History Center exhibit chronicles excavation at Ithaca’s ‘Freedom Church’
The exhibit on Ithaca’s St. James A.M.E. Zion Church will open on Juneteenth with a community event scheduled for 4 p.m.
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Study the languages, literatures, cultures, religions and history of regions from ancient Sumer to the modern Middle East.
Explore the Department
What is the "Near East"?
The Near East is an older term for the Middle East. As defined by the department, the “Near East” extends from Morocco (and medieval Spain), through Egypt, the Levant (Israel and Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan), Turkey, Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Faculty specializing in the earliest millennia of the region’s history bring a range of disciplines, methods and theoretical orientations to bear on the study of what is conventionally called the ancient Near East. Geographically, our vision is wide, extending from the shores of the eastern Mediterranean to the lowlands of Mesopotamia, from the highlands of Anatolia and the Caucasus to the plains of southwestern Iran.
Learn more about our faculty, research, undergraduate study and graduate study.
Fall 2025 Course of Interest
Elementary Turkish through TV Series (TURK 1330)
MTWR 12:20-1:10pm
4 credits, student option grading
Gain a deeper understanding of Turkish language, society, and culture.
More information about Elementary Turkish through TV Series.
Near Eastern Studies News
From posters to precedent, humanities scholars showcase their research
Projects spanned topics from Confederate cemeteries to Korean textiles.
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Outstanding faculty win 2025 teaching and advising awards
Among those being recognized for exceptional teaching and mentorship this year are faculty members Begüm Adalet, Claudia Verhoeven, and Marcelo Aguiar.
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'Courses outside of my major were among the most fascinating and valuable I took'
Sam Bueker is majoring in government & Near Eastern studies.
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'I have a better sense of my place in the world'
Hyrum Edwards is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar who also majored in history, Jewish studies & Near Eastern studies.
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'I understand truly how interconnected the world and its people are'
Ashley Koca is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar and also majors in Near Eastern studies and history of art.
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Death of Pope Francis marks end of historic papacy
Cornell experts comment on the legacy of Pope Francis, who died on Monday, marking the end of a historic papacy.
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Ethnic cleansing explored in Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Lecture
Columbia University's Khatchig Mouradian will give a lecture, “Ethnic Cleansing in the Long 19th Century: The Native American, Circassian, and Armenian Cases,” on April 24.
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Study a Middle Eastern language
Take Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, or Persian to fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences language requirement!
We also offer instruction in some of the ancient Middle Eastern languages like Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew, Hieroglyphic Egyptian, and Sumerian.
Major in Near Eastern studies
Interested in exploring the languages, literatures, cultures, religions, and history of the Middle East from antiquity to the modern day? Consider pursuing a major in Near Eastern studies.
We also offer undergraduate minors in Arabic and Near Eastern studies.
