Shi'ism: Origins and Contemporary Practice WT

Beginning with the formation of a Shi'i identity in the first century of Islam, we will trace the gradual articulation of distinct Shi'i and Sunni communities and the subsequent emergence of a variety of Shi'i political, religious and cultural manifestations. From the revolutions against the Umayyad dynasty, to the establishment of the Buyid, Fatimid and later, the Safavid Empire, Shi'ism has always played an important and vibrant role in the Muslim world. The course will end with a consideration of the role of religion in the Iranian revolution and the contemporary debates between Sunnis and Shi'is in the Muslim world. 3 hrs lect.