Aspects of Arab and Islamic Civilizations *



This course explores the two notions of Arab nationalism and religion and their association with the aspiration for building a great state in the region. This comes after an introduction discussing the historical roots of the two notions, among other civilizations, countries, races and ethnicities. The course addresses the establishment of the Islamic State and the evolution of (khilafa). The course tackles the nature of the social, sectarian and religious structure that emerged in the context of Arab and Muslim societies, and the impact of religion and politics on the presence, absence or exclusion of these human groups. In this context, the course also discusses issues such as Arab cities, aesthetic and ethical models, literature, codification, minorities and the presence of women in these societies.