The modern Middle East emerged from the transformation of the Ottoman Empire at the hands of forces of modernity. Various national movements reshaped the map of the region while new religious movements, Islamic and others, transformed notions of belonging. This program will help students understand these multifaceted developments. The plurals in the title of this program are meant to foreground the multiplicities of understandings that each term has. One of the central themes in the program will be the contention among the people of the Middle East over the meanings of nation, Islam, and modernity. We will also see how deeply intertwined the history of the Middle East is with that of Europe.
FACULTY DIRECTOR: Adeeb Khalid, Jane and Raphael Bernstein Professor of Asian Studies and History
Professor Khalid has taught (among other things) the history of the Middle East at Carleton since 1993. In his scholarly work, he is interested in transformations in Muslim societies in the modern age and the emergence of new forms of politics and identification. He has studied and traveled extensively in Turkey and is excited to share his love of Istanbul, Turkey, and Turkish life with students.
For more information about Turkey: Nations, Islams, and Modernities, please contact the Off-Campus Studies Office (507-222-4332) or Professor Adeeb Khalid (akhalid@carleton.edu).