Food in the Middle East: History, Culture, and Identity In this course we will examine the rich culinary history of the Middle East from the time of major Islamic Empires, such as the Abbasids and Ottomans, until the modern period. Using an array of primary and secondary sources, we will explore the social, religious, literary, and economic place of food in the region. We will study the consumption of and attitudes toward specific foodstuffs, gauging the relevance of items like spices and coffee in the pre-modern period and of various dishes within modern nationalist constructions. We will also investigate how Middle Eastern peoples from different ethnic, geographic, and religious backgrounds have historically used food to express their distinct cultural, national, and gendered identities.

History of Islam and the Middle East, Since 1453 This course is an introduction to the major institutions that evolved under the aegis of what we might call Islamic civilization since the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The principal geographic areas covered are the Middle East and North Africa. Major topics include the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, Western intervention and colonialism, nationalism and state formation, and the challenges of and responses to modernization. Pre-1800.

History of the Modern Middle East This course investigates the history of social and political change in the Middle East from 1798 to the present. Within a general political framework, the course will cover the main social, economic, and intellectual currents. Emphasizing political, economic, social and cultural history, the course seeks to examine the impact of outside powers on the region, the responses of the region's peoples to this challenge, colonization, nationalism and identity, religious and ideological trends, gender issues, major "crises" (including the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Lebanese civil war, and the Iranian Revolution), and efforts to reassert Islamic identity in an era of globalization.

Ottoman History in the Middle East and the Balkans The Ottoman Empire emerged following the decline of Byzantine and Islamic empires to become one of history’s longest-ruling dynasties. This course traces the empire’s transformation: its evolution from an obscure tribe in thirteenth-century western Anatolia into a dominant Mediterranean and European military force during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. We will explore the empire’s adaptation to growing European power and examine its political, social, and cultural foundations, with particular emphasis on its multi-ethnic and multicultural character. In this seminar, we will also pay special attention to the empire’s enduring influence on the Balkans and the Middle East during the early modern era. Through various primary sources and secondary accounts, we will immerse ourselves in the story of how a small frontier principality established an empire that spanned three continents. Pre-1800

Christians in the Modern Middle East In the Middle East, Christians have faced fast-paced political, economic, and religious transformations.  Focusing on indigenous communities such as Copts, Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Assyrians, and Maronites, we will explore Christianity’s place in the region, from the nineteenth century up to the present.  Against the backdrop of a waning Ottoman Empire, mounting European colonialism, and the rise of nationalism and Islamism, we will investigate Christians’ status as minorities, who have at times been privileged and at other times been marginalized, exiled, and shunned.  We will also pay attention to the ways in which Western governments and Christian missionaries have transformed the lives of Middle Eastern Christians in their quest for evangelism, apocalypticism, and regional domination.  Class sources will include memoirs, novels, and films.

The Early History of Islam and the Middle East This course is an introduction to the history of Islamic civilizations from the advent of Islam around 610 C.E. to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The principal geographic areas covered are the Middle East and North Africa. Since "Islam" encompasses not simply a religion but an entire cultural complex, this course will trace the development of religious, political, economic, and social institutions in this region. Topics covered include the early Islamic conquests, the rise of religious sectarianism, gender relations, and the expansion of Islamic empires. Pre-1800. 2 hrs lect./1 hr. disc.

Egypt, Iran, and Turkey: Alternative Modernizations The Middle East's struggles with modernization are encapsulated in the history of its three most populous nation-states: Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. The rise of nationalism, European incursions in the Middle East, and internal strife contributed to the gradual fall of the Ottoman and Qajar Empires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. From the rubble emerged distinct social, political, economic, and religious responses to modernization, ranging from the establishment of a secular, ultra-nationalist state in Turkey, Arab nationalism in Egypt, monarchism and Islamism in Iran. We will explore and compare these three experiences using an array of sources including primary documents, works of fiction, and film.

Writing History In this course students discuss historical methods and writing strategies to create convincing historical narratives. With the approval and guidance of the professor, students complete a 20-25-page research paper based on primary and secondary sources. Students take this course in the fall of their junior year or with permission in the spring.  If students are away for the entire junior year, they can take the course in the fall of their senior year. 3 hr. sem. Restricted to HIST, ESHI, HSMT majors and HIST minors.

Animals in Middle Eastern History In this course we will examine attitudes towards animals in Middle Eastern history, with an emphasis on Muslim settings. We will survey the law and ethics of human-animal relations in religious sources and engage with issues such as how humans differ from non-human “animals,” how they should treat animals, and the overall place and roles of animals in divine creation as reflected within different historical periods. We will also consider the impact of the modern animal liberation movement in the Middle East and examine a variety of religious and secular positions formulated by Muslims that have recently prioritized animal welfare and promoted environmental consciousness. (Counts for HSMT credit) Pre-1800.

Febe Armanios

Reviews and ratings for Febe Armanios at Middlebury College.Febe Armanios teaches Food History in Middle East, Islam & Mid. East Since 1453, History of Modern Middle East and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Febe Armanios good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Professor Armanios is very nice. This course was very interesting in the current political climate. Course is not an issue if you keep up, she makes it very clear what she is looking for, especially on quizzes and exams.

I think that this class was probably my most informative history class that I have been able to take at Middlebury. I think a lot of the information in this class is very relevant today, and the content was consistently engaging. Workload was also very reasonable. 

This was the most important class I have taken at Middlebury. Armanios's enthusiasm is infectious and I was surprised at how she made each lecture (every class was a lecture) so engaging. It was a high effort high reward class. The course material was fascinating and felt very important. 