HISTORY OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

The aim of the course is to provide students with tools for acquiring knowledge and understanding of Shiʽism, a religious and political minority of Islam which, today, in its variant Twelver Shiʽism, is prevalent in Iran, but which is also followed, with different percentages, in the Arab Muslim world (e.g. Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE). Knowing its history, students will be able both to place properly the Shiite phenomenon in the complex picture of contemporary Islamic world and in the international arena, and to think, with critical tools, over the Sunni-Shiite conflict narrative.

SHIʽISM: OPPOSITION AND HYPOTHESIS OF POWER

The course aims to define the Shiite phenomenon as a religious tendency, a heretical minority, an opposition party and a political-philosophical ideology taking into consideration the most important historical crossroads up to our contemporary times. The concept of authority and the sources of authority as well as the major figures and the schools of thought up to the current doctrines and political groups will receive our attention.

The aim of the course is to provide students with tools for acquiring knowledge and understanding of Shiʽism, a religious and political minority of Islam which, today, in its variant Twelver Shiʽism, is prevalent in Iran, but which is also followed, with different percentages, in the Arab Muslim world (e.g. Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE). Knowing its history, students will be able both to place properly the Shiite phenomenon in the complex picture of contemporary Islamic world and in the international arena, and to think, with critical tools, over the Sunni-Shiite conflict narrative.

-L. Capezzone, M. Salati, L’islam sciita. Storia di una minoranza, Roma, Edizioni Lavoro, 2006, pp. 435.

-F. Sabahi, Storia dell’Iran, Milano, Bruno Mondatori, 2006, pp. 298.

-B. Scarcia Amoretti, Sciiti nel mondo, Roma, Jouvence, 2015, pp. 345.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.