近代中東史

The course will cover the history of the modern Middle East from the mid 19th century when this region was under the loosening grip of the Ottoman Empire to its economic, military, social, and cultural transformation in the 21st century. The class will have four sessions. The sessions will be as follows:

I. The first session will introduce the overall scope of this course including the geography of the Middle East, geopolitics, and how the history of the Middle East shaped the history of the world. Furthermore, we will learn about the political situation and political aspirations in the Middle East before the First World War, the decline of the Ottoman Empire and its breakup, and the growing military, political, and economic interests of the European powers.

II. The second session will begin with the European and U.S. policy toward the Middle East during World War I.   Also, the class will examine three major issues: the Armenian crisis, Zionism, and European imperialism. The session then proceeds to the interwar period that lasted from November 1918 to September 1939.

III. The third session will deal with World War II in the Middle East. The other topics will cover, for example, the creation of Israel in May 1948 and the origins and the course of the Cold War in this region. 

IV. The final session will deal with the political, military, and economic situation in the Middle East in the post-Cold War world.  For instance, the class will learn about the impact and challenges of globalization in this region and about the new world order.