Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis Of the great world religions, Islam is probably the least understood in Australia. Yet its massive following and political potency have long made it a leading force on the world stage. This subject investigates the nexus between religion and politics within the Islamic world from its beginnings. Topics to be investigated include the life and times of the prophet Muhammad; the genesis of the Sunni-Sh'ia split; Islamic conquests in the West; the Abbasid Caliphate; the spread of Islam in Asia; the nature of political authority in the Mughal empire; Islamic modernism; the Pakistan movement; the role of Islam in modern Indonesian politics; the revolution of the Ayatollahs in Iran; and the challenge of Islamic fundamentalism.
Assessment Short essay (1500 words): 20% + Thematic essay (3500 words): 50% + Examination (1 hour): 20% + Class participation and attendance: 10%