75753 - History of Iran and Central Asia (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student gained advanced skills in the history of Iran and Central Asia from the arrival of Islam to contemporary times. He is aware of the methodology of historical research, and knows how to deal with historical themes in an original and autonomous way. He can critically evaluate the sources and know how to orient yourself in the specialist bibliography. He has the ability to expose and communicate the contents learned and to make valid judgments in the historical field.

Course contents

The course is intended as a general introduction to the history of Iran and Central Asia in the Islamic period. Single historical periods are, broadly speaking, the ones hereby indicated. Students are warmly encouraged to focus on specific thematic and to carry on, if possible, further readings according to their personal interests or basic knowledge in the field.  

Hera are the Basic historical periods to deal with 

1. The "islamic" penetration in Iran and Central Asia

2. The Mongol and Timurid periods. Iran and Central Asia under "turkic" dynasties.

3. The safavid period and the formation of the so called "national state" in Iran. The contemporary condition of Caucasus and Central Asia and the relations of Iran with Ottoman Empire and Moghul India.

4. The contacs with the western countries: missionaries, diplomats and travellers.

5. Iran under the Pahlavis, Caucasus and Soviet Central Asia: "cold war" challengers

6. The present day situation: a "non exotic" approach.

Readings/Bibliography

A comprehensive list of works in the field would total hundreds (if not thousands) of entrances including books, articles, single chapters, short notes, book reviews in a dozen of different languages.

The following texts are just a handful of titles which should prove useful. Most of them are to be found in the Library of the Department or in other Bologna Libraries. The teacher will be happy to help students with books, articles, iconographic materials and other forms of support that might prove useful for further research in this field (in italian or in other languages as well).

The Reference work is the so called Cambridge History of Iran, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, in various volumes published from 1963: A really monumental work to be used as reference text as well as a documentary  outline for the single periods of history. Volumes 4 (1965), 5 (1968), 6 (1986) and 7 (1991) on Iran and Central Asia in Islamic era.

In italian:

A BAUSANI, I Persiani Firenze, Sansoni, 1962, a sort of "classical manual". The chapters on Islamic Iran (pp.93-296) are higly recommended. The book has been translated in German (Stuttgart, Urban Bucher, 1964) and in English (1971). 

F. SABAHI, Storia dell'Iran, Milano, Mondadori, 2003: an outline discussing on modern and contemporary Iran

Afghanistan:

G. VERCELLIN, Iran e Afghanistan, Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1986 (a short however well informed outline mostly dealing with modern and contemporary periods)

 

For Central Asia:

M. BERNARDINI, Il mondo iranico e turco, Torino, Giulio Einaudi Editore, 2003: actually the second volume of a "Storia del mondo Islamico" (VII-XVI secolo). A rich manual with an important bibliographical section.  

W. BARTHOLD, Histoire des turcs d'Asie Centrale (adaptation française par Mme M. Donskis), Paris, Librairie d'Amérique et d'Orient Adrien-Maisonneuve, 1945.

Students who are not able to attend (a practice frankly not suggested) may contact the teacher to arrange an "alternative" program and, if it will be the case, a different range of texts.

The following titles (both "classical" and "contremporary" works)are just an example of texts which may prove useful for individual research as well as first steps for the elaboration of further works (e.g. M.A thesis). Most of  these books are avaliable in the Department Library, some of them can be consulted on-line as well.   

 

1. H.A.R. GIBB, The arab conquest in Central Asia, London, 1923.

2. Ch. LANGE, S.MECIT (eds.) The seljuqs. Politics, Society and Culture, Edinburg, Edinburg University Press, 2012

3. Ch. GRUBER, The Ilkhanid book of ascension. A persian book of ascension, London-New York, J.B. Tauris Publishers, 2010

4. Colin P. MITCHELL, The practice of Politics in Safavid Iran, London, Tauris, 2009

5. E. HERZIG, W. FLOOR (eds.), Iran and the world in the Safavid age, London, J.B. Tauris, 2011

6. J. PERRY, Karim Khan Zand. A History of Iran (1747-1779), Chicago and London, Univesity of Chicago Press, 1979

7. E. BOSWORTH, C. HILLENBRAND (eds.), Qajar Iran. Political social and cultural change, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 1983

8. B. DEVOS, Ch. WERNER (eds.), Culture and Cultural Politics under Reza Shah: The Pahlavi State, new burgeaisie and the creation of a modern Society in Iran, Oxon, Routledge, 2010.

 

 

Teaching methods

Language of teaching is Italian with occasionally references to other languages (namely English). The course is intended as a sequence of lessons during which the teacher will do his best to share his teaching experiences in the field. His hope is olso to take advantage of any sort of question that will eventually arise from his auditory.

A short course of modern Persian language (written and spoken) to be held by a mother language teacher with special qualification is also scheduled. Students who are really interested to Persian culture are warmly encouraged to attend. 

 

Assessment methods

The examination is intended as a simply oral colloquium during which the student is invited to discuss with the teacher the main contents of the course. Students are supposed to have a working/basic knowlege of a foreign language (namely English or French) in order to possibly carry on additional readings. 

If the student achieves a complete vision of the topics discussed in class and required for the discipline, provides an effective critical commentary, shows mastery of expression and of the specific language, both written and oral, he obtains excellence in the evaluation.

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

Use of computer facilities as well as of more archaic forms of representations of items (old or even "historical" slides...) may occasionally occur. If avaliable, iranian documentary films will also be part of the teaching tools.

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Silvio Pistoso