HIST 165 PZ -Baghdad and Constantinople: Imperial Urban, Religious, Intellectual and Cultural Landscapes in Competition

Institution: Pitzer

Description: This course examines the medieval Byzantine and Islamic empires from a comparative perspective (c.300AD to c.1300AD). The history, cultural achievements, and religious contexts of each city will be explored: Constantinople as the imperial center of Byzantine Christianity, and Baghdad as the center of the Abbasid Caliphate. The cities engaged in intense competition (c. 700-1200 AD) for mastery and control of the region an dof the classical Greek legacy. The course concludes with each city’s first major capture and destruction: Constantinople 1204, and Baghdad 1258. Particular attention will be given to the concepts of knowledge and culture as tools of imperialism.

Prerequisite(s): Please check course schedule for requirements.

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal.