Ritual and Embodied Piety in the Lives of Medieval Muslims

Medieval Muslims lived in an era of empires, plagues, crusades, famines, and war. How did the beliefs and daily ritual practices of ordinary Muslims provide meaning to their lives, even in troubled times? How did "lived Islam" shape everyday life, from birth to death? How was piety embodied and enacted? We use primary sources in translation, as well as archaeological evidence, artefacts, and coins. The class will visit Rare Books and Special Collections in Firestone. A field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is included in the course.