TEACHING
Shi’ism: A Historical and Comparative Perspective
This is a graduate seminar devoted to a historical and comparative examination of the rise and spread of Shi’ism from its earliest stages in Islamic history to its contemporary conditions in various nation-states (in India, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon in particular). In this seminar we will cover a range of issues, extended from historical, doctrinal, intellectual, and spiritual roots of Shi’ism to its contemporary political manifestations. The course is intended as a graduate seminar, and students will be expected to conduct guided research in an aspect of Shi’ism that interests them most. The course will be conducted in a combination of weekly lectures, semester-long research, and seminar conversations.