Anthropology of Middle East

The Middle East was the cradle of the world’s earliest civilizations and has made immense contributions to the development of agriculture, pastoralism, urbanization, and organized religion. Today it remains a critical and volatile crossroads for world cultures. The course will examine both ancient and modern cultures within and beyond this diverse region from a cross-cultural perspective and within the global context. Topics include kinship patterns, ethnic groups, social organizations, political structures, subsistence strategies, slavery, gender, sexuality and belief systems. It will pay particular attention to the role of orientalism, colonialism, imperialism, and globalization in shaping the world stage, both in reaction to and in harmony with the introduction of Western ideologies. Offered annually.