Near Eastern Studies

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu/.

Overview

Instruction in the Department of Near Eastern Studies (NES) is concerned with the languages, literatures, and civilizations of the ancient, medieval, and modern Near East. The department offers specialized training in archaeology, art history, Assyriology, Egyptology, Iranian studies, Judaic and Islamic studies, comparative Semitics, Turkish, Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian. For students in other disciplines, the department provides a wide variety of courses to supplement such related fields as anthropology, linguistics, art history, history, political science, comparative literature, and folklore. Lecture courses offered by the department present a comprehensive body of information on past and present Near Eastern civilizations. Many of the courses taught in the department are restricted to a small number of students and thus afford an opportunity for close interaction with the instructing staff.

Cooperative arrangements between the University and the nearby Graduate Theological Union enable students in the department to use the extensive library holdings of the Union and supplement their programs with selected courses in Palestinian archaeology, Biblical studies, and Semitic epigraphy and philology.

Libraries

The Near Eastern Studies libraries are essential parts of the Department of Near Eastern Studies. The Libraries can be indispensable for research to both graduate and undergraduate students in the Department. The libraries house most of the reference materials on various disciplines within NES as well as some rare books (donated by scholars—past and present— affiliated with NES). The Libraries usually carry books put on reserve by NES faculty each semester, and can also be used as an excellent reading room for students and faculty. Library books are related to the following disciplines: Islamic Studies (Arabic, Turkish, and Persian, including the Mahjoub Persian Library) and Hebrew and Semitic Studies.

The Hebrew/Semitics Library and the Islamic Studies Library both contain basic reference materials, including dictionaries and encyclopedias, and some of the most important texts in their fields. Access is generally limited to graduate students in the department. Both libraries are non-circulating.

The Baer-Keller Library of Egyptology is a non-circulating collection of approximately 9,000 volumes maintained by the Near Eastern Studies Department primarily for the use of UC Berkeley students and faculty pursuing serious study of Ancient Egyptian culture, Coptology and Papyrology. Egyptology students and professionals from other institutions are also welcome. Interested individuals should apply to the Near Eastern Studies Department. The core of the library collection comes from bequests to the Department of Near Eastern Studies by Professors Klaus Baer (1987) and Cathleen (Candy) Keller (2008). Professor Baer was an Associate Professor of Egyptology and History at UC Berkeley before becoming a Professor of Egyptology at the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago. Professor Keller was an Associate Professor of Egyptology at UC Berkeley for many years.

Undergraduate Programs

Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Art and Archaeology : BA
Near Eastern Civilizations : BA
Near Eastern Languages and Literatures : BA (with emphases in Arabic, Hebrew, or Persian)
Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Civilizations : Minor
Arabic : Minor
Hebrew : Minor
Persian : Minor
Turkish : Minor

Graduate Programs

Near Eastern Studies : MA, PhD (with concentrations in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian Languages and Literatures, Near Eastern Archaeology, Art History, Cuneiform, Hebrew Bible, Biblical and Judaic Studies, Old Iranian Studies, Egyptology, and Islamic Studies)

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Courses

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Arabic

ARABIC 1A Elementary Arabic 5 Units

This course emphasizes the functional usage of Arabic in the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Authentic audio, video, and reading materials are presented from the beginning, and students are encouraged to be creative with the language in and out of class.

ARABIC 1B Elementary Arabic 5 Units

This course emphasizes the functional usage of Arabic in the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Authentic audio, video, and reading materials are presented from the beginning, and students are encouraged to be creative with the language in and out of class.

ARABIC 11 Arabic for Reading Knowledge 4 Units

The course is designed to guide students through Arabic grammar with a systematic treatment of the subject and the use of classical Arabic texts.

ARABIC 15 Spoken Arabic 6 Units

Practice in speaking an Arabic dialect.

ARABIC 15B Spoken Arabic 3 Units

Practice in speaking an Arabic dialect.

ARABIC 20A Intermediate Arabic 5 Units

This course is proficiency oriented. Authentic reading in modern standard and classical Arabic and the understanding and application of grammatical and stylistic rules are emphasized. Students deliver oral presentations and write academic papers in Arabic.

ARABIC 20B Intermediate Arabic 5 Units

This course is proficiency oriented. Authentic reading in modern standard and classical Arabic and the understanding and application of grammatical and stylistic rules are emphasized. Students deliver oral presentations and write academic papers in Arabic.

ARABIC 30 Intermediate Arabic 10 Units

This course is equivalent to a full year of intermediate level Arabic. It will deepen skills in speaking, comprehending, reading, and writing Modern Standard Arabic.

ARABIC 50 Advanced Arabic 10 Units

This course will include grammatical and stylistic anlaysis of Arabic texts from both the classical and the modern periods. Class will be conducted entirely in Arabic.

ARABIC 100A Advanced Arabic 3 Units

Intensive reading and analysis of texts of different genres. Guest lectures, films, documentaries, oral presentations, research papers. Formal and informal styles of writing and correspondence. Extensive vocabulary building.

ARABIC 100B Advanced Arabic 3 Units

Intensive reading and analysis of texts of different genres. Guest lectures, films, documentaries, oral presentations, research papers. Formal and informal styles of writing and correspondence. Extensive vocabulary building.

ARABIC 104A Modern Arabic Prose 3 Units

This course is designed for students who wish to concentrate on contemporary prose. Reading and analysis of modern Arabic fiction, including short stories, drama, the novel, and expository prose.

ARABIC 104B Classical Arabic Prose 3 Units

This course is designed for students who wish to concentrate on Arabic of the classical periods of Arab and Islamic civilization. Reading and analysis of literary texts of various genres, including essays, biography, and travel literature.

ARABIC 105A Modern Arabic Poetry 3 Units

Readings and analysis of 20th-century Arabic poetry.

ARABIC 105B Classical Arabic Poetry 3 Units

Readings and analysis of poetry from the pre-Islamic through the classical periods.

ARABIC 107 Arabic Historical and Geographical Texts 3 Units

Readings from the classical historians and geographers and from contemporary scholarship. Development of historiography.

ARABIC 108 Islamic Religious and Philosophical Texts in Arabic 3 Units

Readings in the basic texts of Islam (Qur'an, Huran, Hadith, Sira, commentary) and in theological, mystical, and philosophical texts.

ARABIC 111A Survey of Arabic Literature (in Arabic) 3 Units

This course is designed primarily for majors and prospective majors in Arabic studies. The Classical Periods: A literary-historical survey of Arabic literature from pre-Islamic times to the middle of the thirteenth century, with emphasis on the more important achievements of major Arab authors.

ARABIC 111B Survey of Arabic Literature (in Arabic) 3 Units

This course is designed primarily for majors and prospective majors in Arabic studies. The Post-Abbasid and Modern Periods: A literary-historical survey of Arabic literature from the middle of the thirteenth century to the present.

ARABIC H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

ARABIC 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

ARABIC 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment restrictions apply; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.

Cuneiform

CUNEIF 100A Elementary Akkadian 5 Units

Introduction to cuneiform script and grammar, reading of selected cuneiform texts. Sequence begins in fall.

CUNEIF 100B Elementary Akkadian 5 Units

Introduction to cuneiform script and grammar, reading of selected cuneiform texts. Sequence begins in fall.

CUNEIF 101A Selected Readings in Akkadian 4 Units

In each semester of this course, the student who has completed the first year of the study of Akkadian will read a variety of texts in the cuneiform script either of the Old Babylonian or the Neo-Assyrian periods. In any semester, the texts to be read may be drawn from a variety of text genres: legal, mythological, historical, prayer, etc., but each semester will focus on only one genre.

CUNEIF 101B Selected Readings in Akkadian 4 Units

In each semester of this course, the student who has completed the first year of the study of Akkadian will read a variety of texts in the cuneiform script either of the Old Babylonian or the Neo-Assyrian periods. In any semester, the texts to be read may be drawn from a variety of text genres: legal, mythological, historical, prayer, etc., but each semester will focus on only one genre.

CUNEIF 102A Elementary Sumerian 4 Units

Introduction to Sumerian grammar and writing.

CUNEIF 102B Elementary Sumerian 4 Units

Introduction to Sumerian grammar and writing.

CUNEIF 103A Selected Readings in Sumerian 3 Units

Reading of texts selected for clarity of script, simplicity of vocabulary, and historical and cultural significance.

CUNEIF 103B Selected Readings in Sumerian 3 Units

Reading of texts selected for clarity of script, simplicity of vocabulary, and historical and cultural significance.

CUNEIF 106A Elementary Hittite 4 Units

Introduction to Cuneiform Hittite language and grammar with reading of selected historical and religious texts.

CUNEIF 106B Elementary Hittite 4 Units

Introduction to Cuneiform Hittite language and grammar with reading of selected historical and religious texts.

CUNEIF H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

CUNEIF 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

CUNEIF 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment is restricted by regulations shown in the .

Egyptian

EGYPT 100A Elementary Egyptian 5 Units

Introduction to Middle Egyptian grammar and texts.

EGYPT 100B Elementary Egyptian 5 Units

Introduction to Middle Egyptian grammar and texts.

EGYPT 101A Intermediate Egyptian 3 Units

Readings in Middle Egyptian hieroglyphic and hieratic texts.

EGYPT 101B Intermediate Egyptian 3 Units

Readings in Middle Egyptian hieroglyphic and hieratic texts.

EGYPT 102A Elementary Coptic 4 Units

Introduction to Sahidic dialect.

EGYPT 102B Elementary Coptic 4 Units

Readings in Sahidic, other dialects.

EGYPT H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

EGYPT 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

EGYPT 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment is restricted by regulations shown in the .

Hebrew

HEBREW 1A Elementary Hebrew 5 Units

HEBREW 1B Elementary Hebrew 5 Units

HEBREW 10 Intensive Elementary Hebrew 10 Units

An intensive course in modern Israeli Hebrew. The course covers the basic syntactic and morphological patterns of modern Hebrew through the teaching and practice of communicative and interactive language skills in the four areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course is equivalent to two semesters of Hebrew in the regular academic year.

HEBREW 20A Intermediate Hebrew 5 Units

HEBREW 20B Intermediate Hebrew 5 Units

HEBREW 30 Intermediate Hebrew 10 Units

This course is equivalent to a full year of intermediate Hebrew. It will deepen skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing modern Israeli Hebrew.

HEBREW 100A Advanced Hebrew 3 Units

Advanced Hebrew, especially designed for those going on to the study of modern Hebrew literature. Vocabulary building, grammar review, and literary analysis of a sampling of modern texts.

HEBREW 100B Advanced Hebrew 3 Units

Advanced Hebrew, especially designed for those going on to the study of modern Hebrew literature. Vocabulary building, grammar review, and literary analysis of a sampling of modern texts.

HEBREW 102A Postbiblical Hebrew Texts 3 Units

Texts from the rabbinic period (Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud, and Midrash) and an introduction to the languages of rabbinic texts.

HEBREW 102B Postbiblical Hebrew Texts 3 Units

Texts from the rabbinic period (Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud, and Midrash) and an introduction to the languages of rabbinic texts.

HEBREW 103A Later Rabbinic and Medieval Hebrew Texts 3 Units

Study of midrashic, exegetical, halakhic (legal), poetic, apocalyptic, messianic, or historical texts.

HEBREW 103B Later Rabbinic and Medieval Hebrew Texts 3 Units

Study of midrashic, exegetical, halakhic (legal), poetic, apocalyptic, messianic, or historical texts.

HEBREW 104A Modern Hebrew Literature and Culture 3 Units

A close reading of selected works of modern Hebrew fiction, poetry, and drama in their cultural and historical contexts. Topics vary from year to year and include literature and politics, eros and gender, memory and nationalism, Middle-Eastern and European aspects of Israeli literature and culture.

HEBREW 104B Modern Hebrew Literature and Culture 3 Units

A close reading of selected works of modern Hebrew fiction, poetry, and drama in their cultural and historical contexts. Topics vary from year to year and include literature and politics, eros and gender, memory and nationalism, Middle-Eastern and European aspects of Israeli literature and culture.

HEBREW 105A The Structure of Modern Hebrew 3 Units

An analysis of Hebrew grammar, syntax, semantics, morphology, history of the language, fixed expressions, discourse analysis, contrastive features of Hebrew and English in the context of contemporary linguistic theories.

HEBREW 105B The Structure of Modern Hebrew 3 Units

An analysis of Hebrew grammar, syntax, semantics, morphology, history of the language, fixed expressions, discourse analysis, contrastive features of Hebrew and English in the context of contemporary linguistic theories.

HEBREW 106A Elementary Biblical Hebrew 3 Units

An introduction to the language of the Hebrew Bible.

HEBREW 106B Elementary Biblical Hebrew 3 Units

An introduction to the language of the Hebrew Bible.

HEBREW N106 Elementary Biblical Hebrew 6 Units

An introduction to the language of the Hebrew bible.

HEBREW 107A Biblical Hebrew Texts 3 Units

The tools and procedure of biblical exegesis applied to simple narrative texts.

HEBREW 107B Biblical Hebrew Texts 3 Units

The tools and procedure of biblical exegesis applied to simple narrative texts.

HEBREW 111 Intermediate Biblical Texts 3 Units

A systematic study of the Prophets beginning with Isaiah.

HEBREW 148A The Art and Culture of the Talmud: Advanced Textual Analysis 3 Units

In this course, we will read and analyze closely talmudic texts in the original languages--Hebrew and Aramaic--together with selected medieval commentaries. The primary focus of the course will be on the acquisition of facility in reading the Talmud, comprehension of philological and historical-cultural issues and methods of study, as well as understanding the formative relation of the Talmud to the structures and practices of traditional Jewish cultures.

HEBREW 148B The Art and Culture of the Talmud: Advanced Textual Analysis 3 Units

In this course, we will read and analyze closely talmudic texts in the original languages--Hebrew and Aramaic--together with selected medieval commentaries. The primary focus of the course will be on the acquisition of facility in reading the Talmud, comprehension of philological and historical-cultural issues and methods of study, as well as understanding the formative relation of the Talmud to the structures and practices of traditional Jewish cultures.

HEBREW 190B Special Topics in Hebrew 3 Units

Topics explore special themes and problems in Hebrew language and literature. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings are available through the department.

HEBREW H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

HEBREW 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

HEBREW 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment is restricted by regulations shown in the .

Iranian

IRANIAN 110A Middle Persian 3 Units

Manichaean Middle Persian texts, with an introduction to Pahlavi.

IRANIAN 110B Middle Persian 3 Units

Manichaean Middle Persian texts, with an introduction to Pahlavi.

IRANIAN 111A Old Iranian 3 Units

Texts from the Venidad and the Yashts; Achaemenid inscriptions.

IRANIAN 111B Old Iranian 3 Units

Texts from the Venidad and the Yashts; Achaemenid inscriptions.

Near Eastern Studies

NE STUD R1A Reading and Composition in Near Eastern Studies 4 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected texts or literatures in translation or writings interpreting the material culture of the ancient Near or modern Middle East. Specific topics vary with instructor. R1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R1B satisfies the second half.

NE STUD R1B Reading and Composition in Near Eastern Studies 4 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected texts or literatures in translation or writings interpreting the material culture of the ancient Near or modern Middle East. Specific topics vary with instructor. R1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R1B satisfies the second half.

NE STUD 10 Introduction to the Near East 4 Units

The background and present status of the ethnic and religious groups in the Arab states, Turkey, Israel, and Iran.

NE STUD 15 Introduction to Near Eastern Art and Archaeology 4 Units

The ancient Near East (present-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and Turkey) is considered the cradle of civilization. Here in Mesopotamia and its neighboring regions, the first cities arose, writing was invented, armies forged the earliest empires, and complex religious beliefs were expressed in art and architecture. This course surveys the major archaeological sites and monuments from the earliest settlements to the conquest of the Near East by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE.

NE STUD N16 Introduction to Islamic Art 4 Units

The art and architecture of the Islamic lands from the seventh to the seventeenth centuries.

NE STUD 18 Introduction to Ancient Egypt 4 Units

A general introduction to ancient Egypt, providing overview coverage of ancient Egyptian culture and society (history, art, religion, literature, language, social structure), Egyptian archaeology (pyramids, tombs, mummies, temples, cities, monuments, daily life), and the history and development of the modern discipline of Egyptology. Assumes no prior knowledge of subject. Almost all lectures are illustrated extensively by slides. Discussion sections are held in the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology, which has the best collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts west of Chicago.

NE STUD 24 Freshman Seminars 1 Unit

The Berkeley Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester.

NE STUD 25 Ancient Babylonian Legends and Myths 3 Units

Lectures on and readings of the Gilgamesh Epic, Creation and Flood Myths and other Mesopotamian literary texts in translation.

NE STUD C26 Introduction to Central Asia 3 Units

This course will introduce the student not only to ancient and modern Central Asia, but also to the role played by the region in the shaping of the history of neighboring regions and regimes. The course will outline the history, languages, ethnicities, religions, and archaeology of the region and will acquaint the student with the historical foundations of some of the political, social and economic challenges for contemporary post-Soviet Central Asian republics.

NE STUD 34 Hebrew Bible in Translation 3 Units

Readings from the Hebrew Bible in English translation.

NE STUD C92 Imagining Arab Civilization 4 Units

This course examines major aspects of Arab culture through literature, art, film, and other media. Questions of religious, political, and philosophical nature co-exist in Arab culture with literary conventions and aesthetic norms. The course explores the dynamic interaction among these abiding concerns of Arab culture from pre-Islamic times to the present.

NE STUD 98 Directed Group Study for Lower Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Topics vary.

NE STUD 99 Supervised Independent Study 1 - 4 Units

Topics vary.

NE STUD 101 Women and Gender in Ancient Egypt 4 Units

Women have been ignored or marginalized in much of past scholarship on ancient Egypt despite their highly visible presence in and importance to ancient Egyptian society. This course examines the roles of women and gender in ancient Egyptian society and belief systems. It reviews sources of evidence and interpretive frameworks for understanding the public and private roles of women and the definition of gender in ancient Egypt. It also places the women of ancient Egypt and ancient Egyptian gender constructions into comparative contexts with other ancient eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern societies.

NE STUD 102A Archaeology of Ancient Egypt 4 Units

NE STUD 102B Archaeology of Ancient Egypt 4 Units

NE STUD 103 Religion of Ancient Egypt 3 Units

A survey of the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, based primarily upon the written sources.

NE STUD C103 Religion of Ancient Egypt 3 Units

A survey of the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, based primarily upon the written sources.

NE STUD C104 Babylonian Religion 3 Units

A survey of Babylonian religious beliefs and practices based on indigenous texts and monuments.

NE STUD 105A Ancient Mesopotamian Documents and Literature 3 Units

A representative survey of original 3rd-1st millennium Cuneiform texts in translation. The Sumerian religious and scholastic tradition; myths of creation, hymns, epics and early historical material.

NE STUD 106A Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt 4 Units

Stylistic and iconographic study of Egyptian art and architecture from Predynastic times through the end of the pharaonic period. Discussion sections will focus on Egyptian material in the Hearst Museum collection. Will cover the period from Predynastic times until the end of the First Intermediate Period (ca. 5000-2000 BC).

NE STUD 106B Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt 4 Units

Stylistic and iconographic study of Egyptian art and architecture from Predynastic times through the end of the pharaonic period. Discussion sections will focus on Egyptian material in the Hearst Museum collection. Will consider the period from the end of the First Intermediate Period through the Graeco-Roman Period (ca. 2000 BC - 1st century AD).

NE STUD 108 Topics in the Ancient Mediterranean World 2 - 4 Units

Varying topics in the cultural connections of the ancient Mediterranean world from the fourth millennium B.C.E. to late antiquity. Typical themes/topics might include: ideologies of gender and sexuality; comparative religions or literatures; archaeological and/or historical interconnections.

NE STUD 109 Mesopotamian History 3 Units

Ancient Mesopotamian political, cultural, and economic history from the invention of script to the Persian conquest of Babylon will be presented in survey, and one topic will be selected for in-depth study.

NE STUD 110 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt in the First Millennium B.C 3 Units

The course surveys the art and/or archaeology of ancient Egypt in the first millennium B.C. It covers ancient Egyptian material culture of the Third Intermediate, Late, Ptolemaic, and Early Roman periods.

NE STUD 112 Survey of Ancient Egyptian History 4 Units

A concise survey of Ancient Egyptian history from Late Predynastic times to the conquest of Alexander the Great.

NE STUD 113 Gilgamesh: King, Hero, and God 4 Units

The most famous of Babylonian heroes is Gilgamesh, King of Uruk. The Gilgamesh Epic, recorded on twelve tablets in cuneiform, follows him in his quest for fame and eternal life. In this course, we will read the Gilgamesh Epic as well as several earlier texts around the same character. Moreover, we will read additional ancient texts that elucidate one or another aspect of the Epic. We will follow the traditions around Gilgamesh and see how his fame was used for literary, religious, and political purposes. Finally, we will look at some of the modern Gilgamesh interpretations.

NE STUD C119 Disciplining Near Eastern Archaeology: Explorers, Archaeologists, and Tourists in the Contemporary Middle East 3 Units

This course examines the roles that Near Eastern archaeology plays within the context of recent Middle Eastern history and society, from 1800 to the present day. Topics include the discipline's entanglement with imperialism, nationalism, science, tourism, the antiquities trade, media, and war. Students will examine and discuss ethnographies, technical reports, memoirs, films, and images.

NE STUD C120A The Art of Ancient Mesopotamia: 3500-1000 BCE 4 Units

The art and architecture of early Mesopotamia will be explored in terms of the social, political, and cultural context of ancient Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria during the period of urbanization and early kingdoms. The course provides an integrated picture of the arts of Mesopotamia and neighboring regions from 3500-1000 BCE with an emphasis on the development of visual narrative, the use of art in the expression of authority and legitimacy, and artistic interconnections between cultures. Collections on campus or in the area will be incorporated whenever possible.

NE STUD C120B The Art of Ancient Mesopotamia: 1000-330 BCE 4 Units

The royal art and architecture of later Mesopotamia will be explored in terms of the social, political, and cultural context of the great empires of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. The course provides an integrated picture of the arts of Mesopotamia and neighboring regions from 1000-330 BCE with an emphasis on the development of visual narrative, the use of art in the expression of authority and legitimacy, and artistic interconnections between cultures. Collections on campus or in the area will be incorporated whenever possible.

NE STUD C121A Topics in Islamic Art 4 Units

The course will treat in depth topics in Islamic architecture and topics in Islamic art. Subjects addressed may include painting, calligraphy, and book production.

NE STUD C121B Topics in Islamic Art 4 Units

The course will treat in depth topics in Islamic architecture and topics in Islamic art. Subjects addressed may include painting, calligraphy, and book production.

NE STUD 122 Iranian Archaeology 4 Units

A survey of the archaeology of Iran and its neighbors from the Paleolithic Era to the Sasanian period. Students will analyze architecture, artifacts, and written sources, discuss debates, and learn archaeological methods.

NE STUD 123 Mesopotamian Archaeology 4 Units

A survey of Mesopotamian archaeology from the Paleolithic Era to 300 BCE investigating the origins of agriculture, urbanism, states, and empires in ancient Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Students will analyze architecture, artifacts, and written sources, discuss current debates, and learn archaeological research methods.

NE STUD 124 Levantine Archaeology 4 Units

A survey of Levantine archaeology from the Paleolithic Era to 300 BCE investigating the origins of agriculture, technologies, villages, and states in ancient Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. Prehistoric, Canaanite, and Israelite societies are emphasized. Students will analyze architecture, artifacts, and written sources, discuss debates, and learn archaeological methods.

NE STUD 126 Silk Road Art and Archaeology 3 Units

The course will outline art and archaeology of the Silk Roads from the 5th century BCE to the 10th century CE. A number of specific sites located along the Silk Roads will be selected and explored in depth, as examples which reveal the manifold cultural currents along the trade routes. Special attention will be paid to the eclecticism in Silk Road cultures brought about by the movement of peoples and merchandise which facilitated the spread and fusion along these trading routes of various ideas, cultural forms, art styles, and religious concepts. The social and political underpinnings of this eclecticism will be examined.

NE STUD 127 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Syria 4 Units

The course provides a broad introduction to the cultures of ancient Syria from the Neolithic period to 500 BCE. The diversity of cultures and their development over time will be assessed in light of the built environment and artistic production. Emphasis is placed on interpreting the material culture of the region within its social and political contexts.

NE STUD 128 The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Turkey 4 Units

This course explores the art and archaeology of ancient Turkey from the Neolithic period to the time of Alexander's conquest of the Near East (330 BCE). The survey will include geographic and historical considerations and will focus in particular on the ancient sites and monuments. Topics of discussion may include the Anatolian mother goddess, resource procurement, trade contacts, the Trojan war, and the rise of Phrygia and Lydia. A general theme throughout the course is the issue of defining indigenous, regional cultures and the ways in which they interacted with the broader ancient world.

NE STUD 129 Arts of Iran and Central Asia 4 Units

This course focuses on the arts of the Iranian cultural environment from the mid-first Millennium BCE through the first Millennium CE. Geographically, it covers a region stretching east from modern Iran to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and north towards the Central Asian steppes, the ancestral home of important ancient Iranian pastoral nomadic tribes. The course will, among others, explore the art and archaeology of the Achaemenids, Parthians, Sasanians, and Sogdians to come to a better understanding of the social, political, and cultural underpinnings of the pre-Islamic Iranian world.

NE STUD C129 Minoan and Mycenaean Art 4 Units

This course analyzes the art, architecture, and archaeology of prehistoric Greece, concentrating on the Minoan and Mycenaean palatial arts of the Bronze Age (3000-1200 BCE). The evocative yet still enigmatic remains of palaces and funerary complexes, frescoes and vase paintings, and precious worked pieces will be closely examined in terms of their forms and cultural contexts. The place of prehistoric Greece in the international world of the eastern Mediterranean will also be explored.

NE STUD 130 Men, Women and Gods: Common Themes in Biblical and Ancient Mediterranean Texts 4 Units

The Hebrew Bible is deeply embedded in the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. In this course we will look at common biblical themes such as the creation of the world, the creation of men and women, the purpose of men and women in the world, as well as various stories relating to humankind, and see how these themes/stories are treated similarly and differently in various ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures by examining connections with the myths and literatures of ancient Mesopotamia and Greece, as well as Canaan. Biblical material will include the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Jephtah's daughter, and David and Jonathan.

NE STUD 130A History of Ancient Israel 3 Units

The patriarchal age through the Hellenistic period.

NE STUD 130B History of Ancient Israel 3 Units

The patriarchal age through the Hellenistic period.

NE STUD 131 Aspects of Biblical Religion 4 Units

The teachings of ancient Israel's priests, prophets and sages on various universal problems.

NE STUD 132 Biblical Poetry 4 Units

A survey of the poetics and genres of poetry in the Hebrew Bible, focusing on close reading of selected texts. Theoretical issues will include the dynamics of parallelism, metaphor, intertextuality, agency, and gender. Historical issues will include the ancient Near Eastern literary genres and the political and ritual dynamics of the biblical poems. Throughout the course, we will also be reading selected modern poems that respond to biblical poetry. Primary texts will be largely drawn from the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and the prophets. All texts will be read in translation.

NE STUD C133 Judaism in Late Antiquity 4 Units

This class will examine the emergence and development of classical Judaism, its piety, institutions, thought, and literature.

NE STUD C135 Jewish Civilization I: The Biblical Period 4 Units

This is the first course in a four-course sequence in the history of Jewish culture and civilization. It covers the biblical period and the period up to the destruction of the second temple. This course will explore the current state of our knowledge, including the legacy of ancient Near Eastern myth and religion, the history of Israelite religion, the literary features of biblical narrative, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

NE STUD 136 History and Historiography in the Hebrew Bible 3 Units

A critical examination of the form and content of history-like narratives of the Hebrew Bible in the light of concepts of history and historiographic practices in the ancient Near East and in contemporary historical studies. Selective focus on one or more books in Genesis through Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra-Nehemiah.

NE STUD 137 Modern and Contemporary Jewish Thought 4 Units

An analysis of modern Jewish movements and ideas. Topics include Spinoza, Hasidism, the Enlightenment, Jewish religious movements in America, Zionism, Buber, Rosensweig, Kaplan, Heschel.

NE STUD 138 The Hero in the Bible and the Ancient Near East 3 Units

An investigation of concepts of the hero/heroine in the literature of ancient Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Israel. The importance of heroic epic in defining and exploring morality, the self, and the cosmos will be a guiding concern. Texts include the epics of Gilgamesh and Aqhat, the Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament. All texts are read in translation.

NE STUD 139 Modern Jewish Literatures 4 Units

Trends and genres in modern Jewish literatures--translated from Hebrew and Yiddish, with selected texts translated from other Jewish languages like Ladino and Judeo-Arabic. Focus will be on developments in Jewish literary traditions since the enlightenment in the context of tensions between occidental and oriental formations of Jewish culture.

NE STUD 140 Topics in Islamic Thought and Institutions 3 Units

Selected topics from Islamic intellectual history.

NE STUD 141 Modern and Contemporary Islamic Thought 3 Units

A survey of leading Muslim thinkers and movements of the past two centuries.

NE STUD 142 Shi'ite Islam 3 Units

The beliefs, traditions, and practices of the Shi'ite school of Islam.

NE STUD 143A Islam in Iran 3 Units

A general survey of the religious history of Iran in the Islamic period, covering the rise and development of religious institutions, the elaboration of the religious sciences, Sufism, and sectarian movements.

NE STUD 143B Islam in Iran 3 Units

A general survey of the religious history of Iran in the Islamic period, covering the rise and development of religious institutions, the elaboration of the religious sciences, Sufism, and sectarian movements.

NE STUD 144 Sufism: The Mysticism of Islam 3 Units

A general presentation of Sufism that, while not aiming at exhaustiveness, will seek to acquaint students with the place and function of Sufism in Islam; the main outlines of its history; doctrinal and ritual features; the relationship between Sufism and literature, especially poetry; the principal Sufi orders; leading figures in the elaboration of Sufism as a distinct mode of Islamic practice; and the great diversity of Sufism as reflected in its geographic spread throughout the Muslim world.

NE STUD 146 Islam 3 Units

A comprehensive and detailed introduction to the sources, doctrines, practices, and institutions of Islam, together with their historical development and elaboration in a select number of ethnic and geographic environments and an overview of Islam in the world today.

NE STUD 146A Islam 3 Units

A comprehensive and detailed introduction to the sources, doctrines, practices, and institutions of Islam, together with their historical development and elaboration in a select number of ethnic and geographic environments and an overview of Islam in the world today.

NE STUD 146B Islam 3 Units

A comprehensive and detailed introduction to the sources, doctrines, practices, and institutions of Islam, together with their historical development and elaboration in a select number of ethnic and geographic environments and an overview of Islam in the world today.

NE STUD 147 The Rise of Islamic Civilization 4 Units

A survey of Islamic civilization in the Middle East during the medieval period. Topics include the emergence of Islam in Arabia and the role of the Prophet Muhammad; the rapid rise of an Islamic empire and its effects on the societies it governed; the creation of an Islamic civilization and the religious, political, and intellectual debates it engendered; contact with Europe and Asia through trade, Crusades, and nomadic conquest; the contributions of non-Muslims, women, slaves.

NE STUD 150A Arabic Literature in Translation 3 Units

No knowledge of Arabic is required. Survey of Arabic literature from its origins in pre-Islamic poetry through its historical development during the Umayyad, and Abbasid periods.

NE STUD 150B Arabic Literature in Translation 3 Units

No knowledge of Arabic is required. Survey of Arabic literature in its development from the post-Abbasid period to the present.

NE STUD 151 Folktales of the Middle East 4 Units

An introduction to the art of the folktale as practiced in the folk narrative traditions of the Middle East. We will first focus on the cultural dynamics of the Arabic folktale: its portrayal of women, social conflicts and gender roles; its use of imagery, symbolism and the supernatural; and its translation of cultural themes like fate and destiny into plot motifs. We will then compare the Arabic folktale as an oral genre with tales from other traditions including Turkish and Persian.

NE STUD 152 Cultural Encounters in Modern Arabic Literature 3 Units

This course is organized around two broad but inter-related issues: the quest for identity and the representation of the "other" in modern Arabic literature. Central to both concerns is the treatment of colonialism, nationalism, and gender in modern Arabic literature and Arab culture in general.

NE STUD 153 The Medieval Frametale Genre: Its Hispano-Arabic Roots 4 Units

The art of inserting stories within stories is typical of certain Oriental literatures and was widely cultivated in Arabic. Via Spain, the Arabs transmitted this form of writing to medieval Europe. A masterpiece such as the which stands as an isolated work in Spanish literature, nevertheless bears comparison with certain Arabic works that preceded it. This course will study the structure, meaning, and function of the frametale genre, using examples from Arabic, Spanish, and English, including animal fables, romances, mirrors for princes, and picaresque narratives. It will examine the Arabic literature Spain borrowed, and show how, from Spain, individual tales found their way into the medieval West.

NE STUD 154 Narratives of Identity in Israeli and Palestinian Fiction 4 Units

The dynamics of identity in contemporary Israeli and Palestinian fiction. Since in both literary traditions the quest for identity invariably involves an encounter with the cultural "other," the examination of this phenomenon within a single context can be revealing. We will approach the subject through lectures, discussion, and the viewing of video and film dramatizations of Arabic and Hebrew works that deal with identity, and make use of the class location to significantly enhance learning by visiting Arabic and Hebrew theaters and literary establishments and by meeting and interacting with Israeli and Palestinian writers, critics, and scholars. English is the language of instruction, and the required readings of novels, novellas, short stories, and works of literary and cultural criticism are in English translation. A midterm, final examination, and two short analytical papers are required.

NE STUD 155 Wonder and the Fantastic: <The Thousand and One Nights> in World Literary Imagination 3 Units

After studying the tales themselves and examining their structure and how they fit into the genre of folk literature, we will investigate how the was transmitted, translated, and received in Europe, as a window on 19th-century gender and racial attitudes, especially Western views of the "oriental" other. How the was creatively manipulated by Western writers will be studied, as will the influence of these tales on modern Arabic literature itself. Several examples of how the have been represented in Western films will be considered. All works will be read in English translation.

NE STUD 160 Religions of Ancient Iran 3 Units

Principally devoted to Zoroastrianism and Manicheanism but with some attention to Indo-Iranian origins, and relevance of Iranian religion for the history of Hellenistic Gnosticism, Judaism, and Islam.

NE STUD 162A History of Persian Literature 4 Units

These courses offer a comprehensive introduction to the main currents in Persian literature from the 10th century to the contemporary period. They introduce students to various genres, period styles, and crucial formal and thematic elements necessary to the understanding of Persian literature. While 162A deals with classical Persian literature, 162B deals with Persian literature since the advent of modernity in Persian-speaking lands, namely the 19th century. Both courses emphasize the impact of social factors, political events, and intellectual currents on Persian literary production. The course is taught in English. Knowledge of Persian is desirable but not required.

NE STUD 162B History of Persian Literature 4 Units

These courses offer a comprehensive introduction to the main currents in Persian literature from the 10th century to the contemporary period. They introduce students to various genres, period styles, and crucial formal and thematic elements necessary to the understanding of Persian literature. While 162A deals with classical Persian literature, 162B deals with Persian literature since the advent of modernity in Persian-speaking lands, namely the 19th century. Both courses emphasize the impact of social factors, political events, and intellectual currents on Persian literary production. The course is taught in English. Knowledge of Persian is desirable but not required.

NE STUD 165 Film and Fiction of Iran 4 Units

Introduces students to major themes in modern Iranian literature and cinema. Short story readings and discussions provide an analytical framework of the screening of films covering diverse topics of significance in Iran today. All films have English subtitles; lectures and readings are in English. No prior history of Iranian history or literature is required.

NE STUD 170 Islamic History and Historiography (600-1050) 3 Units

The course introduces students to Islamic history and challenges of Islamic historiography from the rise of Islam (ca.600 CE) to the coming of the Seljuks (1050CE). Students will gain an understanding of the religious, social, and political institutions of Islam in their historical contexts. Throughout the course, they will be exposed to various primary and secondary sources that help them develop a sense of how the historical narrative was produced.

NE STUD 170A Turkish Literature in Translation 3 Units

A study of Turkish literature in translation, drawing on texts from the 8th to the 20th century. Readings will be chosen to illustrate the development within specific genres: lyric poetry, drama, folktale, etc.

NE STUD 170B Turkish Literature in Translation 3 Units

A study of Turkish literature in translation, drawing on texts from the 8th to the 20th century. Readings will be chosen to illustrate the development within specific genres: lyric poetry, drama, folktale, etc.

NE STUD 173A Topics in the History of Central Asia and the Turks 3 Units

A survey of the main themes in the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic history of Central Asia and adjacent regions, principally from the rise of Islam down to the present. The first half of the course will deal with the Iranian element in Central Asia, and particularly with the Tajiks. The second half will be devoted to the Turks, including their history and expansion, not only in Central Asia but also in Anatolia and South East Europe.

NE STUD 173B Topics in the History of Central Asia and the Turks 3 Units

A survey of the main themes in the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic history of Central Asia and adjacent regions, principally from the rise of Islam down to the present. The first half of the course will deal with the Iranian element in Central Asia, and particularly with the Tajiks. The second half will be devoted to the Turks, including their history and expansion, not only in Central Asia but also in Anatolia and South East Europe.

NE STUD 174 Law and Society in the Early Modern Middle East 3 Units

This course examines the social and religious lives of women and men through the lens of the law. A major concern is the relationship between law and culture, namely, the ways in which the law reflected ideals and tensions ranging from ideological competition between states to the problems of ordinary townspeople and peasants. In analyzing actual court cases, we will ask how individuals participated in the life of the court, and how they used the court to articulate their own self-interest and sense of moral worth. Readings will be in English. Students wishing to work with sources in the original Ottoman Turkish should also enroll in Turkish 104 (1 unit).

NE STUD 175 History and Culture of Afghanistan 3 Units

This course will discuss Afghanistan from ancient times to the present, including the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern nation-state and its geo-strategic importance. The Soviet invasion and aftermath will be emphasized, along with issues of state and society, ethnic diversity and tribal structure, challenges of modernization, and nationalism and political identity. The role of religion and mystical orders and the role of art, music, and literature will also be discussed.

NE STUD 180 The Quran and Its Interpretation 3 Units

The course introduces students to Quran and to methods of its interpretation, as adopted in the exegetical (tafsir) literature. In addition to being exposed to secondary academic literature on the Quran and its exegesis, students will be offered a high dose of primary exegetical texts in translation. Passages from a number of periods and denominations will be selected, so that students may develop an appreciation of the interpretive range of a constantly-evolving tradition.

NE STUD 190A Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Ancient Near Eastern Studies 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 190B Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Egyptian Studies 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 190C Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Jewish Studies 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 190D Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Islamic Studies 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 190E Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Arabic 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 190H Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Hebrew 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 190I Special Topics in Fields of Near Eastern Studies: Iranian/Persian 4 Units

Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department.

NE STUD 192A Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Ancient Near Eastern Studies 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192B Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Egyptian Studies 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192C Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Jewish Studies 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192D Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Islamic Studies 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192E Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Arabic 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192F Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Cuneiform 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192G Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Egyptian 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192H Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Hebrew 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192I Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Iranian/Persian 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192J Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Semitics 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 192K Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Near Eastern Studies: Turkish 2 or 4 Units

This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation.

NE STUD 193 Near Eastern Archaeological Field School 6 Units

This course teaches archaeological field methods through hands-on instruction. Students work with the project staff and receive exposure to techniques like excavation, survey, illustration, photography, and artifact processing. Students also learn local archaeology and history through weekly lectures and field trips.

NE STUD H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

NE STUD 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses: Phoenician, Cypriote, Syrian Archaeology.

NE STUD 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment is restricted by regulations shown in the

Persian

PERSIAN 1A Elementary Modern Persian 5 Units

Introduction to Persian language, covering basics of the language skills in all aspects of reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking with emphasis on culture and communicative methods.

PERSIAN 1B Elementary Modern Persian 5 Units

Introduction to Persian language, covering basics of the language skills in all aspects of reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking with emphasis on culture and communicative methods.

PERSIAN 10 Intensive Elementary Persian 10 Units

This course is equivalent to a full year of elementary Persian. It will train students in the four language skills: speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Emphasis will be placed on the functional usage of the language.

PERSIAN 11A Reading and Composition for Persian Speaking Students 5 Units

Designed for heritage students who possess oral skills (speaking/comprehension, though limited) but need to improve their writing and reading abilities, and expand their knowledge of Persian grammar and syntax. Completion of 11A-11B will prepare the student to take PERSIAN 20A, Intermediate Persian.

PERSIAN 11B Reading and Composition for Persian-Speaking Students 5 Units

Designed for heritage students who possess oral skills (speaking/comprehension, though limited) but need to improve their writing and reading abilities, and expand their knowledge of Persian grammar and syntax. Completion of 11A-11B will prepare the student to take PERSIAN 20A, Intermediate Persian.

PERSIAN 20 Intensive Intermediate Persian 10 Units

A year or more of advanced level Persian with emphasis on advanced grammar and vocabulary build up. Newspaper clippings, film reviews and cultural awareness through introduction of literature will be covered.

PERSIAN 20A Intermediate Modern Persian 5 Units

The sequence begins in the fall. This course emphasizes reading of simple literary texts, expository writing and composition, formal conversation, grammar, and syntax. It involves intensive vocabulary building in preparation for advanced reading and comprehension of standard literary texts.

PERSIAN 20B Intermediate Modern Persian 5 Units

The sequence begins in the fall. This course emphasizes reading of simple literary texts, expository writing and composition, formal conversation, grammar, and syntax. It involves intensive vocabulary building in preparation for advanced reading and comprehension of standard literary texts.

PERSIAN 50 Persian Reading and Composition 10 Units

This course is designed to promote advanced literacy skills in students with different levels of spoken Persian but little or no reading and writing skills in the language. This course will prepare students to take advanced literature courses in the Persian language.

PERSIAN 100A Advanced Persian 3 Units

Emphasis on intensive vocabulary building, comprehensive grammar review, reading and analysis of short literary texts of various genres from classical and modern periods, and reading newspaper clips and other original sources in Persian media.

PERSIAN 100B Advanced Persian 3 Units

Emphasis on intensive vocabulary building, comprehensive grammar review, reading and analysis of short literary texts of various genres from classical and modern periods, and reading newspaper clips and other original sources in Persian media.


PERSIAN 101A Readings in Persian Literature 3 Units

Readings in both prose and poetry, drawn chiefly from classical and modern Persian literature, designed to increase reading skills and vocabulary and to provide a transition to the study of more challenging literary texts.

PERSIAN 101B Readings in Persian Literature 3 Units

Readings in both prose and poetry, drawn chiefly from classical and modern Persian literature, designed to increase reading skills and vocabulary and to provide a transition to the study of more challenging literary texts.

PERSIAN 102A Readings in Classical Persian Prose 3 Units

Systematic study of representative selections from all periods of classical Persian literature, with attention to the historical and intellectual context.

PERSIAN 102B Readings in Classical Persian Prose 3 Units

Systematic study of representative selections from all periods of classical Persian literature, with attention to the historical and intellectual context.

PERSIAN 103A Classical Persian Poetry 3 Units

Systematic study of poems belonging to all genres of classical Persian poetry, with consideration of questions of prosody, rhetoric, and style.

PERSIAN 103B Classical Persian Poetry 3 Units

Systematic study of poems belonging to all genres of classical Persian poetry, with consideration of questions of prosody, rhetoric, and style.

PERSIAN 104A Contemporary Persian Literature 3 Units

This course will deal with significant works of Persian prose and poetry from the beginning of the 19th century down to the present. Complete works or extracts from them will be read in the original as a preliminary to their analysis in terms of literary and stylistic development, as well as the changing role of literature in society. The works of the 19th century and the period of the Constitutional Revolution (1905-1911).

PERSIAN 104B Contemporary Persian Literature 3 Units

This course will deal with significant works of Persian prose and poetry from the beginning of the 19th century down to the present. Complete works or extracts from them will be read in the original as a preliminary to their analysis in terms of literary and stylistic development, as well as the changing role of literature in society. The literature of the rest of the 20th century.

PERSIAN 105 Modern Analytical Prose in Persian 3 Units

This course deals with modern/contemporary critical theory, literary history, aesthetics and philosophy, and various theories of literary and cultural criticism in Persian. It concentrates on selected modern analytical, discursive, and expository texts in Persian. The course explores, from an inter- and multi-disciplinary perspective, how different movements, genres, and rhetorical aspects of modern/contemporary literature and culture have been perceived, historically contextualized, and critically positioned within the larger intellectual and scholarly domain in Persian. All texts will be read in the original Persian.

PERSIAN 120 Intensive Intermediate Persian 10 Units

A year or more of advanced level Persian with emphasis on advanced grammar and vocabulary build up. Newspaper clippings, film reviews and cultural awareness through introduction of literature will be covered.

PERSIAN H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

PERSIAN 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

PERSIAN 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment is restricted by regulations shown in the .

Semitics

SEMITIC 100A Aramaic 3 Units

Biblical and Ancient Aramaic, including study of the Aramaic parts of Daniel and Ezra and the inscriptions and papyri from Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Persian Empire. Sequence begins Fall.

SEMITIC 100B Aramaic 3 Units

Biblical and Ancient Aramaic, including study of the Aramaic parts of Daniel and Ezra and the inscriptions and papyri from Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Persian Empire. Sequence begins Fall.

Turkish

TURKISH 1A Elementary Modern Turkish 5 Units

Sequence begins Fall.

TURKISH 1B Elementary Modern Turkish 5 Units

Sequence begins Fall.

TURKISH 10 Elementary Turkish 10 Units

This course is equivalent to a full year of elementary Turkish. It will train students in the four language skills speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. It will be taught with an interactional approach, aiming at communicative competence.

TURKISH 100A Intermediate Modern Turkish 5 Units

Sequence begins Fall.

TURKISH 100B Intermediate Modern Turkish 5 Units

Sequence begins Fall.

TURKISH 101A Readings in Modern Turkish 3 Units

Selected topics from modern Turkish literary works.

TURKISH 101B Readings in Modern Turkish 3 Units

Selected topics from modern Turkish literary works.

TURKISH H195 Senior Honors 2 - 4 Units

Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis.

TURKISH 198 Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students 1 - 4 Units

Instruction in areas not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

TURKISH 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment is restricted by regulations in the .

Contact Information

Department of Near Eastern Studies

250 Barrows Hall

Phone: 510-642-3757

Visit Department Website

Department Chair & Undergraduate Adviser in Islamic Studies/Arabic/ Hebrew/Persian

Margaret Larkin, PhD

274 Barrows Hall

Phone: 510-542-3757

larkin@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Adviser in Ancient Studies

Carl Redmount

242 Barrows Hall

Phone: 510-542-8011

redmount@berkeley.edu

Head Graduate Adviser & Graduate Adviser in Ancient Studies

Niek Veldhuis

280 Barrows Hall

Phone: 510-542-8262

veldhuis@berkeley.edu

Graduate Adviser in Islamic Studies/Arabic/Hebrew/Persian

Asad Q. Ahmed

272 Barrows Hall

asad.ahmed@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Assistant

Rania Shah

250 Barrows Hall

Phone: 510-642-3758

rania.shah@berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Services Adviser

Shorena Kurtsikidze

Phone: 510-642-6162

shorena@berkeley.edu

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