Course overview

The Cultural Heritage in the Arab World course 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 promoting and protecting cultural 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). You will also examine cultural heritage more broadly in all its variations. 

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, as well as its preservation efforts, tourism and museums. Throughout the course, you will address the influences of wars, political and religious ideologies, technology, and the environment and how these factors interact with tourism, museums, heritage practices and various forms of communication.

You will learn about advocacy for protecting (or opposing the protection of) different cultural heritages, engaging critically with issues such as systemic racism and settler colonialism that pose threats to cultural production and heritage both globally and within SWANA. 

By the end of this course, you will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing cultural heritage in the Arab world, including the circulation of objects, the workings of museums, cultural production, colonial and post-colonial governance, global power dynamics and Indigenous and environmental activism. Reading and writing 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 cultural heritage and its 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.

Professor Rochelle Davis

Professor Rochelle Davis will guide you through the course. Her teaching interests span Arab society and culture, cultural heritage and conflict, and the experiences of refugees, migrants and immigrants 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 syllabi feature ethnographies, autobiographies, scholarly books and articles from multiple disciplines, blogs, cartoons, films, novels, poetry, and media, ensuring a rich and engaging learning experience.