Module code: HST6711
Credits: 30 Semester: YEAR
Module Convenor: Yossi Rapoport
The Mamluk dynasty, which ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517, is mostly known for the rule of foreign Turkic military elites, recruited through the institution of slavery. Yet, with scholars like Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Khaldun and al-Maqrizi all working in Mamluk Cairo and Damascus, it was also a period of cultural and religious renaissance, which shaped the intellectual landscape of Islam. It was also a period of great changes: the demographic catastrophe of the Black Death and the changing patterns of diplomatic and commercial interaction with Christian Europe. This special subject module will look at the unique political structures of a self-perpetuating slave elite, at high and popular culture, and at the remarkable artistic and architectural remains, in order to present a rich, multi-layered picture of medieval Islamic society in its heyday. Students will gain an understanding of international and global perspectives by evaluating the importance of the Mamluk period in the broader framework of Islamic, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean history, specifically in relation to the historical background of modern Middle Eastern societies and to the history of the relationship between Europe with the Middle East. In a scheduled visit to the Victoria and Albert museum, students will reflect on how to communicate historical research to the wider community, and consider the impact of cultural heritage and public engagement on their discipline. This module MUST be taken in conjunction with HST6700 History Research Dissertation
Assessment: Source analysis 12.5% Essay 37.5% Take Home Exam 50%