The course deals with the history of the Middle East from the aftermath of WWII to the present day. It is based on texts authored by leading historians, each surveying a different state (excluding Israel), with an eye to regional developments: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the Palestinians, Egypt, and Syria. The course presents multidimensional historical analyses of the different entities, addressing their role in the overall Middle Eastern dynamism.

Every week comprises 4-5 short video lectures with interactive computer-based quizzes that provide instant feedback. The video lectures reference online textbooks which are fully and freely accessible to all the students. Weekly assignments and course projects allow students to use the textbook and additional learning materials to study the topic in depth. Extensive forums are provided to enable students to collaboratively study with peers from around the world, discussing the course materials and the course assignments. The course is structured to allow students to choose whether they want to simply audit the course passively, spending about two hours a week in lectures and online quizzes, or to engage with the materials in depth.