This short course provides a broad overview of the history of the Muslim world, focussing primarily on its political and religious aspects. The course consists of four two-hours sessions held during Hilary Term. The first two lectures will provide a general understanding of the major political developments behind the expansion of the Muslim world. Through ten maps, each giving a snapshot of the key moments in Muslim history, we will look at the processes that led to the emergence, expansion, and decline of some of the largest and best-known empires of the past. The first lecture will cover the history until the rise of the Mongols in the 13th century, and the second lecture will cover the period of the so-called ‘Gunpowder Empires’— the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals.

In the last two lectures we will focus on the 18th and 19th centuries, marked by almost simultaneous emergence of religious revivalist movements in the Muslim world. We will delve into why these reformist trends emerged, how were they influenced by regional and global situations, what were their distinguishing features, and their responses to multiple challenges of a colonial order.

Date: 3 February, 10 February, 17 February, and 24 February 2025

Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm

Cost: £50.00

Speakers: Dr Moin Nizami

This course is intended for a general audience, and anyone interested in the subject. It is aimed at beginners’ level and no previous knowledge of the history of Muslim societies is required.

Click here to apply for this course

Learning Outcomes:

Learners will:

• be able to reflect on the key events that shaped Muslim history, emergence of some of the major empires and their evolution;
• develop an understanding of the different reactions and approaches of societies to European domination;
• acquire a well-rounded understanding of Muslim history, enabling the participants to appreciate its complexity and relevance in a global context; and
• be able to assess the impact of European colonialism on the Muslim societies, including the resistance movements and socio-political changes.