Course Description:

One of the challenges to creating an informed opinion is that everything happens in a context. While one can perhaps learn the specific actions that take place in the Middle East, and particularly in Israel and Palestine, without understanding the history of the area, one cannot hope to understand why those actions take place. Further, the actions in Israel and Palestine very much impact life here in the United States. This course will attempt to consider the history of the area and understand the roots of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Though it is an incredibly challenging topic to consider, it is imperative to understanding one of the most divisive issues of our era.

Topic Outline/Schedule:

Week 1, August 29: Settler Colonialism and the Origin of the Jews and Arabs

Week 2, September 5: The Beginnings of Nationalism and Palestinian Identity

Week 3, September 12: Partition Plans, 1948, and the Nakba

Week 4, September 19: From the PLO to Oslo