Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization provides students with conceptual
skills that will assist them in interpreting the revolutionary course of
events taking place in what was the core region of Islamic Civilization. At
the regional level the geographical focus of the field includes Southwest
Asia (roughly South Asia to Egypt), the Eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia
and the Caucasus. At the global level of analysis its courses are
particularly concerned with how the history, culture, politics and economics
of the states and societies of this portion of Eurasia condition the human
response to an accelerating impact of global change. Lectures, reading
assignments and other course requirements are specifically designed to fit
the curriculum of The Fletcher School and will develop students’ interest in
Southwest and Central Asia into a firm understanding of the complexity of
the region.
The Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization field of study requires the completion of a minimum of three courses.