JWST 350 Jews and Muslims: Coexistence and Conflict (3)

This course examines the history of Jews living in and/or interacting with the Islamic world from the rise of Islam in the 7^th century to the present day. It begins with a discussion of the formative middle ages, which in many ways defined and shaped Jewish practices and customs for centuries to come, including for those living elsewhere in the Jewish Diaspora. It then moves on to the Ottoman period and the transformation of the eastern Mediterranean Jewish world into a Sephardi-dominated one, in language and practices, after the expulsions of Jews from Iberia in the late 15^th ccentury. The course further examines the changes Jewish communities in Arab and some other countries experienced with modernization of the nineteenth century and the emergence of Zionism. The last quarter of the semester is devoted to the experiences of Separdi/Mizrahi Jews (a broad label used to describe Middle Eastern Jews) in Israel. While primarily dealing with the history of Jews in the Islamic world, this course will explore many facets of Jewish life alongside Muslims, including social, cultural, and culinary aspects.
Course Frequency: Every Other Spring