HIST 271 - Profit and Prophecy in Islamic History

FDR: HU
Planned Offering: Winter 2018 and alternate years.
Credits: 3

The Islamic financial sector is currently valued at over $1.6 trillion in assets. But what has been the historical relationship between Islam and economies of wealth? This discussion-intensive course engages the ideals and realities of Islamic commerce from the 7th century, in which Muhammad was reported to have been a merchant, to issues of Islam and capitalism in the modern and globalized world. Through social and intellectual historical inquiry, students investigate a range of themes including: poverty and charity, economic justice and the regulation of merchant capitalism, gender and inheritance, jihad and taxation of non-Muslims, and mystical traditions that reject worldly gain. Students learn to take a source-critical approach to primary Islamic writings in translation, including prophetic literature and legal commentaries, while being sensitive to issues in historiography. Prior knowledge of Islam or Islamic history is not required. Blecher.