NES 2754 - Introduction to Near Eastern Civilization: Wondrous Literatures of the Near East

(crosslisted) COML 2754
(GHB) (LA-AS)

Fall. 3 credits.

Requirement for NES majors.

D. Starr.

This survey course (which also fulfills an NES major requirement) is a multidisciplinary introduction to Near Eastern civilization, exploring history, literature, religion, art and archeology, and other aspects of the Near East’s rich and diverse heritage from earliest times to the present. In Fall 2016, the focus is on the wondrous literatures of the region. Together we will read and discuss such ancient works as the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ and ‘The Song of Songs,’ from such medieval works as the ‘Travels’ of Ibn Battuta, the ‘Shahnameh’ of Ferdowsi, and the poems of Yehuda Ha-Levi, and modern material from the Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish literary traditions. All material is in English translation.