Middle East: Introduction
Taken together, Middle Eastern and Islamic history constitute a vast field of inquiry, covering the entire span of historical time and touching virtually every settled portion of the globe. At the University of Chicago–a recognized center for Middle Eastern and Islamic studies since the early years of the twentieth century–the range of approaches for studying these histories is correspondingly wide, involving not just the history faculty concentrating on these areas but a large number of scholars in other departments, programs, and schools. The university also offers several programs, centers, and workshops (such as: the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Oriental Institute, and the Middle East History and Theory Workshop) that are primarily concerned with Middle Eastern or Islamic studies.