Modern Middle East and Southwest Asia (saylor.org)

Offered by Saylor.org,
Modern Middle East and Southwest Asia (saylor.org)

This course will introduce you to the history of the nations and peoples of the Middle East and Southwest Asia from 1919 to the present.

This course will introduce you to the history of the nations and peoples of the Middle East and Southwest Asia from 1919 to the present.You will learn about the major political, economic, and social changes that took place throughout the region during this 100-year period.This course will have a chronological structure.Each unit will include representative primary source documents that illustrate important overarching political, economic, and social themes, such as the emergence of nationalist movements following World War I, European political and economic imperialism during the first half of the 20th century, the creation of the nation of Israel, regional economic development, and the impact of secular and religious trends on Middle Eastern society and culture during the second half of the 20th century.By the end of this course, you will understand how the countries of the region have overcome significant social, economic, and political problems as they have grown from weak former colonies into modern nation-states, and you will recognize the challenges that these nations currently face as they struggle with issues of economic development as well as social and political unrest.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify and explain major political, social and economic trends, events, and people in history of the Middle East and Southwest Asia from the beginning of the 20th century to the present.
Explain how the countries of the region have overcome significant social, economic, and political problems as they have grown from weak former colonies into modern nation-states.
Identify and explain the emergence of nationalist movements following World War I, European political and economic imperialism during the first half of the 20th century, the creation of the nation of Israel, regional economic development, and the impact of secular and religious trends on Middle Eastern society and culture during the second half of the 20th century.
Identify and explain the important economic, political, and social developments in the Middle East and Southwest Asia during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Analyze and interpret primary source documents from the 20th and 21st centuries that illustrate important overarching political, economic, and social themes.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

The History of Modern Israel - Part II: Challenges of Israel as a sovereign state (Coursera) Coursera
Tel Aviv University

The History of Modern Israel - Part II: Challenges of Israel as a sovereign state (Coursera)

This course deals with the Israeli politics, economy, society and culture, since its creation in 1948 till today. It analyzes the construction of the Israeli historical narrative as an identity-building narrative, intending to inculcate a collective memory to a diverse society. We will focus on key events and essential components that shaped the Israeli society from the fifties till the present. We will also discuss the changes that the Israeli society experiences in its almost seventy years of existence and how it affects its politics and culture.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Modern Revolutions (saylor.org) Saylor Academy
Saylor.org

Modern Revolutions (saylor.org)

In this course, you will gain a better understanding of the modern world by studying some of the most important political revolutions that took place between the 17th century and today. You will seek to understand the causes of each revolution, analyze the ideologies that inspired the revolutionaries, examine revolutionary uses of violence, and consider how historical revolutions still shape contemporary politics.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
War and American Society (saylor.org) Saylor Academy
Saylor.org

War and American Society (saylor.org)

This course will focus on the wars and military conflicts that have shaped the social, political, and economic development of the United States from the colonial era through the present. You will learn how these conflicts have led to significant changes in America social and political life during this 300-year period.

Legacy Course
Self-Paced