The Assassins
Legend says that the English word “assassin” derives from the Arabic word for hashish. The 'Assassins' are said to have been a medieval group of "radical" Muslims, centered at the Alamut fortress in Iran, who would take drugs (hashish) and murder important political figures. But who were the Assassins really? And how did their name make its way into the English language? This course will explore these questions from a variety of angles. We will study medieval texts (in English translation)—reading about the assassins both from their own perspective and from the perspective of their enemies, and also learning about the legends that circulated about them in medieval Europe. Central to the course is the question of memory and how the Assassins have been remembered in more contemporary works. We will consider the reception history of the Assassins, discussing modern novels, a contemporary Syrian television show, and the famous video game franchise Assassin’s Creed. The larger themes we will be discussing throughout the quarter include the relation between religion, violence, and terrorism; Islamic sectarianism; and how the present shapes the way history is remembered.