Arabic and History, MA (Hons)

Arabic is the main language of more than 350 million people inhabiting a huge swathe of land extending from the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf. It is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Arabic and History make an excellent combination. Our joint honours programme allows you to situate your understanding of the Arabic language, the Middle East and the Islamic world in the wider context of human history. You will spend a year of the programme studying and using your Arabic abroad. You will learn both classical and modern Arabic and explore the Arabic-speaking world, past and present. Apart from opening the door to a fascinating and varied region, knowledge of Arabic provides access to the rich intellectual heritage of Islam. Beyond the Middle East, you will develop a thorough understanding of the problems of historical interpretation as applied to a wide range of periods and geographical areas. We offer an exceptional range of history courses, covering: