Islam in Central Asia

This course explores the historical, political, social and cultural aspects of the evolution of Islam in Central Asia from the 8th century CE to the present. It investigates the reasons and mechanisms of Islam's expansion in the region as well as its dynamic interactions with local religious traditions and ways of life. Rather than reducing Islam to a homogenous, static, and dogmatic creed, the course analyses diverse Muslim identities and practices across time and space, and how different communities of believers have adapted Islam's common patterns and denominators to survive in the frequently challenging environment. The course applies historical, anthropological, and political science perspectives to provide insights into Islam's common framework, and the complexity and fluidity of Central Asian religious identities within this framework. By the end of the semester, students should be able to appreciate how sixty million Muslims in Central Asia follow their faith in terms of ritual, intellectual discourse, politics, and daily life.