The Gems of Middle Eastern Literature

The course is devoted to the history of literary masterpieces of the Middle East from ancient times to the present day, as well as the history of their appearance in the West - deciphering and translation. The course is conceived as interdisciplinary in grammatology, literary history, and history of translation from the oriental languages ​​of the Muslim Middle East. The material is built in chronological order: from deciphering the ancient Persian and ancient Turkic writing through the history of translations and publications in the West of classical literary monuments of the Middle East to the problems of translation and perception in the West and in European languages ​​of the masterpieces of modern Middle Eastern literature, which nowadays occupies a leading position all over the world ... A separate block will be devoted to translations of religious literature. The format of the course includes webinars and mini-interviews with experts in the field.

 - The course will be created in 2 versions, in English and in Russian.

The form of education is online. Weekly classes will include watching thematic video lectures, studying additional materials and completing tests with automated verification of results. All assignments must be completed to obtain a certificate.

1. Ancient Iran
2. Turkic World
3. Arabic world
4. Muslim Religious Literature
5. Medieval Iran
6. Sufism (Tasavvuf)
7. Medieval Literature in Turkic Languages
8. Significant literary works of the modern East

Upon completion of this course, students will

Be able to:

1. to navigate the history of Eastern civilization of the Islamic East on the material of literary masterpieces;
2. to navigate the literary works of the Ancient, Medieval and modern Islamic Middle East.

Will know:

1. the history of decryption of famous written monuments
2. the history of medieval Eastern literature of the Islamic East in general masterpieces;
3. basic works of modern Eastern literature of the Islamic East;

Will get:

1. a set of general cultural competencies that broaden the knowledge about the World and its cultures;
2. special skills related to the general cultural orientation of the course.