Global Arc

Ancient near eastern literature constitutes a universe of cultural spheres - be they legal, religious, historical or literary - each of which harbors a repertory of genres that have developed through an ongoing engagement with this sphere. The concept of genre proves to be of a dynamic nature always adapting itself to the message, function and performative context of the text. In this course we will look at a range of central texts of ancient near eastern literature and analyze them with theoretically and conceptually conceived underpinnings.

In this seminar we shall be looking at aspects of the relations between the Church and the Empire in Late Antiquity. Special attention will be given to early and late antique Christian views of the Empire and the role of the emperor, to the age of Constantine and the political theology of Eusebius of Caesarea, and to the subsequent manifestation of the Eusebean conception of the emperor during the reign of Justinian in the 6th century. Primary sources in translation (legal texts, patristic literature, acts of Church councils) will be studied in the light of secondary literature.

This course introduces a concise look on modern Turkish literature predominantly through short stories. It aims to provide a sample of Turkish literary writing and basic knowledge of its actors and works. The reading list is naturally shaped by the limited number of English translations available, nevertheless it will offer a colorful picture of diverse authors, their works, literary themes and styles, as well as social, political and cultural issues in Turkey during the last century.

This course will cover about two thirds of the Qur'anic text in the English translation of Kenneth Cragg, which has the advantage for an initial study of organizing the Qur'anic passages according to broad themes. The course aims at bringing the student as close as possible to the Arabic original and will draw extensively on traditional exegesis (tafsir) as well as critical Qur'anic scholarship. No previous study of Islam is required.

The major Near Eastern abd Balkan diplomatic crises, the main developments in internal Near Eastern history, and the Eastern Question as perceived by the Great Powers. The focus will be on the possible connections between diplomatic crises and the process of modernization. One three-hour seminar.

Since 9/11, madrasas have often been viewed as sites of indoctrination into Islamic radicalism. This seminar seeks to examine the broad range of institutions to which the term "madrasa" refers in modern Muslim societies, as well as other related institutions of Islamic education. Addresses the transformations they have undergone since the 19th century, and how these institutions shape and are shaped by Muslim politics in varied contexts. One three-hour seminar.

An analysis of political, economic, and social institutions with emphasis on the problems of continuity and change, the factors allowing for and limiting Ottoman expansion, and Ottoman awareness of Europe. Two 90-minute classes.

An examination of the Westernization movement; administrative reforms; Young Ottoman, Young Turk, and ethnic-nationalist movements; great diplomatic crises of the 19th and 20th centuries; emergence of modern Turkish republic; and the consequences of the Ottoman collapse. Two 90-minute classes. Offered in alternate years.

The Ottoman Empire is traditionally viewed through a paradigm which stresses its Islamic character. In keeping with this assessment its advances into southeastern Europe from the mid-fourteenth century onward are usually portrayed as stemming from a desire to expand the frontiers of the Islamic East at the expense of the Christian West. This course will present an alternative explanation: one focusing on the extent to which the early Ottomans absorbed the peoples, practices, and nobilities of the pre-existing Christian peoples of the Balkans.

Acquaints non-science majors with classical and modern neuroscience. Lectures will give an overview at levels ranging from molecular signaling to cognitive science with a focus on the neuroscience of everyday life, from the general (love, memory, and personality) to the particular (jet lag, autism, and weight loss). The laboratory will offer hands-on experience in recording signals from single neurons, examining neural structures, and analysis of whole-brain functional brain imaging data. Two 90-minute lectures, one laboratory.