The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World from Coursera

Did you know that Arabic was for centuries the lingua franca in an area stretching from the south of Spain to the Chinese border? Did you know that the Middle East under Muslim rule in those days was the world’s beating heart of trade, but also of science and scholarship?

Did you know that Islam in its formative period was heavily influenced by existing cultures in the region, like Indian, Greek, Persian and Byzantine culture? Did you know that for many centuries after the establishment of the Muslim Empire the majority of the population remained largely Christian and Jewish?

Did you know that they held a protected status in Islamic law? Did you know that this generally open-minded, curious and open society stimulated many great innovations and inventions?

Did you know that European scholarship in the Renaissance leaned heavily on the texts and inventions from the Middle East which were the outcome of this sophisticated advanced society?

In this course we will focus on the fascinating history of the Arabic Medieval World. We will take you on a journey through the Middle Ages starting off in eighth-century Baghdad. Along the old pilgrim trails we will go to places like Mecca, Jerusalem and Najaf. We will show you the impressive markets of places like Cairo and Samarkand. However we will not hide the dark sides of society either, by introducing you to the flourishing widespread slave trade. We will visit the Abbasid court, the Harem of the caliph, and the palace of the Mamluk Sultan. We will show you some beautiful medieval manuscripts, that live on as the silent witnesses of the impressive achievements of scientists and medical doctors of this forgotten era. All along we will present you with historiographical debates and dilemma’s. Reflecting on the way we look at and interpret history. And while taking you on this journey, we will travel back and forth in time explaining to you how events of the past affected and shaped the world as we know it today.

Welcome to the Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World! Enroll now and follow this course for free.

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Testimonial:

Dear Prof. Sijpesteijn

I am sending this email in gratitude for the Leiden University team for this course. Please thank the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs for offering it on Coursera, the Faculty of Humanities for creating the lovely course content and the excellent reading material. Rarely have I seen an MOOC that is this well-researched and thought through. This is in addition to the excellent resources provided and the creative media. I finished the course and presently doing the honors-track.

If I may introduce myself, I am Radi Radi, a Palestinian-Jordanian who lives on "Shajaret Al Dur" St. in Amman, Jordan. It was quite an coincidence to learn about her here. I work as a pilot and currently we are not flying anywhere currently so I thought of finishing this course. I am a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Ryerson Univeristy, Canada and this really felt like the 100-level electives I took in that it really is a university-level course.

I have bought a few books that I have read about in your course and that meant that I have something else to do in this corona-imposed hiatus. After

Once aviation kicks back into gear, I hope to be flying to Amsterdam Again. When that happens, I plan on bringing you guys a gift from Amman for your efforts.

Many Thanks

Radi Radi

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to this Course

Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about the Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World. Before you start with the course we invite you to first go through this module and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck & we hope you will enjoy this course!

The Medieval Islamic City

In this Module we will examine the Islamic City. We will discuss if such a thing as "the Islamic city" exists. If so, what are the features that we are looking for ? We will also focus on specific examples of cities in the Medieval Middle East, most notably Baghdad. How was it possible that Baghdad grew to the size that it did? And what role did hygiene and medical care for instance play in that growth?

Travel & Religion

In this Module we will focus on diversity and connection by looking at religion. We will explore Medieval society and zoom in on the fact that many different religions and religious views coexisted. We will see that different religions shared practices. Sometimes they would even worship in the same place. But we will also show examples of tension and the interaction between politics and religion. Furthermore we will try to find out how religious travelling shaped society.

Trade

In this module we will take a look at trade. For the Medieval Middle East, trade was immensely important and it owed much of its wealth and prosperity to trade. There are the romantic images of caravans carrying lush fabrics, porcelain and gold along the desert roads of the silk route. And there is the dark side of a flourishing slave trade. But how correct are our images of what the Islamic or Arab world was and is like? Why is it that many people know about harems and very few people know about the legal innovations that enabled trade that we will also discuss in this module? To explore that question further we will introduce you to the concept of Orientalism.

Power Play

In the last Module we introduced the slave trade in the Medieval Middle East. In this module we will further explore slavery. How was it possible that some of the most powerful people in society, both men and women, were or had been slaves? We will discuss the outrage that followed professor Jonathan Brown's views on slavery and Islam. And with the concept of Orientalism in mind, we will try to sketch a more realistic picture of Harems.

Science

In this module we will focus on science in the Medieval Muslim world. How did scientific inventions of the Medieval Arabic world make their way to Europe and how did they eventually contribute to shaping today's world? How was knowledge preserved and how did books travel through the ages? We will research if survival of ideas and sources was a matter of sheer luck, or if we can recognize some patterns.

In conclusion: the Cosmopolitain Medieval Arabic World

In this Course we tried to show you that the Medieval Islamic world was diverse advanced and connected. We have also focused on the danger of over- or under-representation of historical facts. Lastly we have tried to connect the past to the present by explaining and showing how events that took place a long time ago still affect today's world.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces history in a way that aligns with how some universities term it

Focuses on history with an emphasis on politics and policy

Covers a range of history topics, from the rise and fall of civilizations to the development of science and technology

Taught by professors with expertise in history, social sciences, and liberal arts

Examines history through multiple lenses, including economic, political, social, and cultural

Provides an opportunity to explore different historical perspectives and interpretations

Reviews summary

Exploring the medieval arabic world's cosmopolitanism

Learners say this course provides a largely positive overview of the cosmopolitan medieval Arabic world. With plenty of engaging assignments, including readings, quizzes, and discussions, learners report that this course is well received. The main takeaways focus on the world's scientific, cultural, and economic contributions.

Organized into modules that cover various aspects of the medieval Arabic world.

"Very informative."

Challenges assumptions and provides new perspectives on the medieval Arabic world.

"This was a very enlightening and informative course."

"A very interesting course which opened my eyes for the history of the medieval world."

"An excellent course. Well paced and well organized."

Provides a balanced combination of videos, readings, and discussions.

"Combination of good materials, different tasks and evaluations make a great course."

"I learned so much from this course."

"This course was inspiring! I wished it went on longer, I was fascinated by the readings and it shared a great amount of information."

Subtitles for videos may contain errors.

"The English transcriptions of the lectures have a number of errors - they seem to be machine transcriptions."

"There is a lot of misspelling in the subtitles for the videos."

Some links to external resources may not be working.

"Links to podcasts, part of the class offering, were broken."

"A few of the reading need replaceing as they have broken though."

"The podcasts were unaccessible, and the readings sometimes a little bit long, so the experience was not the best."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World with these activities:

Learn about Islamic history and culture

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Supplement the lectures in this online course by researching the rich history and diverse cultures that existed in the Medieval Islamic world

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Search for online tutorials on Islamic history and culture
Look for guided tutorials from reputable sources
Take notes while you watch the tutorials
Complete any quizzes or exercises that come with the tutorials

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Career center

Learners who complete The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Museum curator

Museum Curators who work with collections of medieval history and art find that Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," provides detailed historical context for the kinds of artifacts and art that they care for and exhibit. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they describe the cultural and commercial landscape of the Middle East during the period in which many of these artifacts were created.

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Archaeologist

Archaeologists who specialize in Middle Eastern history may take Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," to deepen their understanding of the time periods in which the sites they excavate existed. They would find the modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" most helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

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Art historian

Art Historians who specialize in medieval art may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the artistic movements and styles of the Middle East during this period. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be most helpful, as they discuss the cultures and artistic influences of the time.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art historian

Archivist

Archivists who work with collections related to Middle Eastern or Islamic history may take Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," to learn more about the context in which the documents they handle were created. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

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Librarian

Librarians who work in research libraries or special collections related to Middle Eastern or Islamic history may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the context in which the books and manuscripts they handle were created. The modules on "Science," "The Medieval Islamic City," and "Travel & Religion" would be especially helpful, as they discuss the role of books and scholarship in medieval Middle Eastern society.

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Middle School Teacher

Middle School Teachers who teach world history or social studies may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," useful for creating engaging and informative lesson plans. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be most helpful, as they provide a comprehensive overview of medieval Middle Eastern society and culture.

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High School Teacher

High School Teachers who teach world history or social studies may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," useful for creating engaging and informative lesson plans. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be most helpful, as they provide a comprehensive overview of medieval Middle Eastern society and culture.

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Journalist

Journalists who cover topics related to the Middle East or Islamic history may take Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of the region. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be most helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

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Historian

Historians who specialize in the Middle East or Islamic history may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the historical context of the region. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Sociologist

Sociologists who specialize in the Middle East or Islamic studies may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the historical context of the region. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Theologian

Theologians who specialize in Islamic studies may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the historical context of Islam. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Science" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, religious, and intellectual life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists who specialize in the Middle East or Islamic studies may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the historical context of the region. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Writer

Writers who specialize in historical fiction or non-fiction set in the Middle East may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in creating authentic and engaging content. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

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Political Scientist

Political Scientists who specialize in the Middle East or Islamic studies may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in understanding the historical context of the region. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

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Museum Educator

Museum Educators who work in institutions with collections of medieval Islamic art or history may find Dr. Sijpesteijn's course, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World," helpful in developing engaging and informative educational programs. The modules on "The Medieval Islamic City," "Travel & Religion," and "Trade" would be especially helpful, as they provide a rich overview of the cultural, commercial, and religious life of the Middle East during the medieval period.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Educator