North Africa and the Middle East throughout History - Period 2

This course introduces students to the history of North Africa and the Middle East from late antiquity until present, while continuously connecting it to world history at large. It centres on key historical events, political processes, and social and cultural developments in the region, such as the rise of trade networks and empires, the spread of Islam, reform movements, western imperialism and colonization, Arab nationalism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the effects of the Cold War and finally, the Arab Spring. The course draws on scholarly debates on nationalism, religion and diaspora, and critically challenges common perceptions of North Africa and the Middle East by deconstructing established geopolitical categories.

Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.