX 18 (MESAS: 9/JS: 9)

Crosslisted w/ JS 475R

Content: The course deals with two highly important themes, which are repeated in the Bible in many different ways (narratives, prophecies, Psalms) and later became the foundations of Jewish theology.  However, the archaeological record of both of these events is not so clear.  The course will take a look at the primary descriptions of these events in the Books of Exodus, Joshua and Judges and examine their impact on the Israelites through the continuous references in other books (Prophets, Psalms).  The archaeological record will be examined thoroughly to see whether it supports the biblical narratives.  Furthermore, records from the surrounding cultures will be examined to determine whether there is any evidence for these occurrences in extra-biblical materials.  Students will write a final paper dealing with a topic related to the subject matter of the course. 

Texts:

• Currid, John D., Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1997).
• Dever, William G., Who Were the Early Israelites and Where Did They Come From? (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s, 2003).
• Frerichs, Ernest S. & Leonard H. Lesko, eds., Exodus: The Egyptian Evidence  (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1997)
• Sarna, Hahum M., Exploring the Exodus (New York: Schocken Books, 1987)
• Suggs, M. J., K. D. Sakenfeld, and J. R. Mueller, The Oxford Study Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992)
• Course packet

Particulars:  Book review  (15%); Final paper  (35%); Midterm exam  (25%); Oral reports  (25%).

MESAS 490SWR: Senior Seminar in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies

Margariti, W 1:00-4:00, MAX 18

Content: The senior seminar for majors in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies surveys the range of disciplinary and thematic focuses in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, and examines the points of view and objectives of scholars of the Middle East and South Asia. Concepts examined include orientalism and its Saidian and post-Saidian critiques, the scholarly construction of ethnic and national identity as well as religion and culture in general, the changing views of the other, and the place and politics of area studies within and beyond the academy.

Particulars: Regular attendance and active class participation is required. Students will write weekly response papers on the readings; work individually or in groups on several short projects; and write a research paper on a topic to be determined in conjunction with the instructor.

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor to register. Required for the MESAS major.

MESAS 495RWR: Honors Thesis

Content: This course is designed for advanced students who would like to conduct research on any aspect of the Middle East.

Particulars: The course can be used to satisfy the writing requirements for the major in MES. Requirements depend on the nature of the project or research undertaken. Admittance by consent of instructor. Also, the student must have consent from the Department Chair.

Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.

MESAS 497R: Supervised Reading in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies (undergraduate)

Faculty, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and approval of MESAS Curriculum Committee.

MESAS 570R: The Wrathful God: Religious Extremism in Comparative Perspective

Cornell, W 5:30-8:30, MAX: 12

Content: The aim of this seminar is to map the culture of religious extremism through the comparative study of discourses of violence, intolerance, and triumphalism in world religions.  Particular attention will be devoted to the monotheistic or “Abrahamic” traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as posing the greatest potential for violence toward the religious other and as challenging liberal or secular ideologies of pluralism and self-determination.  At times, varieties of non-Abrahamic religious extremism, such as Hindu and Buddhist extremism will also be examined for comparative purposes.

Texts: (Possible Reading List)

• Gabriel Almond, R. Scott Appleby, and Immanuel Sivan, Strong Religion: the Rise of Fundamentalisms around the World (University of Chicago Press, 2003)
• Peter Berger, ed., The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics (Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing, 1999)
• Marc Sageman, Understanding Terror Networks (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004)
• Robert Pape, Dying to Win: the Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism (Random House, 2006)
• Walter Reich and Walter Laquer, eds., Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind (Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1998)
• Gilles Kepel, Muslim Extremism in Egypt: the Prophet and Pharaoh (University of California Press, 1984)
• Bruce Lawrence and James Howarth, Messages to the World: the Statements of Osama Bin Laden (Verso, 2005)
• Zainab al-Ghazali, Return of the Pharaoh: Memoir in Nasir’s Prison (The Islamic Foundation, Leicester, U.K., 1994)
• Seyyid Qutb, Milestones (Dar al-Ilm, Damascus, n.d.)
• Kimberly Blaker, ed., The Fundamentals of Extremism: the Christian Right in America (New Boston Books, 2003)
• Aviezer Ravitsky, Messianism, Zionism, and Jewish Religious Radicalism (University of Chicago Press, 1996)
• Lise Mckean, Divine Enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement (University of Chicago Press, 1996)
• Michael A. Sells, The Bridge Betrayed: Religion and Genocide in Bosnia (University of California Press, 1998)

Particulars: The seminar will be conducted in tandem with the international conference, “The Wrathful God: Discourses of Extremism in the Abrahamic Traditions.”  Participants in the seminar will be expected to attend the conference, participate in informal sessions with visiting scholars, and write a 25-30 page research paper on a topic related to issues discussed in the conference or in class sessions.

MESAS 797R: Supervised Reading in Middle Eastern Studies (graduate)

Faculty, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and approval of MESAS Curriculum Committee.

PERS 102: Elementary Persian II 

Samei, MWF 9:35-10:25, Tu 2:30-3:45, MAX 15

Content: Continuation of PERS 101, focusing on speaking, reading and writing modern Persian.

Texts:

• A General Course in Persian, A. Saffar Moghaddam
• Persian-English Dictionary, K. Emami
• Class handouts

Particulars: Students are expected to attend class, complete daily assignments and participate in class activities. Grading: Class participation 20%, daily assignments 30%, presentations 10%, quizzes 20%, midterm 10%, final 10%.

Prerequisites: PERS 101 or permission of instructor.

PERS 202: Intermediate Persian II

Samei, MWF 11:45-12:35, Tu 4:00-5:30, MAX 15

Content: In this continuation of PERS 201, students gradually develop vocabulary and proficiency in reading and discussing modern short stories and poems, as well as in composing response papers in Persian on various themes. Listening skills are developed through Persian Circle.

Texts:

• Spoken Persian (an audio-video program on Blackboard)
• Persian-English Dictionary, K. Emami
• Millennium English-Persian Dictionary, A. M. Haghshenas et al.
• Class handouts

Particulars: Students are expected to attend and prepare for each class, complete daily assignments and perform longer presentations. Grading: class participation and preparation 20%, written assignments 30%, presentations 10%, quizzes 20%, midterm 10%, final 10%.

Prerequisites: Completion of PERS 201 or permission of instructor.

PERS 302WR: Advanced Persian II

Samei, MWF 2:00-2:50, Tu 4:00-5:30, MAX 15

Content: Continuation of PERS 301 and the last in the Persian language instruction sequence. This course continues to develop the skills of speaking, writing, listening and reading comprehension. It includes advanced study of grammar, vocabulary and stylistics. Prepares students for advanced courses in Persian.

Particulars: Students are expected to attend and prepare for each class, complete daily assignments and perform a longer presentations. Grading: class participation and preparation 20%, written assignments 30%, presentations 10%, quizzes 20%, midterm 20%, final 20%.

Prerequisites: PERS 301 or permission of the instructor.

PERS 497R: Supervised Reading in Persian (undergraduate)

Samei, TBA, MAX 10

Content: Supervised reading in Persian literary, historical or religious texts, or Persian newspapers and journals, in order to conduct specific research projects utilizing Persian sources.

Particulars: Grading will be based upon reading and translating of material selected, as well as written and oral presentations and a class project. The course can be used to satisfy the requirements for the Minor in Persian and the MES major.

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and approval of MESAS Curriculum Committee.

PERS 797R: Supervised Reading in Persian (graduate)

Samei, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

SNSK 202: Intermediate Sanskrit II

Berardi, MF 2:00-4:00, MAX 15

Content: The second semester of the intermediate course continues to refine the student's understanding of Sanskrit grammar through the reading of selections from the vedic, epic and classical stages of the language. Conversational skills are also developed.

Texts:

• Deva vani pravesika, Goldman
• A Sanskrit Grammar for Students, Macdonell
• A Sanskrit Reader, Lanman

Prerequisite: SNSK 201 or the permission of the instructor.

SNSK 302: Advanced Sanskrit II

Berardi, MF 10:40-12:35, MAX 15

Content: This course continues to refine the student's knowledge of Sanskrit grammar while reading works of Sanskrit poetry, drama, philosophy or epic along with the commentarial literature. Class Participation and Homework (50%); Midterm (20%); Final (20%); Occasional Quizzes (10%).

Prerequisites: SNSK 301-202 or the permission of the instructor.

SNSK 497R: Supervised Reading in Sanskrit (undergraduate)

Berardi, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

SNSK 797R: Supervised Reading in Sanskrit (graduate)

Berardi, TBA, MAX 10

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.