Reading Classical Arabic historians

Module Code:

155901334

Credits:

15

FHEQ Level:

6

Year of study:

Year 4

Taught in:

Term 1

This module will examine a selection of important historical texts. These will include the following: al-Baladhuri’s account of the Islamic conquest of Syria in the Futuh al-Buldan, al-Tabari’s account of the death of the caliph al-Amin from the Ta’rikh al-Rusuk wa’l-muluk,, Miskawayh’s description of the accession of the caliph al-Muqtadir in the Tajarib al-umam, Abu Shama’s Dhayl al-rawdatayn, Ibn al-Athir’s account of the Mongol conquest of north east Iran in his Kamil f’l-Ta’rikh.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:

• read and understand the Arabic texts of a number of important historians of the first six centuries of Islam
• gain a firm grounding in the origins and development of early Arabic historiography
• demonstrate the manuscript tradition of the texts and their importance as sources for the history of the period
• demonstrate a firm understanding of the forms and functions of narrative in classical Arabic prose literature.

Workload

Total of 10 weeks teaching, 3 hours total classrrom time per week consisting of a 1 hour lecture and a 2 hour tutorial each week.

Method of assessment

• 4 x gobbet commentaries (4000 words for all 4 gobbets in total) to be submitted in term 1, week 7, day 1 (60%)
• 1 x essay (2500 words) to be submitted in term 1, week 11, day 5 (40%)

Suggested reading

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