Minorities and Majorities in the Middle East

T 7-10, 4-146

Seminar considers “difference” and “sameness” as they have been conceived, experienced, and regulated by peoples of the Middle East, with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. First half discusses the Ottoman Empire. Explores how this multiethnic, polyglot empire survived for several relatively peaceful centuries and what happened when its formula for existence was challenged by politics based on mono-ethnic states. Second half focuses on post-Ottoman nation-states, such as Turkey and Egypt, and Western-mandated Arab states, such as Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq. Concludes with a case analysis of Israel.

Related Subjects

Offered Spring 2026

Catalog	Subject	Faculty	Level	HASS	Category
21H.106 24.912 21L.008 21W.741 CMS.150 WGS.190	Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies T 2-5, E15-335	Michel DeGraff D. Fox Harrell Danielle Wood	Introductory	HASS-H HASS-A	CI-H
21H.161	The Modern Middle East Lecture: MW 12-1 Recitation 1: R 1-2, 1-273 Recitation 2: R 2-3, 1-273	Lerna Ekmekcioglu	Introductory	HASS-H	CI-H
21H.266	South Africa and Apartheid TR 1-2:30, 26-314	Kenda Mutongi	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.289	History Near and Dear: Writing Yourself into History TR 11-12:30, E51-385	Marjoleine Kars	Intermediate	HASS-H	CI-H
21H.358 U 21H.958 G WGS.315 G	Colonialism in South Asia and Africa: Race, Gender, Resistance T 11-1, E51-390	Sana Aiyar	Graduate Seminar	HASS-H

Not Offered This Term

Catalog	Subject	Faculty	Level	HASS	Category
21H.160	Islam, the Middle East, and the West	Private: Pouya Alimagham	Introductory	HASS-H
21H.229	The Black Radical Tradition in America Not offered regularly; consult department	Craig Steven Wilder	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.260	Cities in the Middle East: History, Politics and Society Not offered regularly; consult department	Staff	Intermediate	HASS-S
21H.261	Modern Iran: A Century of Revolution	Private: Pouya Alimagham	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.262	Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict	Private: Pouya Alimagham	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.263 WGS.220	Women and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa	Lerna Ekmekcioglu	Seminar	HASS-H
21H.265	Humanitarianism in Africa: A Critical History	Kenda Mutongi	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.267	Resistance and Revolt in Atlantic Slavery	Marjoleine Kars	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.281	MIT and Slavery: Research	Craig Steven Wilder	Intermediate	HASS-H	CI-H
21H.282	MIT and Slavery: Publication Not offered regularly; consult department	Craig Steven Wilder	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.283	The Indigenous History of MIT Not offered regularly; consult department	Staff	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.284	South Asia, the United States, and MIT: Transformative Connections	Sana Aiyar	Intermediate	HASS-H
21H.381 WGS.222	Women and War	Lerna Ekmekcioglu	Seminar	HASS-S
21H.385 11.152	The Ghetto: From Venice to Harlem MW 11-12:30, 66-148	Craig Steven Wilder	Seminar	HASS-S