History of the Persian Gulf States, 1750 to the Present (HIST 395)


I. Themes to be studied:

- Geo-political origins of the states (Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrein United Arab Emirates)
- Oil and economic development
- Western involvement
- Pan Arabism and rise of Ba'ath party to power in Syria and Iraq
- Rise of Saddam Hussein to power
- Fall of the Pahlevi dynasty and rise of Ayatallah Khomeini to power in Iran
- Iran-Iraq War
American involvement: Iran-Gate
Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
- Gulf War
- Post War Gulf


II. Objectives:

Objectives of this course are to inform the student: a) in the historical origins of the modern Gulf States; b) in the development of these states, and how both, origins and development, rooted in Western strategic and economic interests on the one hand and confronted by Arab nationalism and Arab rivalries on the other, led to a series of crisis culminating in the American led war against Iraq to liberate Kuwait.


III. Books to be purchased:

Hammond's Middle East Crisis Maps.

The Gulf Reader, History, Documents, and Opinions, ed. Sifry and Cerf.

Modern History of Iraq, Phebe Marr.

Republic of Fear, Samir al-Khalil

Saddam Hussein and the Crisis in the Gulf, J. Miller & L. Mylroie


IV. Supplemental Readings:

In addition to readings in the specialized books to be purchased, supplemental readings of a more general nature will be assigned in texts put on reserve in the library.

The Middle East Today, D. Peretz.



The Arab World, W. Polk.
Middle East, Past and Present, Armajani and Ricks.
A Concise History of the Middle East, A. Goldschmidt.
A History of the Near East, S. N. Fisher.


V. Weekly Themes:

Week 1: Iran, the Pahlevi Dynasty and the West, 1900-1979.

Weeks 2 and 3: Establishment of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrein and United Arab Emirates as independent states and the role of the West.

Weeks 4 and 5: Oil, economic development and Western involvement.

Weeks 6 and 7: Nationalism, Pan Arabism and the Rise of the Ba'ath in Syria and Iraq.

Week 8: Rise of Saddam Hessein to power in Iraq.

Week 9: Fall of Pahlevi Dynasty and rise of Khomeini to power in Iran

Week 10: Iran-Iraq War.

Week 11: American involvement: Irangate.

Week 12: Arab rivalries and Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Week 13: Gulf War.

Week 14: Post War Gulf.

(One week in the 15 week course will be used as exam time. In addition to the final exam, there will be two class-period exams of 1 1/4 hours each, making one week.)


VI. Audio-Visual Aids:


The audio-visual department in the library has three videos that directly relate to the subject and will be viewed in class.

1. Iraq-Iran War (VC 2097)

2. Importance of Middle East Oil (VC 2097 V9)

3. Sects, Violence and Fragmentation within Religions (VC 2097 V7)


VII. A term paper will be required.


Links to supplemental Documents
(External Links)

The Camp David Accords


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