Early Arabic Historical Texts (U04474)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U04474

How and why the early Muslims remembered the past and how this historical record is used by modern historians will be examined through a close reading of some of late 9th-century,early 10th-century historical texts in classical Arabic. (E.g. parts of one or more of Khalifa b. Khayyat al-Usfuri's Ta'rikh, al-Baladhuri's Ansab al-Ashraf, al-Ya'qubi's Ta'rikh, al-Dinawari's al-Akhbar al-tiwal and other similar texts.) Passages in Arabic will be read and translated together in class. Some secondary literature in English will also be set reading. This material will form the basis for discussion both of the uses to which the early Muslims put the memory of the past. and the uses to which modern historians have put these sources.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Arabic honours students only (subject to discretion of convenor).

? Costs : n/a

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
12/01/2009	16:10	17:40	Room G.23, 16-20 George Square	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	15:00	17:00	Central
Tutorial	Friday	10:00	12:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should:
1. Be familiar with all aspects of some of the most important early Arabic historical texts.
2. Be able to understand and translate into English extracts from these and similar texts.
3. Have an understanding of the development of historical writing in Arabic.
4. Be familiar with the main secondary literature in English on early Arabic historical writing.
5. Have an understanding of current debates about early Arabic historiography.