The Middle East stands at the crossroads of three continents and three major world religions. For millennia, it has been the source of both hope and conflict. This course will provide historical context on current issues such as religious sectarianism, colonialism, terrorism, ethnic rivalry, revolution, democratic development, and the political economy of oil. It will examine well-known Israeli-Palestinian and Saudi-Iranian conflicts, as well as lesser-known regional rivalries, such as the Russian-backed conflict in Syria. It will also explore intra-regional co-operation, from OPEC to Ba’athist Pan-Arabism and beyond.