In this course, we will explore the rise of Islam and its late Antique context, the emergence of the caliphate, the expansion of Islam and spread to Afro-Eurasia, the crusades, holy war, and the coexistence that resulted from these events, and the legacies of the classical world, including the Graeco-Arabic translation movement. Course participants will examine medieval art, maps, and primary sources in order to learn more about Islam and the Middle Ages. For example, course participants will examine medieval Islamic coins, read portions of Princess Anna Komnene’s Alexiad, and even make an astrolabe. In the final module, you will develop teaching resources ready for your classroom based on the material presented in this course.
This course was developed with generous support from the Medieval Academy of America.
