This course is a lower division introduction to the study of the contemporary Middle East and North Africa, with emphasis on historical trajectories, political, social, and cultural transformations, and religious phenomena. It covers topics related to the Arab world, Turkey, Iran, and Israel from an interdisciplinary perspective. The intended audience for the course is Middle Eastern Studies majors, prospective majors, and minors, for whom it fulfills the lower division requirement, as well as students in other majors interested in the Middle East.