"It is only a slight overstatement to say that Moslems and Arabs are essentially seen as either oil suppliers or potential terrorists." - Edward W. Said, Covering Islam (1981)
BENEFITS
◆ Understand current conflicts with greater depth
◆ Develop a more critical geopolitical perspective
◆ Understand the global impact of the Middle East
◆ Interpret current events through the lens of history
◆ Learn through a historical and analytical approach
INTRODUCTION
What happens in the Middle East never stays in the Middle East. From fuel pumps to decisions at the UN Security Council, the region is the beating heart of international politics.
This course is not just a chronology of facts; it is a strategic analysis tool. You will stop being a confused spectator of headlines and become someone who understands the deeper logic behind oil, religion, and power.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS REGION TODAY?
To understand the 21st century, you must look beyond the obvious. The Middle East concentrates:
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The World's Engine: The largest energy reserves and maritime routes where global trade breathes.
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The Clash of Narratives: Where ancient identities and modern states collide.
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The Great Powers' Chessboard: The arena where the US, Russia, and China test their influence.
WHAT WILL YOU MASTER?
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Geography as Destiny: How terrain and location dictate who holds power in the region.
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The Language of Power: The real role — and the myths — of religion in politics.
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The Oil Cycle: How energy finances projects of hegemony and defense.
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Historical Ruptures: From the artificial borders of colonialism to today's technological revolutions.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
✓ Access to all lessons
✓ Course organized in modules
✓ Online access through the platform
✓ Ability to review lessons whenever you wish
✓ Certificate of completion
If you want to understand: the historical roots of Middle East conflicts; the region's strategic disputes; and their impact on global politics — this course was created for you.
COURSE STRUCTURE
MODULE 1: WHY DOES THE MIDDLE EAST MATTER?
Why does everything converge here? Understand the myths and reality of the region's strategic weight.
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The Middle East in the international system
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Oil, strategic routes, and global chokepoints
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Religion, politics, and power: why everything overlaps
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Common myths and misconceptions about the region
MODULE 2: BEFORE ISLAM: TRIBES, EMPIRES, AND IDENTITIES
Tribes, empires, and Arabia before Islam: what Europe forgot to tell you.
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Pre-Islamic Arabia: tribes, trade, and power
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Byzantium and Persia: the Middle East before Europe
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Religion, ethnicity, and territory: core concepts
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What really changes with Islam?
MODULE 3: ISLAM: FAITH, POLITICS, AND POWER
Sunnis, Shias, and political legitimacy. Understand what religion explains — and what it conceals.
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Islam as a religious and social system
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Sunnis and Shias: the origin of the divide
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Caliphate, authority, and legitimacy
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Does Islam explain everything? What it does — and doesn't — account for
MODULE 4: ISLAMIC EMPIRES AND THE OTTOMAN LEGACY
The Ottoman collapse and the power vacuum that gave rise to today's map.
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Classical caliphates: expansion and administration
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The Ottoman Empire as a political structure
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Imperial vs. national identities
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Why did the Ottoman collapse change everything in the Middle East?
MODULE 5: THE SIN OF BORDERS
Colonialism and the Sykes-Picot Agreement: how lines on paper created decades of conflict.
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World War I in the Middle East
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The Sykes–Picot Agreement and new borders
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British and French mandates
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Fragile states, powerful elites
MODULE 6: THE PAN-ARABISM DREAM
The rise and fall of nationalisms. Why did Arab unity projects fail?
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Arab nationalism and pan-Arabism
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Nasserism and Arab socialism
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Parties, armies, and coups
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Why these projects failed
MODULE 7: THE GORDIAN KNOT: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Territory, identity, and security. A deep analysis of why the conflict seems unsolvable.
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The British Mandate and the creation of Israel
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Arab-Israeli wars
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Palestine: identity, territory, and politics
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Why doesn't the conflict resolve?
MODULE 8: POLITICAL ISLAM AND REVOLUTION
From 1979 to the present: the power of ideas that challenge traditional structures.
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What is political Islam?
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The Muslim Brotherhood and new currents
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The Iranian Revolution of 1979
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Sunni vs. Shia political Islam
MODULE 9: THE PETROMONARCHIES AND THE GULF
Black gold and diplomacy. How the desert became the planet's financial center.
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Petro-state nationalism
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Saudi Arabia and religious legitimacy
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The Persian Gulf and global alliances
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Oil as political protection
MODULE 10: THE REGIONAL POWERS' GAME
Iran and Turkey: the quest for new leadership and proxy wars.
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Iran: ideology, security, and influence
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Turkey: Islam, nationalism, and regional ambition
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Sunni vs. Shia as the language of power
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Proxy wars
MODULE 11: COLLAPSING STATES
Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. What happens when institutions fail and militias take over.
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Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and fragile states
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External interventions
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Militias, identities, and survival
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The social impact of conflicts
MODULE 12: THE MIDDLE EAST TOMORROW
The rise of China, Russia's return, and new normalization agreements. What to watch now?
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The US, Russia, and China in the region
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Agreements, normalizations, and tensions
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The future of political Islam
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What to watch in the coming years
Map: Sykes-Picot Agreement. Source: AlJazeera
🎁 SIGN UP AND RECEIVE A FREE EBOOK
Join the VIP list and you will immediately receive access to:
No More Shallow Takes: A Serious Guide to Middle East Geopolitics
A dense, no-nonsense introduction to the Middle East, written by the same researcher who built this course.
DIFFERENTIALS THAT ENRICH YOUR EXPERIENCE
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Systemic Analysis: We don't isolate conflicts. We connect the dots between history, economics, and faith.
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Strategic Visual Materials: Lessons rich in maps and infographics to aid geographic understanding.
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Accessible Language, Academic Rigor: Dense content explained clearly and to the point.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
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Students and Professionals: Who need a critical edge in International Relations, History, or Journalism.
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Curious Minds and Analysts: Who reject simplistic explanations and want to understand how the world works.
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Decision Makers: Who seek context to understand fluctuations in the global market.
The Middle East is a complex system.
This course is your instruction manual.
FAQ
1. DO I NEED A BACKGROUND IN HISTORY OR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS?
No. The course is designed to be accessible to both beginners and those who already have a foundation in the subject. We start with the fundamentals and progress to complex analysis. If you have curiosity and a desire to understand the world, this course is for you.
2. IS THE COURSE ONLY ABOUT RELIGION AND WARS?
No. Although these are important topics, the focus is Geopolitics. This means we analyze the economy (oil and trade routes), strategic geography, the interests of major powers (US, China, Russia), and how everything connects to form the current landscape.
3. WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE LESSONS?
The lessons are structured for a complete learning experience. You will have access to in-depth, well-organized articles, accompanied by exclusive maps and infographics that contextualize each topic visually and clearly.
4. DOES THE COURSE ADDRESS WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW (CURRENT CONFLICTS)?
Absolutely. The goal of understanding history is precisely to be able to interpret today's news. The course provides the tools to understand the roots of contemporary conflicts and anticipate future trends in the region.
5. WHAT IS THE COURSE DURATION AND HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE IT?
The course is 100% online and you set your own pace. Modules will be released progressively as they become available.
6. DOES THE COURSE OFFER A CERTIFICATE?
Yes. Upon completing all modules, you will receive a certificate proving your dedication to the study of Middle East Geopolitics — ideal for enriching your academic or professional profile.
7. IS THE COURSE'S APPROACH NEUTRAL?
Our commitment is to technical and strategic analysis. The goal is not to take sides, but to present the facts, the interests of each actor involved, and the historical structures — allowing you to develop your own critical thinking based on solid data.
REFUND POLICY
We believe in the depth of this content. However, if within 7 days you feel the course is not what you expected, we will refund your investment in full, no questions asked. Our commitment is to your intellectual satisfaction.
QUESTIONS?
If you still have questions about the content or access, contact our support team: contato@orientehistory.com
Your security and transparency are our priority.
EXPLORE ALSO
Long before modern nations, long before the great powers that dominate the international scene today, civilizations emerged that would forever change the course of human history. It was in the Middle East that some of the world's first cities were born, where the first writing systems emerged, where some of the first laws were recorded, and where forms of political organization developed that would shape societies for millennia.
Among great rivers, deserts, and trade routes, extraordinary cultures flourished — the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, the pharaohs of Egypt, the powerful empires of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. Civilizations that built impressive monuments, developed advanced knowledge, and left a legacy that still echoes in the modern world. Understanding these societies is not just studying a distant past. It is discovering the deep roots of civilization itself.
In this course, you will be invited to embark on a fascinating journey through the world of the ancient civilizations of the Middle East, exploring their cities, empires, beliefs, and achievements. Because understanding the beginning of human history is, to a great extent, understanding the beginning of everything.
FORMAT:
10 MODULES
LESSONS:
ARTICLES
MAPS:
ON THE BLOG
Throughout history, few texts have sparked as much fascination, debate, and interpretation as biblical prophecies. Written during periods marked by wars, political crises, exiles, and profound transformations in the ancient Middle East, these words have crossed millennia and continue to be read, discussed, and interpreted to this day. Prophets spoke in times of powerful empires, warned kings, announced judgments and hope, and recorded messages born in very specific historical contexts.
But to truly understand these prophecies, one must go beyond an isolated reading of the texts. It is necessary to know the world in which they arose — the landscape of ancient civilizations, the conflicts between empires, the political crises of Israel and Judah, and the transformations that marked the Middle East throughout history.
In this course, you will be invited to explore biblical prophecies within their historical, cultural, and political context, seeking to understand not only what the texts say, but also the environment in which they were written. Because understanding biblical prophecies begins with a fundamental question: What kind of world did the prophets speak into?