The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/medieval-arabia

Introduction

## Course Review: The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World on Coursera ### Overview If you've ever been intrigued by the rich tapestry of cultural interactions in the historical Islamic world, then Coursera's course, **"The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World,"** is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. This course invites you to delve into the intricacies of a period that shaped science, trade, and intellectual thought across a vast expanse from Spain to the borders of China. The historical influence of Arabic culture, religion, and commerce is both profound and enlightening, making this course a highly recommended experience for anyone interested in history, culture, or sociology. ### Course Content The course is structured into several engaging modules, each delving into a crucial aspect of the medieval Arabic world. 1. **Welcome to this Course**: This introductory module sets the stage for learners. It encourages participation within the community through forums and provides essential information on navigating any potential technical issues through the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. 2. **The Medieval Islamic City**: This module examines the characteristics of towns within the Islamic realm, particularly focusing on Baghdad’s growth. You’ll explore what defined an "Islamic city" while analyzing how public health and urban planning contributed to its famed size and development. 3. **Travel & Religion**: Here, the interplay of diverse religions within the medieval society comes to the forefront. The course challenges stereotypes by revealing how different faiths coexisted and influenced societal norms and practices—including shared spaces for worship. 4. **Trade**: This module covers the dynamics of trade that underpinned the medieval Middle East's prosperity. From the romanticized image of silk caravans to the more sinister realities of slave trade, these discussions are both enlightening and thought-provoking. The module also introduces the concept of Orientalism, encouraging learners to critically analyze historical narratives. 5. **Power Play**: Diving deeper into the topic of slavery, this module examines how enslaved individuals could rise to powerful societal roles. By contextualizing controversial perspectives, such as those presented by academic figures like Jonathan Brown, the course urges learners to grapple with the complexities of history in a nuanced way. 6. **Science**: The contribution of the medieval Arabic world to the scientific advances that would later reach Europe is brilliantly highlighted in this module. Learners will gain insight into the transmission of knowledge and the preservation of texts, laying the groundwork for modern science. 7. **In Conclusion: the Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World**: In the final module, the course wraps up by emphasizing the diversity, advancements, and interconnectedness of the Islamic world. The relevance of historical events to modern issues is a fascinating point of reflection, providing learners with a deeper understanding of today's global landscape. ### Recommendation This course is highly recommended for students of history, culture, and social studies, as well as anyone with a curiosity about the world’s diverse historical narratives. The impressive breadth of topics ensures that there’s something for everyone, regardless of your prior knowledge of medieval Arabic culture. Moreover, the format is user-friendly, combining video lectures, forums for interaction, and rich readings that deepen the learning experience. The opportunity to engage with fellow learners provides an enriching environment to share ideas and insights. ### Conclusion In conclusion, "The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World" on Coursera is a meticulously crafted course that not only educates but also challenges modern perceptions of the medieval Islamic world. By separating myth from reality, this online course creates a comprehensive view of a remarkable period in history. So if you're looking to expand your understanding of societal development, trade dynamics, and intellectual advancements in a multicultural context, seize the opportunity and enroll in this insightful course!

Syllabus

Welcome to this Course

Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about the Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World. Before you start with the course we invite you to first go through this module and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck & we hope you will enjoy this course!

In this Module we will examine the Islamic City. We will discuss if such a thing as "the Islamic city" exists. If so, what are the features that we are looking for ? We will also focus on specific examples of cities in the Medieval Middle East, most notably Baghdad. How was it possible that Baghdad grew to the size that it did? And what role did hygiene and medical care for instance play in that growth?

In this Module we will focus on diversity and connection by looking at religion. We will explore Medieval society and zoom in on the fact that many different religions and religious views coexisted. We will see that different religions shared practices. Sometimes they would even worship in the same place. But we will also show examples of tension and the interaction between politics and religion. Furthermore we will try to find out how religious travelling shaped society.

In this module we will take a look at trade. For the Medieval Middle East, trade was immensely important and it owed much of its wealth and prosperity to trade. There are the romantic images of caravans carrying lush fabrics, porcelain and gold along the desert roads of the silk route. And there is the dark side of a flourishing slave trade. But how correct are our images of what the Islamic or Arab world was and is like? Why is it that many people know about harems and very few people know about the legal innovations that enabled trade that we will also discuss in this module? To explore that question further we will introduce you to the concept of Orientalism.

In the last Module we introduced the slave trade in the Medieval Middle East. In this module we will further explore slavery. How was it possible that some of the most powerful people in society, both men and women, were or had been slaves? We will discuss the outrage that followed professor Jonathan Brown's views on slavery and Islam. And with the concept of Orientalism in mind, we will try to sketch a more realistic picture of Harems.

In this module we will focus on science in the Medieval Muslim world. How did scientific inventions of the Medieval Arabic world make their way to Europe and how did they eventually contribute to shaping today's world? How was knowledge preserved and how did books travel through the ages? We will research if survival of ideas and sources was a matter of sheer luck, or if we can recognize some patterns.

In this Course we tried to show you that the Medieval Islamic world was diverse advanced and connected. We have also focused on the danger of over- or under-representation of historical facts. Lastly we have tried to connect the past to the present by explaining and showing how events that took place a long time ago still affect today's world.