Middle East & North African History Courses
Discover the Rich Histories of the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a treasure trove of history and culture. The Mashriq (eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Sudan) and the Maghreb (western and central North Africa) together form a region of immense global significance.
A Cradle of Civilization
This region is where agriculture first blossomed, spreading to Europe and beyond. The MENA region also pioneered writing, organized religion, coinage, long-distance trade, and various forms of political organization. These innovations continue to shape our world today.
A Rich Historical Tapestry
Dive into the fascinating past of the Sumerians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Persians, Seljuks, and Ottomans. Discover the region’s maritime trading and religious connections with the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. Learn about the region’s dynamic history, including its resistance to various imperial expansions and its vibrant cultural exchanges.
Modern Significance
Understand the region’s pivotal role in the global energy mix over the past century. Explore the social histories of communities living through the World Wars, their integration into the global market economy, and the dynamics of transnational migration.
Join our courses to engage with the rich histories of the Middle East and North Africa. We offer both short and long courses, available online and face-to-face. Embark on a journey of discovery and deepen your understanding of this vibrant region.
- What the Islamic Golden Age did for us
Course start date: Sat 25 Jul 2026Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tas RahmanAn introductory course on the achievements of the Islamic Golden Age, across all areas of civilisation, how these inspired Europe, and helped to bring about the modern world we live in.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - The Byzantine EmpireCourse start date: Mon 5 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbExplore the dramatic history of the Byzantine Empire from its Roman roots to its fall in 1453. This course offers a concise yet penetrating look at an empire that shaped both Europe and the Islamic world.
Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00 - Umayyads (661-750) and Abbasids (750-1258): the first dynasties that ruled the Islamic worldCourse start date: Sat 10 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinThis study day will delve into the main political and cultural events that characterise the history of the Umayyads and the Abbasids.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Introduction to Modern Iran: 1920s to nowCourse start date: Wed 4 Nov 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jean-Baptiste de VaulxA short and accessible six-week introduction to modern Iranian history for beginners, from the Pahlavi dynasty and oil nationalisation to the 1979 Revolution, the Islamic Republic, and contemporary developments
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Samanids (819-999), Ghaznavids (977-1186) and Ghurids (786-1215): the great dynasties of Central AsiaCourse start date: Fri 6 Nov 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinIn this short course the focus will be on three of the most remarkable dynasties that ruled over vast areas of the Islamic world, including present-day Iran, Afghanistan, Northwestern India and Pakistan.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Cities Series: Iconic Cairo, the city of a thousand minarets Course start date: Sat 7 Nov 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinThe Fatimids founded the city that would become the capital of their Mediterranean empire and called it Al-Qahirah or the Victorious City. From the moment of its foundation to modern times, Cairo has always been an iconic city, at the centre of many important events that have characterized the history of the Islamic world.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Crusades as seen from Western, Byzantine and Islamic perspectivesCourse start date: Mon 18 Jan 2027
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbExplore the causes and progress of the Crusades from the Turkish capture of Jerusalem to the final expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land.
Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - The advent of Islam in Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and AlgeriaCourse start date: Sun 31 Jan 2027
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinThe conquest of North Africa by the Muslim army began during the period of the Rashidun (632-661) and continued under the Umayyads (661-750). From the time of the conquest, the territories that today correspond to Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, and Algeria became part of the Islamic world.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Cities Series: Legendary Istanbul, a city with many stories to tellCourse start date: Sat 6 Mar 2027
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinByzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul. Three names that call to mind the East, spices, merchants, Byzantine emperors, and Ottoman sultans, and through which the history of a millennia-old city can be revealed and partly understood.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Fatimid Egypt, 909-1171 with BM visit Course start date: Sun 7 Mar 2027
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinJoin us for this introductory course to discover the history of the Fatimids, from the establishment of the empire in Tunisia to the foundation of Cairo, their new capital. Includes an afternoon visit to the British Museum.
Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £58.00 - A History of Iran: From c.550BC-c.1900 (With V & A visit)Course start date: Sat 13 Mar 2027
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: T HussainJoin us for a brief introduction tothe history ofIranand its civilization, from c.550 BC through to 1900. A morning lecture will be followed by an afternoon visit to the V&A in South Kensington.
Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £58.00
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