MH5601 Medieval Iran from the Sasanians to the Safavids DL

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available to students on the Iranian Studies Distance Learning MLitt only

Planned timetable

12-2 Tues

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr A D Stewart

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof Andrew Peacock and Dr Timothy Greenwood

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module is intended to take an in-depth look at the changing nature of Iran from the perspective of its politics, religion and culture in the period ca. 200-1000. During this time it went from being an expansive imperial power (3rd - 7th centuries) to a defeated province of the early Arab state (7th - 8th centuries), to the heart of a new Islamic empire (8th - 9th centuries) and finally the home of a number of Iranian dynasties (9th century onwards). The module will look at such issues as Sasanid Iran's place in Late Antique culture, the passage from Zoroastrianism to Islam, the meaning of Iranian identity, Iran's impact on Islamic culture and politics, the significance of the rise of the New Persian language, changes in the social makeup of Iran over the period under study, and so on. While following a broad chronological perspective, students will be encouraged to engage with the themes and historical tensions highlighted by the module.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE MH5604 OR PASS MH5604

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE MH5112,YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE MH5415

Assessment pattern

100% coursework, 2 x 3000 word essays

Re-assessment

100% coursework, totally 4500 words

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hours seminar per week x 11

Scheduled learning hours

26

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

288

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of the module, students will be able to understand the major fault lines in academic debates
  • By the end of the module, students will be able to appreciate and be able to distinguish different disciplinary approaches to the study of medieval Iranian history and how it might impact the modern state
  • Show familiarity with a range of primary source material, written and visual
  • Present clear analytical discussions of theoretical approaches and material
  • Engage critically with unfamiliar source genres and political debates
  • Identify and employ appropriate bibliographical resources