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NMC Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations CoursesNMC101Y1 (formerly NMC170Y) 78L NMC136Y1 Introduction to the fundamentals of Hebrew grammar and syntax through classroom and
language laboratory practice. Emphasis on the development of oral and writing skills. NMC185Y1 The place of Islam in world history, its central beliefs and practices. The Islamic
contribution to world civilization; the pluralistic community, learning and the arts.
Islam and modernity. NMC201Y1 This course acquaints students with the main features and legacies of the civilization that was formed in the Middle East in the 8th-10th centuries C.E. under the impetus of Islam, and marked by several highpoints before the early modern period. Continuity with the earlier civilizations of the ancient Near East are highlighted, and the diverse cultural traditions that contributed to the formation of Islamic civilization are described. NMC210Y1 Introduction to the grammar and basic vocabulary of standard or literary Arabic, the
one language written and read, and also spoken by those educated to speak it, throughout
the Arab world. NMC225H1 The primary focus is a systematic and intensive review of Greek grammar, illustrated by
readings from the Gospel of Luke. NMC227H1 Readings include a cross-section of the New Testament and, typically, two texts from
other Early Christian or Jewish literature. One additional text is read from a manuscript
(papyrus) facsimile. NMC230Y1 An introduction to biblical Hebrew prose. Grammar and selected texts. For students with
no previous knowledge of Hebrew. NMC236H1 Intermediate Modern Hebrew I (formerly NMC236Y) 52S NMC237H1 Intermediate Modern Hebrew II (formerly NMC236Y) 52S NMC240Y1 The fundamentals of modern standard Persian grammar, with emphasis on attaining fluency
in reading and writing simple texts. Also serves as a basis for classical Persian.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC242Y1 The fundamentals of modern standard Persian grammar for students who may be native
speakers, but who have not had formal training in Persian grammar. Emphasis on attaining
fluency in reading, writing, and translation of Persian texts of moderate difficulty. Also
serves as a basis for classical Persian. (Offered in alternate years) NMC245Y1 The basic features of modern Turkish grammar. In the second term, Turkish prose and
newspapers are studied, with some practice in writing simple Turkish. This course serves
as a basis for the study of Ottoman Turkish. (Offered in alternate years) NMC255H1 Representative Arabic poems of the pre-Islamic period, followed by certain aspects of the Qur'an. Development of lyric poetry in the Islamic period and of prose, with emphasis on narrative prose. (Offered in alternate years) NMC260Y1 A general introduction to the archaeology of the ancient Near East including prehistory, Syria-Palestine, and the high civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Organized chronologically to trace the historical development of agriculture, urbanism, and complex state-ordered societies in the region. NMC261Y0 Participation for 4 - 7 weeks during the summer in an approved archaeological excavation in the eastern Mediterranean. This experience is then critiqued in a previously assigned essay researched and written under guidance upon return. Departmental permission is required in December-February prior to the fieldwork. Registration in the course will take place in the fall following field activity. NMC270Y1 The birth of Christianity in Syria and Mesopotamia and the rise of the Monophysite and
Nestorian Churches; their life under the Byzantines, Sassanians, Arabs, Mongols and
Ottomans. The role of Syrian Christians in diplomacy, science, missions, and relations
with other churches. (Offered in alternate years) NMC273Y1 Features of the pre-Islamic Middle East inherited by Islamic civilization, birth of Islam, life and times of Muhammad, formation of Islamic empire and civilization, political disintegration of the caliphate, emergence of autonomous dynasties, the fall of Baghdad to Mongols in 1258 and the rise of the Mamluks. NMC274Y1 The remarkable career of nomads in the Eurasian steppes (Turks, Mongols) and of their Islamicized, but far from assimilated descendants in the Middle East — slave-soldiers, raiders, migrants, conquerors, and state-builders (e.g. Ghazanavids, Seljuks, Mamluks, Ottomans, Safavids). Topics to be covered include pastoral nomadism, steppe and other warfare, clan, tribal and state structure, ethnicity, sedentarization, the role of geography and ecology. (Offered in alternate years) NMC276Y1 This course examines the transformation of Middle Eastern societies form the perspective of non-state actors, especially the social and political movements of peasants, women, labour, students, and other social groups. NMC277Y0 A course offered only at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in conjunction with Woodsworth College. Specific topics each year determined by the instructor. NMC278Y1 Historical survey of the principal countries of the Middle East in the 19th and 20th centuries. Themes include the interplay of imperial and local interests, the emergence of national movements, and the formation of modern states. NMC280Y1 The Bible looked at as a whole. Lectures are centred around large themes that occur throughout and straddle both Testaments (in English translation). Topics include: the origin and interpretation of the Bible; creation, history, and salvation; theology, law and philosophy; community and individual expressions of belief. NMC284H1 Explores the interaction between Jewish religious and secular movements and feminism. Investigates Jewish law (halakha) and the Jewish legal (halakhic) process in terms of feminist critique. Marriage, divorce, Torah study, bat mitzvah, other ceremonies, female rabbinic ordination and women’s prayer groups are some of the topics considered. (Offered in alternate years) NMC285H1 Concern is mainly with the sacred character of the Qur'an (Koran), its preeminence in
Islam. Topics include: the idea of the sacred book, the Qur'an and the Bible, the
influence of the Qur'an on Islamic spirituality, literature, theology, law, philosophy,
and the various approaches taken in interpreting the Qur'an. Knowledge of Arabic is not
required. NMC299Y1 Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. See page 42 for details. NMC305Y1 Introduction to Old Babylonian. Grammar and the reading of selected texts. (Offered in
alternate years) NMC310Y1 Begins with a review of basic grammar and proceeds with the reading of simple,
connected prose passages that typify normal patterns of Arabic syntax. More literary and
idiomatic passages are introduced gradually. NMC315Y1 Introduction to Aramaic grammar. Readings from biblical Aramaic. NMC320Y1 Grammar and reading of selected hieroglyphic texts. NMC325H1 Readings from the so-called fragmentary Jewish authors of the Hellenistic period.
Includes a study of Greek word-building, focused on improvement of reading skills.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC326H1 Readings are from Jewish Romances composed in Aramaic or Hebrew but (fully) preserved
only in Greek translation. Includes a study of Greek word-building, focused on improvement
of reading skills. (Offered in alternate years) NMC327H1 Readings are from the books of the Maccabees and Josephus. Includes a study of Greek
word-building, focused on improvement of reading skills. (Offered in alternate years) NMC328H1 Readings are from Jewish Romances composed partly or totally in Greek. Includes a study
of Greek word-building, focused on improvement of reading skills. (Offered in alternate
years) NMC330Y1 Study of Hebrew grammar and training in translation providing a continuation of NMC230Y, or the formal grammatical study needed in the
modern Hebrew Specialist Program. NMC331H1 The language and ideas of post-biblical texts, including Hebrew Ben Sira, Qumran
scrolls, the so-called Damascus Covenant, and the Bar Kochva letters. (Offered in
alternate years) NMC332H1 Readings from a variety of ancient mystical texts which pre-date the Zoharic Kabbalah,
including such texts as Shiur Qomah, Heikhalot, Sefer HaBahir, and Shir HaShirim Zuta. The
question of what makes a text mystical and esoteric is explored. (Offered in alternate
years) NMC334Y1 Selections from a tractate in Babylonian Talmud in order to gain facility in the
understanding of the dialogic structure of the legal discussions. Practice in the use of
classical commentaries and critical aids to allow independent study of the text.
(Conducted in Hebrew) (Offered in alternate years) NMC336H1 Advanced Hebrew: Post-Biblical to Modern I (formerly NMC336Y)
39S NMC337H1 Advanced Hebrew: Post-Biblical to Modern II (formerly NMC337Y)
39S NMC340Y1 Reading of a variety of modern prose texts on the intermediate level, with an emphasis
on grammatical analysis and translation. Introduction to the classical language in the
second term, with readings from selected authors. (Offered in alternate years) NMC341Y1 Examines the cultural environment for the emergence of the short story in Iran and in
world literature and traces the development of the Iranian short story through 20th
century examples of this literary genre in Persia. (Offered in alternate years) NMC342Y1 Development of reading and writing skills for native or near-native users, with an
emphasis on grammatical analysis, composition, and translation. Also includes reading and
analysis of selected texts in classical Persian. (Offered in alternate years) NMC345Y1 Modern texts literary, scholarly and journalistic. Turkish grammar and syntax; the
nature of Turkish culture. (Offered in alternate years) NMC350Y1 Selected texts from Syriac literature written between the 3rd and 13th centuries C.E.,
including versions of the Bible and prominent authors of biblical commentaries, hymns,
acts of martyrs, liturgical texts, historiography, grammatical and lexicographical works,
as well as translations from Greek. (Offered every four years) NMC357Y1 This course examines a) the transformations of Middle Eastern societies in the context of the development of communication technologies and media cultures; and b) Western media constructions of the Middle East and its diasporas in the West. (Offered in alternate years) NMC360H1 A survey of prehistoric culture, concentrating on Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran,
Syria-Palestine and Egypt to the end of the Early Bronze Age. The Neolithic and Urban
Revolutions as social and economic developments. (Offered in alternate years) NMC361Y1 From the Paleolithic to the Persian period, with primary emphasis on the Bronze and
Iron Ages. The historical development of Palestinian archaeology, current field methods
and interpretive strategies, and the relationship of archaeological discoveries to written
records, including the Hebrew Bible. (Offered in alternate years) NMC362H1 Architecture, formal arts, and decorative arts to the end of the Pharaonic period.
Cultural evolution rather than art history. (Offered in alternate years) NMC363H1 The archaeology, art and architecture of Iraq, North Syria and western Iran from ca.
3000 B.C.E. to the Persian period. The civilizations of Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia and
Assyria, as well as their relationship to those of the surrounding areas. (Offered in
alternate years) NMC364H1 A survey of methods of classification and analysis (form, fabric and style) involved in
the study of archaeological ceramics, and the use of ceramics to infer patterns of
production, distribution, and social organization; linking research questions with
appropriate analytical techniques. NMC365Y1 A survey of archaeological investigation of sites in the Middle East from the 7th to the 19th centuries. (Offered every three years) NMC366Y1 Architectural studies, historical sources and archaeological research are used to examine the physical and social morphology of the pre-industrial Islamic city from Central Asia to North Africa and Spain, from the 7th to the 17th centuries. (Offered every three years) NMC367H1 An introduction to the basic corpus of Near Eastern ceramics, from the invention of
pottery production in the Neolithic until the Persian period, utilizing existing
collections at the University and in the Royal Ontario Museum. NMC370Y1 The political and cultural history of ancient Israel from the origin of the Hebrews to
the exile and restoration in the Persian period. (Offered in alternate years) NMC371Y1 The political and cultural history of Egypt from the close of the predynastic period to
its conquest by Alexander the Great; the use of both archaeological and literary evidence.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC372Y1 The political and cultural history of the peoples of ancient South-Western Asia
(Sumerians, Babylonians, Hittites and Persians). (Offered in alternate years) NMC373Y1 A survey of the social, cultural, and political transformations of Turkey and Iran in
the context of Eurasian and international relations. (Offered in alternate years) NMC374Y1 A survey of the history of Egypt under Islamic rule from the Arab to the Ottoman
conquest (1517 C.E.), including the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasties. Issues treated
thematically include conversion and inter-communal relations, relations with Syria,
militarization of the political structure, including the military slave (mamluk)
institution, religious currents, the impact of the Crusades and Mongol invasions,
commercial and diplomatic relations, the emergence of Cairo as the centre of the later
mediaeval western Islamic world. (Offered in alternate years) NMC375Y1 The transformation of ancient Persian civilization by the Islamic conquests, the “New Persian” renaissance of the 10th century and Turkish ascendancy. The Mongol invasions and successor states. Nomads and the empires of Tamerlane and the Safavids. The start of western influence in the 18th century. (Offered in alternate years) NMC376H1 Muslim conquest of North Africa and Spain, history of Spain under Muslim rule to 1492.
Attention given to institutional and cultural development, Islamic Spain's relations with
the Islamic east and neighbours in Europe. (Offered in alternate years) NMC377Y1 History of the emergence of the Ottoman state and its evolution from a border principality in Asia Minor into an empire. Ottoman expansion into Europe, Asia and Africa. The empire at its height under Süleyman the Lawgiver. The development of important administrative and military institutions. First military and diplomatic setbacks. NMC378Y1 Political, social and economic history of the Arab lands of North Africa and the Middle
East from 1700 to the present. Arabs under Ottoman rule, western colonial rule, emergence
of independent states, current problems and prospects. NMC379H1 An introduction to mathematics, astronomy, alchemy and the medical sciences, as they were known, developed, and applied in practical ways in the mediaeval Islamic world. NMC380H1 Religious belief and practice in Mesopotamia and Syria (Ugarit). (Offered in alternate
years) NMC382Y1 Religious belief and practice in Egypt. (Offered in alternate years) NMC384Y1 Jewish attitudes to various personal status issues, such as the foetus, the minor, the pubescent child, and the mentally and physically challenged adult from biblical and rabbinic sources to modern Jewish positions. (Offered in alternate years) NMC391H1 The architecture of the Islamic Mediterranean arose out of a dialogue between its
classical origins, its Christian neighbours and its allegiance to the Islamic world.
Developments (e.g., ribbed dome, arabesque and palace) in Spain, Sicily, North Africa,
Egypt, Syria and Turkey. (Offered every three years) NMC392H1 Monumental architecture, whether for secular or religious purposes, played a special
role in Muslim societies, particularly in major centres such as Isfahan, Samarkand and
Delhi. Beginning with the Taj Mahal (1632) the best-known elements of Islamic architecture
the double dome, the pointed arch, glazed tiles are traced retroactively in Iran, Central
Asia, and India, and their social context is studied. (Offered every three years) NMC393H1 (formerly NMC390Y) 26L NMC394H1 (formerly NMC390Y) 26L NMC396Y1 An overview of late antique Greek, Arab and Persian material culture, as seen through the archaeological record of Syria, Iraq, and Iran. (Offered every three years) NMC398H0/399Y0 An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. See page 42 for details. NMC405Y1 (Offered in alternate years) NMC410Y1 After a short introduction to the history of the Arabic language within the framework
of Semitic languages, connected passages of Arabic texts drawn from both classical and
modern times are studied detail. NMC412Y1 Systematic outline of the development, characteristics, and peculiarities of selected
genres of classical Arabic literature such as historiography, belles-lettres (adab),
philosophy, ethics — Qur’an, exegesis, Literature of Tradition — poetry.
Complementary readings, analysis and translation of original text passages are given
emphasis. NMC413H1 Insights into the history of ideas in Islam. Original texts by Jurjani (d. 1078,
literary criticism), Ghazali (d. 1111, philosophy), Ibn Rushd (d. 1196, law), Shahrastani
(d. 1153, heresiography), Ibn Taymiyah (d. 1328, dogmatics), and Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406,
social history). (Offered in alternate years) NMC415Y1 An intensive study of various Targumim to the Pentateuch: Onkelos, Pseudo-Jonathan,
Neophyti, Samaritan and Fragment Targumim. Differences among them in vocabulary, syntax
and verb usage are discussed, as well as their relationship to the Palestinian midrashim.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC416Y1 The Talmud of the Land of Israel, also called Talmud Yerushalmi or Palestinian Talmud,
is written in a mixture of Jewish Western Aramaic and Mishnaic Hebrew. It is the principal
document of the Land of Israel in Late Antiquity. The course examines the legal
argumentation, terminology and language which differ from those of the Babylonian Talmud.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC418Y1 (Offered in alternate years) NMC420Y1 Middle Egyptian texts. NMC430Y1 Readings from the prophetic literature. (Offered in alternate years) NMC431Y1 (Offered in alternate years) NMC432Y1 This course familiarizes students with the methodology and terminology of the two
midrashic systems: Devei R. Akiba and Devei R. Ishmael. Sections of all the midrashic
halakha (Mekhiltot, Sifra and Sifre) are studied and compared to other Tannaitic
materials. (Conducted in Hebrew) (Offered in alternate years) NMC433Y1 Traditional Jewish concepts as discussed in rabbinic and mediaeval literature of
various literary genres. (Offered in alternate years) NMC435Y1 Selected topics from mediaeval Hebrew texts drawn from exegetical/philosophical/
mystical/polemic/belletristic/historical literature. (Offered in alternate years) NMC436H1 A study of the poetic works of a major modern Hebrew poet. (Conducted in Hebrew)
(Offered in alternate years) NMC437H1 A study of an important modern writer of Hebrew fiction. (Conducted in Hebrew) (Offered
in alternate years) NMC441Y1 Introduction to classical Persian poetry, including the Persian national epic and the
mystical tradition, and survey of the development of classical Persian prose, based on
readings from selected authors. (Offered in alternate years) NMC445Y1 Literary texts and composition in modern Turkish. Introduction to Ottoman Turkish.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC455Y1 Examines literature by women from the various cultures of the Middle East. Readings are selected to illustrate the theme of the search for public and personal direction through writing. Course materials are in English translation and include autobiographical as well as literary sources. NMC461Y1 Prerequisite: 1.5 courses from NMC360H/361Y/362H/363H/364H/367H; two courses from NMC370Y/371Y/372Y/470Y NMC462H1 The use of polarized-light microscopy in the examination of ceramics, stone, other
materials, and microstratigraphy. Lectures in elementary optical mineralogy and
case-studies are followed by lab sessions in which typical thin-sections of rocks,
pottery, soils and other materials are studied. (Offered in alternate years) NMC463H1 A research project in archaeological ceramic petrology involving a preliminary
paste-characterization of an assemblage of ceramics using a 10X to 40X microscope. Between
20 and 50 thin-sections are analyzed using the polarizing microscope, and written up to
publication standards. (Offered in alternate years) NMC464H1 An intense view of the basic corpus of pottery from the Middle East, ca. 700-1800 C.E.
The identification of technology, form, and style of the main ceramic groups, enabling
identification, dating and attribution of original provenance. (Offered in alternate
years) NMC470Y1 Survey of Achaemenid Persia; effects of Alexander the Great and Greek culture on the
Near East. In consultation with the co-ordinator, students choose their own research topic
and submit, following a directed reading program, a research paper. (Offered in alternate
years) NMC476Y1 Selected readings in the sources and in modern scholarship, focusing on problems in the
interpretation of terms such as aslama, umma, mu’min, etc., and issues such as the
treatment of the Jahiliyya in Muslim sources, the nature of Meccan trade and its
connection with the rise of Islam, etc. Open to advanced undergraduates who have a solid
background in early and mediaeval Islamic history and an overall average of B+ or higher.
(Offered in alternate years) NMC477Y1 This course examines the formation of nations and nation-states, national and ethnic conflicts, self-determination, conflict resolution, and national and ethnic minority rights. NMC478Y1 An issue-oriented seminar organized around readings pertaining to the modern Middle
East and North Africa, ca. 1800-present. (Offered in alternate years) NMC479Y1 A seminar organized around readings in selected topics. The topics are related to the
instructor's research interests. (Offered in alternate years) NMC483Y NMC484Y1 Abortion, rape, family violence and similar topics from the perspective of historical
and legal development, scientific theory, socio-ethical attitudes and anthropological
comparison in the Bible and other ancient Near Eastern sources, through Jewish legal texts
to modern responses. (Offered in alternate years) NMC486Y1 The development of mediaeval Islamic theology (kalam) and philosophy (falsafa). The
metaphysics of such philosophers as Kindi, Alfarabi and Avicenna, Ghazali's occasionalist
critique of the concept of casual necessity, Averroes' Aristotelian defence of philosophy.
The relationship of metaphysics to political theory in the writings of Alfarabi and his
successors. NMC487Y1 Mysticism and spirituality in Islam, the Qur'an, doctrine, prayer, Sufism, Irfan (Shi'i
mysticism). Themes include: love, knowledge, authority, being, interpretation. NMC495Y1 A scholarly project chosen by the student, approved by the Department and supervised by
one of the instructors. See Department Handbook for further information. NMC496H1 Prerequisite: Permission of Department NMC497H1 Prerequisite: Permission of Department NMC499Y1 A course of study tailored to the individual needs or interests of advanced
undergraduate students. A selection of readings chosen by the student, under the
supervision of a faculty member on which the student may be examined serves as background
preparation for the writing of a research paper. |
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