The Historical Studies program encourages students to examine history through the prism of other relevant disciplines (for example, sociology, anthropology, economics, philosophy) and different forms of expression (art, film, literature, drama, architecture). The program also introduces students to a variety of methodological perspectives used in historical research and to philosophical assumptions about men, women, and society that underlie these perspectives.

Welcome to Historical Studies

Upcoming Events

Feb
26

Jurisdiction Matters in Mongol Iran: Law and Reality
Edith Chen
Ph.D. Candidate Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University

Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST/GMT-5
Location: Online Event
more >

After the Mongol conquests, we witnessed what would appear to be a “clash” of legal customs as unbelieving rulers came to rule over a majority-Muslim population in 13th century Iran. This triggered a debate among Muslim jurists, who disagreed on whether a land occupied for foreigners could still be counted as “dār al-islām”. However, some Hanafi jurists at this time redefined the terms that would allow occupied territories to still be considered as Islamic lands by insisting that what mattered was that certain features of Islamic life were allowed to continue, such as prayer, celebrating the feast days, and maintaining an Islamic judiciary. This line of reasoning was adopted by 19th century Indian social reformers for its application to British India. However, they would be challenged by Hanbali jurists, whose narrow definition of what constitutes “dār al-islām” would have reverberations during the modern period.

Using Persian local history, I argue that the state of self-rule in the Muslim vassal states in southern Iran (Fars, Shabankara, Kirman, Yazd) helped explain why Hanafi jurists during this period adopted their particular style of reasoning to permit a looser definition for what constitute “dār al-islām” even when under a government of unbelievers. I explore the evolution of this issue in Hanafi law from the founder Abu Hanifa’s time, its development during the 11-13th centuries when the Islamic lands in Transoxiana began to experience invasions from the steppes, and the definition that ultimately emerged in 19th century India. Within the semi-autonomous states, Mongol law or yasa had a very limited presence. This separation of jurisdiction created a scenario where Islamic life was allowed to continue and flourish during the decades before the Ilkhanid rulers converted to Islam.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 883 4741 3127 / Passcode: 006784
Sponsored by: Dean of the College; Historical Studies Program
Contact: Tabetha Ewing 845-758-6822 ewing@bard.edu

Feb
26

Jurisdiction Matters in Mongol Iran: Law and Reality
Edith Chen
Ph.D. Candidate Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST/GMT-5
Location: Online Event
more >

After the Mongol conquests, we witnessed what would appear to be a “clash” of legal customs as unbelieving rulers came to rule over a majority-Muslim population in 13th century Iran. This triggered a debate among Muslim jurists, who disagreed on whether a land occupied for foreigners could still be counted as “dār al-islām”. However, some Hanafi jurists at this time redefined the terms that would allow occupied territories to still be considered as Islamic lands by insisting that what mattered was that certain features of Islamic life were allowed to continue, such as prayer, celebrating the feast days, and maintaining an Islamic judiciary. This line of reasoning was adopted by 19th century Indian social reformers for its application to British India. However, they would be challenged by Hanbali jurists, whose narrow definition of what constitutes “dār al-islām” would have reverberations during the modern period.

Using Persian local history, I argue that the state of self-rule in the Muslim vassal states in southern Iran (Fars, Shabankara, Kirman, Yazd) helped explain why Hanafi jurists during this period adopted their particular style of reasoning to permit a looser definition for what constitute “dār al-islām” even when under a government of unbelievers. I explore the evolution of this issue in Hanafi law from the founder Abu Hanifa’s time, its development during the 11-13th centuries when the Islamic lands in Transoxiana began to experience invasions from the steppes, and the definition that ultimately emerged in 19th century India. Within the semi-autonomous states, Mongol law or yasa had a very limited presence. This separation of jurisdiction created a scenario where Islamic life was allowed to continue and flourish during the decades before the Ilkhanid rulers converted to Islam.

Meeting ID: 883 4741 3127

Passcode: 006784

Sponsored by: Dean of the College
Contact: Tabetha Ewing 845-758-6822 ewing@bard.edu
Website: https://bard.zoom.us/j/88347413127?pwd=VHhYaEVMZlJ1d3c3bDlrOGZwZ0U2Zz09

Apr
22

Seeing Countries From Afar: A Conversation with Suzy Hansen & Kamila Shamsie
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Location: Online Event
more >

Donald Trump and Brexit shook up the liberal world order and the notion of global cooperation. The Covid-19 crisis further diminished the leadership role that the US and UK have long held. How does the rest of the world see these two countries? BGIA professor and award winning journalist Suzy Hansen and award winning novelist Kamila Shamsie have both written extensively about the US and UK from abroad. Join us for a conversation about seeing countries from afar on Thursday, April 22 at 12pm EST/6pm Vienna. RSVP required.
Sponsored by: Bard Globalization & International Affairs Program
Contact: Elmira Bayrasli ebayrasli@bard.edu
Website: https://bard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctdeqpqT8rE90qlCH_gi2cqcdRqTv8RCxh

Welcome to Historical Studies

Upcoming Events

Jurisdiction Matters in Mongol Iran: Law and Reality

Jurisdiction Matters in Mongol Iran: Law and Reality

Seeing Countries From Afar: A Conversation with Suzy Hansen & Kamila Shamsie