Assignment for Section:
Friday, November 7, 1997
Non-Muslims

Two-part writing assignment:

1. Consult a good dictionary and write down the definitions of "toleration," "discrimination," "subjugation," and "persecution." Think about the relationship between these four terms.

2. Drawing on the Lewis readings, write a short essay in which you address the following questions: How did Muslim jurists and rulers treat their non-Muslim (dhimmi) subjects? What is your personal assessment of this treatment? In answering this last question, what is the historical yardstick that you are using as your unit of measurement? That is to say, how is the Muslim treatment of religious minorities similar to or different from the treatment of minorities in other civilizations? Finally, do you notice any gap between theory and practice?

3. Don't neglect to proofread/spell-check your essay before turning it in!