Islamic Archaeology Glossary 2007: Home

Below is the glossary for the Brown Introduction to Islamic Archaeology course. We will be working collaboratively to develop definitions for the varied terms which we encounter during the course. The goal is for this site to serve both as a forum in which students can learn from each other and share their understandings of the course concepts and as an essential study guide for the examinations.

How it works:

Each week I will add new terms to this glossary which we have encountered in the lectures, discussions and readings. These entries will likely include Arabic words importnat to understanding Islam and Muslim societies, archaeological concepts, importnat historical figures and events, as well as sites, places, and terms of significance for Islamic archaeology generally.

It will be your responsibility to work together in defining these terms and their significance as discussed in the readings and lectures. In essence this is a way for you to begin studying for the exams throughout the semester rahter than trying to cram the night before with a big list of foriegn words and strange names. The other benefit is that you will be able to continually update these entries as we get further into the course and have greater information about these topics.

The more effort and work that you put into this project the better you will all do on the quizes. You have now been initiated into a community of learning.

This, however, is not a fully socialist enterprise. Each time you add something to the glossary you will need to sign in, so your individual contributions will be noted for either thier presence or absence.

You are also not alone in this endevor. I will continually check your collective progress. Add my own comments, suggestions and even corrections if I see that you have gone astray. This will also help me in serving as a reflection of my own teaching and ability to communicate these ideas both in class and throug hthe other course materials. Reflexivity is the new mode for pedagogy (sarcasm is on the decline, sadly).

That said -- HAVE FUN! WORK HARD! ASK QUESTIONS! (and get some sleep once in a while - I will know that you are doing this at 3am)

The password for the glossary is very clever: glossary

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