90062 - History of Islamic Science (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students have an advanced understanding of the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of the history of science in Islamic religious cultures and are able to apply interdisciplinary tools and methodologies to contexts characterised by cultural pluralism. Through the perusal of the primary sources (in translation) and the acquisition of theoretical and interpretative tools offered by the contemporary scientific debate, the student will derive the intellectual skills to: have a general and inclusive overview of Islamic science in its chronological, geographical and cultural dimension; to read and analyse the works that marked the way points in the development of Islamic science; to contextualize this segment of the history of premodern science in a larger historical context that includes other traditions, area and cultures.

Course contents

History of Islamic Science - Medicine, Gender & Eros

After a general introduction to the historical and cultural context of the premodern Arabo-Islamic world and how the sciences of nature where developed in that context, the course will focus on the theme of gender,  as it can be surmised from the specific part of medicine and pharmacology dealing with eros, exploring the work of various authors in a number of different textual genres.

Arabo-Islamic science, with a focus on medicine and pharmacology, will be the banner under which a much broader approach which begins with Antiquity and Late antiquity casting its influence on the Middle Age and Early Modern will be carried out.

Readings/Bibliography

The general readings for the course are (one of choice):

M. Ullmann, Islamic Medicine (Edinburgh University Press, 1997)

P. Carusi, Lo Zafferano e il Geco (Carocci, 2007)

P. Carusi, Musulmani all'opera. Scienza e tecnologia nell'Islam medievale (Aseq, 2023)

One reading of choice between: 

1) Al-Tusi, The Sultan's Sex Potions; 2) Al-Shayzari, Los Secretos del Coito; 3) Al-Nafzawi, Il Giardino Profumato.

The detailed seminar syllabus, including the supplemetary readings, and the related materials will be available in the online platform Virtuale.

[For the Students who do not regularly attend the course] the students are asked to read one of the complementary readings proposed in Virtuale or agree with the teacher upon a different one.

Teaching methods

The course include frontal teaching along with the analysis of primary sources and the discussion of images (objects and manuscripts) to introduce the Students to the history of Arabo-Islamic science. Students will be encouraged to follow their specific interests developed during the course, and to present the results of their individual or group research in class. In general, they will be invited to take active part to the discussion in class.

Assessment methods

[For the Students who regularly attend the course] Oral examination in which the student will be asked to display his or her knowledge of the contents dealt with during the seminar, as well as the ability to commento on the primary sources and link the different topics dealt with in class.

Regular attendance is defined as physical presence for 75% of classes.

[For the Students who do not regularly attend the course] in addition to the programme, the students are asked to read one of the complementary readings proposed in Virtuale or agree with the teacher upon a different one.

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders are entitled to special adjustments according to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact teachers or Department staff, but make an appointment with the Service. The Service will then determine what adjustments are specifically appropriate, and get in touch with the teacher. For more information, please visit the page:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Propsective chronology of the examination dates: 

- end of April 2025

- June 2025

- July 2025

- September/October 2025

- November/December 2025

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Raggetti