Postgraduate Module Descriptor

ARAM055: Iranian History, 1500 - the Present

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to make students familiar with the history of Iran from 1500 and the establishment of the Safavid dynasty, to the present, under the Islamic republic. In doing so the aim is to give the students an understanding of the nature of Iranian society and politics, each of which have unique features; and of the way in which the current state of Iran has come about, which often seems incomprehensible to the uninitiated. In doing so it aims to achieve some of the other benefits of historical study generally – a broadening of perspective that enhances understanding of the complexities of interaction and change in human society, the ability to see below the surface of presentation to the underlying realities of motivation and structure, and the supply of examples by analogy that students can use and apply in their own life experience (for example, the ability to recognise humbug, redundancy and dishonesty in bureaucratic practice).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate skills of historical analysis, both with reference to the history of Iran 1500-the present, but also through studying the historiography of the period, through a series of case studies. 2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the methodological tools applied to the study of Iranian history, the importance of Shiite Islam within that history and the significance of the Iranian revolution in the Middle East region generally
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Discuss empirically based research in the light of wider theoretical frameworks and to critically evaluate historical processes from a culturally specific perspective 4. Understand historical change through a multi-disciplinary approach
Personal and Key Skills	5. Study independently and in group work, including participation in oral discussion 6. Organise data effectively to produce a coherent argument to a deadline, both orally and in writing

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

The Rise of the Safavids
Intellectual Movements in the Safavid Period The collapse of Safavid rule
Nader Shah and civil war in 18th century Iran The rise of the Qajars
Religion and State in Qajar Iran The Constitutional Revolution The Rise of Reza Shah
Muhammad Reza Shah's modernisation and the White Revolution The Islamic Revolutionary movement
The Victory of Ayatallah Khomeini
Iran since the revolution

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	22	11 x 2 hour Seminars. Teaching sessions will include lecturing and class discussion focusing on individual presentations or on specific learning tasks
Guided independent learning	40	Preparation for seminar presentation focused on a text or topic of relevance which may result in the assessed essay
Guided Independent learning	40	Preparation for essay, including time spent in library and on other research
Guided independent learning	48	Additional private study and reading as preparation for class

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).