Course overview

Heritage and Development in the Arab World explores architecture, art, manuscripts, libraries, monuments, poetry, dance and the natural environment, as well as the roles of non-governmental organizations, governments, the UN and diplomatic missions in developing and protecting heritage. Our focus will be on the Arab world, specifically Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA, often referred to as the Middle East and North Africa). 

As part of the Centennial Lab component of this class, you’ll have the opportunity to travel to Egypt, allowing you to delve into Egypt’s extensive history of cultural heritage, the role of institutions in developing it, alongside the role of tourism, funding organizations, and state projects. 

You will learn about the role development plays at the national and local level, as well as its role in defining and protecting cultural heritage. We will engage with issues around race, class, colorism, and other hierarchies, along settler colonialism, and delve into how they shape understandings of heritage. 

By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing heritage and development in the Arab world. Readings and the assignments are designed to enhance both your theoretical and practical knowledge, preparing you for careers in tourism, cultural and economic development, community-based projects, foreign service, military, international organizations, museums, funding agencies and more.  

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, you will have acquired the following skills and knowledge:

• A solid understanding of heritage and development, and major themes and issues.
• In-depth knowledge of cultural heritage specific to Egypt and the Arab world.
• Enhanced skills in summarizing arguments, creating effective presentations, synthesizing material, and developing cohesive arguments.
• Proficiency in working with various source materials (primary, secondary, written, visual, auditory, video) to build your knowledge and articulate your insights in ways that reflect analytical rigor.
• Practical experience in project development, culminating in a four-part, semester-long project that includes creating a grant proposal and presenting a cultural heritage project seeking $250,000 in funding.

Itinerary highlights

You will have the chance to visit significant sites, including the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Wissa Wassif Weaving Center, Adam Henein Museum, Ibn Tulun Mosque, Sultan Hasan Mosque, al-Rifa’i Mosque, Dar al-Kutub Archive, Islamic Art Museum, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Hanging Church, Church of the Holy Family and the Coptic Museum.

Instructors

Professor Adely and Davis have previously co-taught CLabs, starting with their first course titled Development and Displacement in the Arab World, which took place in Jordan. Both professors are fluent in Arabic and have collaborated in teaching together at least seven times.

Professor Fida Adely

Dr. Adely is an anthropologist and her research interests include education, labor, development, and gender in the Arab world. Her primary research site has been Jordan, although she teaches and writes about the Arab world more broadly. 

Professor Rochelle Davis

Dr. Davis’ teaching interests span Arab society and culture, cultural heritage and conflict, and the experiences of refugees within and beyond the Arab world. She utilizes a variety of texts and media in her classroom, exposing you to a diverse array of materials—both primary and secondary—related to the Arab world. Her published research focuses on Palestine, Syria, and Iraq, although she lived in Egypt for three years and loves it.