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74598-01 - Proseminar: The Great War and the Middle East (1914-1918) (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Zeynep Sabanci (zeynep.sabanci@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This seminar examines the history and diverse legacies of World War I in the area frequently referred to as the 'Middle East.' Recognized as a crucial turning point that has significantly influenced the region's political landscape over the past century, understanding this conflict is essential for grasping the complexities of the modern Middle East. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic, the class will explore the diplomatic background to the onset of hostilities, the imperial goals of the respective powers involved, the military imperatives that determined the outcomes of battles, and the legacies of the agreements reached through negotiations that defined the end of hostilities. Our focus will be on key elements of the First World War from mainly the Ottoman perspective, examining not just military campaigns, but also the declaration of Jihad (Holy War). Additionally, we will seek to understand the war's profound impact on societies and political entities, which were significantly transformed by both its immediate outcomes and enduring legacies. |
| Learning objectives | To understand the profound impact of the war on Middle Eastern societies and political entities, which were significantly transformed by its immediate outcomes and enduring legacies. |
| Bibliography | Aksakal, Mustafa. The Ottoman Road to War in 1914. Cambridge, 2008. Erickson J. Edward, Ordered to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Bloomsbury Academic, 2001. McMeekin Sean, The Ottoman Endgame, War, Revolution, And the Making of The Modern Middle East, 1908-1923, Penguin Press, New York, 2015. Shaw, Stanford, The Ottoman Empire in World War I, Vol.1-2, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara, 2013. |
| Comments | All the articles and book chapters (Pdf versions) in the required reading list can be downloaded at the course portal in the ADAM system. |
| Admission requirements | Students are expected to attend class regularly, read assigned materials before the date indicated in the syllabus and actively participate in class discussions. Proficiency in English for academic purposes, encompassing both written and verbal communication skills is required. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 19.02.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 26.02.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 05.03.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 12.03.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Fasnachstferien |
| Wednesday 19.03.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 26.03.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 02.04.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 09.04.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 16.04.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 23.04.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 30.04.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 07.05.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 14.05.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 21.05.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Wednesday 28.05.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Maiengasse, Seminarraum E005 |
| Modules |
Electives Bachelor Jewish Studies: Recommendations (Bachelor's degree subject: Jewish Studies) Modul: Basis Geschichte (Bachelor's degree subject: Jewish Studies) Modul: Themen der Nahoststudien (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | The majority of class time will be dedicated to the lecturer’s presentation and seminar discussions. Students are expected to attend every session, complete the required readings, and actively participate in discussions. Each week, there will be a two-hour seminar. Each student will be assigned a discussion topic for their presentations for which they will be responsible as a performance assessment. The professor will present several topic options related to the course by the third week of the semester. Students are free to choose their preferred topic; however, group work is not permitted. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nahost-Studien |