Master: History of the Islamic West in the Medieval Period

Program Overview

The specialization in the History of the Islamic West in the Medieval Period is one of the advanced fields within the discipline of History. It focuses on the study of the western regions of the Islamic worldduring the period extending from the Islamic conquest to the end of the Middle Ages. This specialization emphasizes the analysis of the political, social, economic, religious, cultural, and urban transformations experienced by the Islamic West, in constant interaction with the Islamic East as well as the Mediterranean and African worlds.

The program aims to train students with in-depth knowledge of the history of the Islamic West, while equipping them with the tools of academic historical research and the ability to critically engage with diverse historical sources, whether textual, geographical, archaeological, or archival. It also seeks to highlight the specific features of the civilizational experience of the Islamic West and its contributions to Islamic and human civilization during the medieval period.

Teaching Language : arabic

Curriculum Highlights

Core Courses

Political History of the Islamic West, which examines the emergence of political entities and the development of systems of governance in the Islamic Maghreb and al-Andalus.
Jurisprudential and Doctrinal Schools in the Islamic West, focusing on the formation of legal and intellectual trends and their impact on political and social structures.
Economic Activity in the Islamic West (1), which addresses the foundations of the medieval economy, including agriculture, trade, crafts, and taxation.
History of Sciences in the Islamic West, highlighting the role of knowledge, scientific disciplines, institutions, and scholars in Maghrebi and Andalusi urban centers.

The second semester constitutes an extension and deepening of the acquired knowledge through core courses that focus on the civilizational, social, economic, and external relations of the Islamic West. Among the mostprominent of these courses are:

Civilizational History of al-Andalus, which examines patterns of urban development and cultural and social life in al-Andalus.
Society of the Islamic West, dealing with social structures, class relations, and forms of social organization.
Economic Activity in the Islamic West (2), as a continuation and in-depth analysis of the components and transformations of the medieval economy.

Relations between the Islamic West and Western Sudan, highlighting African connections and their role in economic and cultural exchange.

Advanced Topics

Sufi Movements in the Islamic West.
Relations between the Islamic West and the Christian World.
Cultural Exchange between the Eastern and Western Islamic Worlds.
The Scholarly Movement in the Central Maghreb.

The program also includes methodological units devoted to:

Methodology for Preparing the Graduation Thesis.
Field Internship in Educational Institutions.

Academic Conferences and Educational and Training Workshops.

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Admissions Information

Admission to the Master’s program in History of the Islamic West in the Medieval Period is open to holders of a Bachelor’s degree (Licence) in History or an equivalent recognized degree, particularly in the fields of general history, history of the Islamic Maghreb, medieval history, or related humanities disciplines.

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