The Islamic Cultural Studies Project
III: Rise and Reach of Muslim Civilizations: Cultural Interactions
Political Developments: General Overview
Readings:
- Ruthven and Nanji: "Expansion of Islam to 750" in Historical Atlas of Islam, 28-29.
- Ira Lapidus: "Introduction: The Islamic World and the Rise of Europe" in A History of Islamic Societies, 2nd edition, 197-218. (Some summary and review.) or Esposito: Islam: The Straight Path, "The Muslim Community in History" 40-67 (Some of this is review and repetition.)
- Ruthven and Nanji: "Maghreb and Spain 650-1485" in Historical Atlas of Islam, 66-69.
Centers of Civilization: Cordoba I
Readings:
- Ira Lapidus: "Spanish Islamic Civilization" in A History of Islamic Societies, 2nd edition, 309-319.
- Hillenbrand: "The Ornament of the World": Medieval Cordoba as a Cultural Centre" in S.K. Jayyusi, ed. The Legacy of Muslim Spain, Vol. 1, 112-135.
Web:
- Cordoba: The Great Mosque
Centers of Civlization: Cordoba II
Readings: Divide and Assign
- Chejne, A.G. Muslim Spain: Its History and Culture, 162-181. (Science and education)
- Bendiner, E. The Rise and Fall of Paradise, 187-209. (Translations, medicine, diplomacy and pluralism)
- Burgel, J.C. 'Ibn Tufayl and his Hayy ibn Yaqzan: A Turning Point in Arabic Philosophical Writing" in S.K. Jayyusi, ed., The Legacy of Muslim Spain, Vol. 2, 830-846 and Kocache, R. The Journey of the Soul: the Story of Hai bin Yaqzan as Told by Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Tufail. (Excerpts) (Literature, philosophy, theology, mysticism) or Peter Heath: "Knowledge" in Menocal, Scheindlin and Sells, eds., The Literature of Al-Andalus, 96-125. (Education and intellectual tradition)
- Film: Chahine: Al Massir (Destiny) and Readings TBA.
Student Working Groups on Fatehpur Sikri and Timbuktu
Readings on Fatehpur Sikri:
- Ira Lapidus: "The Indian Subcontinent: The Delhi Sultanates and the Mughal Empire" in A History of Islamic Societies, 2nd edition, 356-374.
Setting the Stage
- Stearns, P. N. (2001). Cultures in motion : mapping key contacts and their imprints in world history. New Haven, CT, Yale University Press. - The Spread of Islam pp. 46-55
- Gommans, J. J. L. (2002). Mughal warfare : Indian frontiers and highroads to empire, 1500-1700. New York, Routledge. Nuclear Zones of Power pp. 23-29
- Ikram, S. M. (1964). Muslim civilization in India. New York,, Columbia University Press.
- Pomeranz, K. and S. Topik (1999). The world that trade created : society, culture, and the world economy, 1400-the present. Armonk, N.Y., M.E. Sharpe. pp. 3-9, 16-18, 31-36
Writing History: Three Portraits of Akbar
- Abu'l Fazl: The Mughal Akbar in McNeill, W. H. and M. R. Waldman (1983). The Islãamic world. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.
- Nehru, J. (1989). Glimpses of world history : being further letters to his daughter, written in prison, and containing a rambling account of history for young people. Delhi ; New York, Oxford University Press.
- Richards, J. F. (1993). The Mughal Empire. Cambridge ; New York, NY, Cambridge University Press. pp. 29-52, 55-57
Mughal Rule
- Streusand, D. E. (1989). The formation of the Mughal Empire. Delhi ; New York, Oxford University Press. pp. 88-94, 114-122
- Eaton, R. M. (1993). The rise of Islam and the Bengal frontier, 1204-1760. Berkeley, University of California Press. pp. 142-155
- Ellwood, R. S. (1982). Many peoples, many faiths : an introduction to the religious life of humankind. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall. Islamic Mysticism pp. 368-372
- Bakhtiar, L. (1976). Sufi : expressions of the mystic quest. London, Thames and Hudson. pp 6-7
- Verma, S.P. Painting under Akbar as Narrative Art in Habib, I. (1997). Akbar and his India. Delhi, Oxford University Press. pp. 161-172
- Losty, J. P. and British Library. (1986). Indian book painting. London ; Wolfeboro, N.H., British Library. pp. 18-36
Fatehpur Sikri
- Brand, M., G. D. Lowry, et al. (1987). Fatehpur-Sikri. Bombay, Marg Publications.
- Petruccioli, A. The Geometry of Power: The City's Planning
- Richards, J. The Imperial Capital
- Lawrence, B.B. The City as an Intellectual Center
- Brand, M. The City as an Artistic Center
Daily Life in Fatehpur Sikri
- Gaur, R. C. (2000). Excavations at Fatehpur Sikri : a national project. New Delhi, Aryan Books International. Selections
Beyond Akbar & the Mughals
- Chaliand, G. and J.-P. Rageau (1995). The Penguin atlas of diasporas. New York, Viking. pp. 146-155
Lessons
- Roupp, H. (1997). Teaching world history : a resource book. Armonk, N.Y., M.E. Sharpe.
- Schmitt, L. The Nature of Civilization: A Final Exam pp. 173-174
- Wood, C. Garcia, S. Peasant Resistance to Colonial Economic Policy in 19th Century Tanganyika and India pp. 225-230
- Bergen, G. Planning with Women in Mind: The Example of the Grameen Bank in ed Brooks, et al. The Aspen World History Handbook: An Organizational Framework, Lessons, and Book Reviews for Non-Centric World History pp. 128-138
Readings on Timbuktu:
- Ira Lapidus: "Islam in Sudanic, Savannah, and Forest West Africa" in A History of Islamic Societies, 2nd edition, 400-428.
- Saad, E. N. (1983). Social history of Timbuktu : the role of Muslim scholars and notables, 1400-1900. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] ; New York, Cambridge University Press.
Web:
- Timbuktu: The Mythical Site
- Timbuktu, Mali: Intellectual and Spiritual Capital
- Timbuktu - City of Legends
- Timbuktu Educational Foundation Website