History 204: Syria: From Ruin(ation) to Restoration

This course surveys the formation of modern Syria from the Ottoman period, the French mandate, national independence, to civil war. Students will learn about the country’s ethnic and religious diversity and how sectarianism and imperialism assisted the rise of military dictatorships culminating in a half-century of Asad rule. Special attention will be given to Syria's major cities (Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus) and how siege warfare, indiscriminate killing of civilians, and urbicide—deliberate violence against the city—characterized the last decade of fighting. From autonomous Kurdish Rojava to the rise of the Islamic State and experiments with democracy in Idlib province, students will analyze the origins and outcomes of the Syrian war. The course finishes with the restoration of the regime and the struggle to rebuild post-war Syria. Course materials are a mix of historical texts, media and human rights reports, and documentary films. Assignments include presentations, short papers, and a final paper. May be taken for credit toward the South Asian and Middle Eastern studies major or the Indigeneity, Race, and Ethnicity Studies major or minor. Formerly History 302-may not be taken if previously completed 302.