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Welcome
Thank you for your interest in China Institute's National Endowment for the Humanities-funded summer institute, China and the Islamic World. This four-week program was held at Columbia University from July 18, 2005 through August 12, 2005. This site has been established to serve as a source of information for those interested in learning more about the subject of China and Islam, as well as a forum for exchange of ideas and course-related resources. Please visit our bulletin board for the latest news and updates.
Program Overview
Although the history of China's relationship with Islam isn't widely known, it is, in fact, almost as old as Islam itself. Muslim merchants and political emissaries probably entered China as early as the seventh century, the period when Islam first expanded beyond the Arabian peninsula.
China and the Islamic World surveyed both Islam and China and Islam in China within the context of (1) pre-modern empires and cultural exchange across the Eurasian continent from the second century BCE onward; (2) European imperialism and twentieth century resistance and accommodation to it; and (3) China's rise as an economic and political power in the past three decades. Emphasis was placed on how these issues factored into major historical themes that surface throughout Eurasian history, including:
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- Conflicts between sedentary and nomadic societies;
- Cultural exchange and cultural diffusion;
- The role of religions such as Buddhism and Islam in empire building;
- Empire building and the modern quest for national identity and self-determination.
China and the Islamic World met every weekday for four weeks. Each week had a major theme; each day had a unified topic and was divided into several working sessions. Professor Morris Rossabi, a preeminent specialist on China and Inner Asia, served as the program's lead academic. He introduced each day's topic, followed by a scholar with special expertise in that field who presented an enhancement session. To view a copy of the daily schedule and syllabus click here.
In addition to presentations, discussions and readings, China and the Islamic World featured cultural programs and site visits in and around New York City. It was a rigorous and exciting introduction to a subject of growing importance to the United States in the twenty-first century.
Some Comments from the Participants:
“The level of my teaching and scholarship will be significantly enhanced for years as a result of my participation in China and the Islamic World.”
“The workshop was excellent! The daily lectures by Morris Rossabi were consistently engrossing and challenging. His depth and breadth of expertise were exceptional. I anticipate being able to integrate a great deal of the information I received into my classes. I had never had such a comprehensive view of Central Asian History.”
“This was an incredibly enriching experience that has greatly expanded my understanding of the topic and its relationship to the topics that I teach. The other participants as well as the structure of the institute provided for the exchange of a wealth of practical resources for use as a teacher.”
“The Institute has confirmed my desire to continue studying China and to eventually teach there.”
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