REL 28.07 Disease and Desire in Medieval Islam
This course investigates how Muslims from the medieval to modern eras made use of poetry, art, religious and scientific literature to understand their own bodies and those around them, especially in terms of disease and desire. Topics to be studied include how medieval Muslims described the allure and danger of different kinds of bodies, as well as their interest in homoeroticism, romantic love, the Prophet Muhammad’s sex life, the thrills of travel and sexual enhancement.