HIST 2490 Race and Islam in Africa and West Asia 3.0 Credits
Race and Islam in Africa and the Middle East historicizes the evolving relationship between Islam and race through textual and cultural sources. The course traces developments from the pre-Islamic Red Sea world and the social and moral orders shaped by the Prophet Muhammad to key moments, including the Zanj Rebellion, Mansa Musa’s influence, transformations in slavery, the West African Age of Jihad, colonial rule, post-independence Africa, and contemporary Islamophobia. The student learns to analyze how racial and religious differences are historically produced and contested, developing skills in critical reading, historical analysis, and engagement with primary and secondary sources.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit