Should we speak of Islam as a single tradition? What is Islam's relation to other religious faiths? How has Islam shaped -- and been shaped by -- local traditions? What is the relation between Islam and politics? This class looks at Islam and Muslim societies from the emergence of the prophetic faith until the present day. Students are introduced to the diversity of interpretations of the Prophet Muhammad's message and to Islamic practice in a variety of geographical and historical contexts, to understand how Islam has influenced and continues to influence world history.