Faculty Profile
David Commins
Professor of History; Benjamin Rush Chair in the Liberal Arts and Sciences (1987)
Contact Information
Denny Hall
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Bio
His teaching interests are in modern Middle Eastern history with an emphasis on Islamic thought and political movements. His most recent book is Saudi Arabia: A Modern History. His other books are The Mecca Uprising: An Insider's Account of Salafism and Insurrection in Saudi Arabia, Islam in Saudi Arabia, The Gulf States: A Modern History, The Wahhabi Mission and Saudi Arabia, Historical Dictionary of Syria, and Islamic Reform.
Education
- B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1976
- Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1985
2026-2027 Academic Year
Fall 2026
HIST 121 Middle East to 1750
Cross-listed with MEST 121-01.
MEST 121 Middle East to 1750
Cross-listed with HIST 121-01.
HIST 259 Islam
Cross-listed with MEST 259-01 and RELG 259-01.
MEST 259 Islam
Cross-listed with HIST 259-01 and RELG 259-01.
RELG 259 Islam
Cross-listed with HIST 259-01 and MEST 259-01.