History Jews in the Islamic World 2/1/22

History

Jews in the Islamic World: From Late Antiquity to the 20th Century

Although relatively few Jewish communities remain in the Arab world or in majority Muslim countries today, in the past, they did live in Arab, Turkic and Persian political entities. What were those early communities like, and how did they respond to the advent of Islam? Join Associate Professor of History and Judaic Studies Jonathan Sciarcon as he sheds light on the history of Jewish communities under Islamic rule, from the rise of Islam in the early 7th century CE through the 1950s. First, explore Jewish communities under early Islamic empires. Why were Jews considered a “protected people?” Even so, how were they treated differently from their Muslim neighbors? Next, examine Jewish life under later Islamic empires and states, including the periods of Safavid and Qajar rule in Iran and the post-Ottoman Arab world in Iraq. How did Jews in Islamic political entities fare compared to Jews in Christian political entities in the pre-modern period? How did the rise of European influence and colonialism shape Jewish communities and Jews’ relations with nonJews in these areas? Finally, consider Jewish communities in the early to mid-20th century. What impact did the rise of Zionism and the establishment of the state of Israel have on these communities? Come away with a deeper understanding of the changing relationship between Jews and Muslims.

Four Zoom sessions

Tue., Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 2022, 6:30–8:30 pm MT ENRICH 0580 / $140

Jonathan Sciarcon is an associate professor and chair of the History Department and an associate professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Denver. His expertise is in the history of the modern Middle East with an emphasis on the study of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and the history of Jews in the Arab world.