The Islamic Golden Age
HIST 362
Course designed by Sara Ann Knutson, Laila Shaheen, & Jason Izadi
Prof. Sara Ann Knutson
University of British Columbia
SAMPLE SYLLABUS BELOW, please refer to current registration information on Workday and the forthcoming Canvas course website (available to registered students) for the most updated information on dates and class meetings.
Hybrid format: Lectures (asynchronous) & Discussions (in person)
| Date | Key Themes & Topic / Questions for Discussion | Assigned Preparation/ Assignment due |
| WEEK 1: Dawn of the Abbasids | ||
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Mon. 1/08 |
First lecture, introductions, the syllabus, examining terminologies |
(no preparation due today) |
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Wed. 1/10 |
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| WEEK 2: Baghdad | ||
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Mon. 1/15 |
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Wed. 1/17 |
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| WEEK 3: 1001 Nights & the “Golden Age” | ||
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Mon. 1/22 |
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Wed. 1/24 |
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| WEEK 4: Translation, Philosophy, & Knowledge (Part I) | ||
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Mon. 1/29 |
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Wed. 1/31 |
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| WEEK 5: Translation, Philosophy, & Knowledge (Part II) | ||
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Mon. 2/05 |
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Wed. 2/07 |
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| WEEK 6: Science, Medicine, & Astrology | ||
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Mon. 2/12 |
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Wed. 2/14 |
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Week of February 19th: No class this week – Midterm Break
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| WEEK 7: The People of the Caliphate | ||
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Mon. 2/26 |
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Wed. 2/28 |
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| WEEK 8: Materials & Craft-working | ||
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Mon. 3/04 |
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Wed. 3/06 |
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| WEEK 9: Law, Bureaucracy, & Government | ||
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Mon. 3/11 |
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Wed. 3/13 |
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| WEEK 10: Global Connections & Travel | ||
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Mon. 3/18 |
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Wed. 3/20 |
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| WEEK 11: Abbasid Trade & Economic Networks | ||
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Mon. 3/25 |
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Wed. 3/27 |
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| WEEK 12: Abbasid Art & Architecture | ||
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Mon. 4/01 |
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Wed. 4/03 |
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| WEEK 13: A Return to the Golden Age: Challenging Narratives | ||
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Mon. 4/08 |
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Wed. 4/10 |
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| Final Research Project due: [TBA] Submit to Canvas. | ||
On what will your grade be based?
The teaching philosophy guiding this course assumes that every student is capable of learning, provided clear goals, a clear roadmap to achieve them, and consistent assistance towards understanding the course material. As part of that approach, evaluations and assignments are distributed throughout the course. To succeed in this course, you will need to maintain a consistent level of engagement by doing the following:
- engage the class discussion and activities
- prepare the weekly readings (ahead of the discussion class)
- engage the lecture material
- complete the assignments & research project
Detailed instructions and rubrics will be made available on Canvas and discussed in class. All written work should be submitted to Canvas.
| Assignment | Percent of Total Grade | Due Date |
| Regular course engagement, participation, & contributions to discussion | 20% | Ongoing |
| Weekly short responses | 20% | Weekly |
| Research Project Proposal | 10% | (Week 5) |
| Research check-in | 5% | Drop-in hours or by appointment during Weeks 7 or 8 |
| Research Project Rough Draft | 15% | TBD |
| Final Research Project with Reflection | 30% | TBD |
Research Project (including proposal, check-in, rough draft, and final product with reflection).
The research project is an opportunity to build on course learning by conducting independent research on a topic related to the Abbasid past and heritage and communicating your research and analysis in a medium/genre of your choosing. The topic should be either one that we will not otherwise explore in the course but is still feasible to research with existing, accessible sources, or an elaboration on something we will explore in the course (involving independent research beyond course materials). This work will be assessed in stages: the research proposal, a check-in with the instructor, a rough draft, and a final product with reflection. More details on each of these stages will be discussed in class throughout the term but note that I expect you to engage with the feedback that you will receive from me and your peers and this will form part of the assessment of the final project.
The final project itself will take the form of either (you choose):
- An academic essay (approximately 8-10 double-spaced pages, including footnotes) plus a bibliography and a 2-page reflection (neither of which is included in the 8-10 pages) or
- Another medium/genre (approximate equivalent in work to an 8- to 10-page essay, defined in consultation with me) plus a bibliography and a two-page reflection (neither of which is included in the approximate equivalency to the 8-10-page essay).