This course introduces students to the ethnic history, cultural heritage, and social worlds of the Turkic peoples of Central Eurasia. It explores both the historical roots and the contemporary diversity of Turkic-speaking communities, situating them within the broader cultural, social, and economic contexts of the region. For the purposes of this course, Central Eurasia includes the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as neighboring regions in China, northern Afghanistan, northern Iran, and parts of the Russian Federation. Students will trace the origins, migrations, and historical development of Turkic peoples and examine how Turkic societies evolved across different periods and landscapes. The course highlights the remarkable diversity of Turkic cultures, with particular attention to material culture, social organization, and everyday life. Key themes include nomadic and sedentary lifeways, patterns of mobility and interaction with other populations, ethnicity and kinship, language and cultural identity, religious beliefs and practices, and traditions of literature and art. The course combines lectures, guided reading assignments, and rich audiovisual materials, helping students develop a nuanced understanding of Turkic societies and their enduring cultural legacies across Central Eurasia.
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nespecifikováno
Students are expected to attend lectures and seminars. The course consists of 13 lectures (13 hours) and 13 interactive seminars (13 hours) involving discussions of the readings, individual and group assignments. For both lectures and seminars, students are expected to read materials specified below. Students will also develop their analytical and critical writing skills while working on final paper. Regular, active and informed participation is expected. 60% Assessment will be based on attendance, preparation of readings, participation in class discussion with the focus on qualitative contribution to the discussion, ability to answer questions based on the readings, come up with own interpretations and react to comments made by other students. Final paper (2000 words): 40% The final paper should relate to any aspect of the course. It can be a critical review of the existing literature on a specific topic, or an original piece of research (format and topic need to be approved by the instructor). The final paper is due by the seminar 12.
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