Teacher: Dr Geoffrey King
Frequency: Two sessions per term

These lectures by Dr Geoffrey King will give students a fascinating glimpse into the archaeology of the holy cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, covering aspects such as the materials and techniques used by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to build the first mosque at Madina, the arrival of Umar ibn al-Khattab at al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and the expansion of the haram at Makkah by Uthman ibn al-Affan. Students will be offered a visual history of the three cities and their development over the centuries, beginning with the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the first generations. Other aspects that will be covered include the excavation of an early Islamic city close to Madina, that Dr King was personally involved in, as well as the history of the Darb Zubayda, an ancient Hajj route used by pilgrims for centuries.