301.624.2888 ILRFCC.org 23 Middle Eastern Studies NEW LIR321 Oman: Jewel of Arabia 5 sessions, 10 hours | SW New this term! For the first time, we are pleased to introduce “Oman: Jewel of Arabia,” a course that focuses on a country that challenges the popular narrative of a region characterized by war, sectarianism, and oppression. Indeed, the Sultanate of Oman stands outs as an oasis of relative tranquility, a country at peace with itself and with the world. The history of Oman is replete with drama. This course will trace its vital role in antiquity as an exporter of copper and frankincense, its rise and fall as a great maritime empire with vast possessions in Africa, its decline and retreat from worldview and, finally, its dramatic 20th century rebirth led by a visionary ruler who catapulted his country from a backward, impoverished, and isolated medieval-style potentate to a dynamic, prosperous, and confident modern nation-state. The instructor, a published author and Middle East specialist with decades of experience including many trips to Oman, will endeavor to bring to life the myriad factors that have contributed to Oman’s evolution as a unique place among nations. Note: This course will meet on campus in an in-person environment. Instructor: Linda Pappas Funsch 5-Digit Number: 28241 | Wed 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., 1/29 - 2/26 Location: Sweadner Hall Tuition: $20 | Fee: $89 | Total: $109 LIR171 The Arts of Islam: Legacy to the World 5 sessions, 10 hours | SW Join us as we journey through centuries and across continents to present some of the most iconic artistic treasures ever created. “The Arts of Islam: Legacy to the World” highlights the art and architecture of Islam throughout the ages. From the Alhambra in Spain to the Topkapi in Turkey and the Taj Mahal in India, be dazzled by the inspiration, ingenuity, and imagination of some of the most inspiring and sophisticated artistic achievements in modern civilization, frequently inspired by religion and characterized by both originality and innovation. Exploring a variety of art forms, architecture, glassware, and textiles, this course will examine the vast artistic legacy of incomparable beauty created within the Islamic milieu, a creative mosaic of races, religions, and ethnicities, crafted over the course of fourteen centuries. Participants will gain an appreciation of Islamic art as diverse as the people who have lived under Islamic empires and dynasties, from Spain to China, including Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Hindus, and others. The influence of Islamic art forms will be discussed and illustrated through lectures, discussion, and film. Note: This course will meet on campus in an in-person environment. Instructor: Linda Pappas Funsch 5-Digit Number: 28098 | Wed 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., 4/9 - 5/7 Location: Sweadner Hall Tuition: $20 | Fee: $89 | Total: $109 Interested in traveling to Oman with the instructor in the Fall 2025? This course will serve as a valuable introduction to the “Jewel of Arabia.”
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