Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA2147: Classical Islamic History

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

Module Aims

Building upon the understanding of Islam and its institutions which students acquired in Level One modules, this module will expose them to a more nuanced and profound conception of the subject based on civilisational and historiographical approaches. We will consider the history of the classical period in its most holistic sense comprising the politics of the nascent community and the conquests, the shifts in power and culture signalled by the different dynasties and the formation of 'Islamicate societies' in their cultural variation.

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 an understanding of the problematics of studying classical Islam and the contentious issues and historiographical debates that have not yet been resolved by scholars. 2. evidence comprehensive understanding of the methodological tools applied to the study of the history of the Islamic religion, culture and its institutions.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. critically explain the pitfalls of Eurocentric approaches to non-Western societies and culture 4. Demonstrate understanding of, and an ability contextualise, Islamic historiography within approaches to the study of Islam
Personal and Key Skills	5. solve various epistemological problems, whether or not related to Islamic studies, and evidence a capacity to examine critically and review existing historical literature 6. digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent and cogent argument, developed through the assigned essay. 7. demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.

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 Islam and the establishment of the Muslim polity
Umayyads and Ã?Â¿AbbÃ?ï¿½sids
The pious opposition
Rise of ShiÃ?Â¿i dissent and counter-narratives
Conquest of the East
Conquest of North Africa and Iberia
Umayyads and successor states in Iberia
Almorads and Almoravids
Problematics of theology, politics and law in Andalus

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	0

...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 Activities	11	Seminar discussions and presentations
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	11	Lectures
Guided Independent Study	72	Reading and preparing the texts
Guided Independent Study	56	Study and preparations for the essay and the exams

Online Resources

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

Muhammad Ballan’s excellent blog:

https://ballandalus.wordpress.com