This class was very interesting and relevant with the current political climate. Tons of reading, but all very informative, and you don't really have to go to lecture. Having a good TA is very helpful, the guy from Baltimore was awesome! Small papers throughout the course were easy, but the final took all three hours. Slightly miserable.

The class was all about Afghanistan-quite possibly the best class I've taken at UCSB. Prof. Humphreys assigns great reading, which is why the class is so interesting and engaging. He's leaving on sabbatical apparently, but if you can catch him while you're enrolled, I definitely recommend it!

The lectures can be very boring, and monotone, but every once in a while, he says something hilarious. He puts his slides online, but it's not much help. A lot of reading assigned. Getting a good TA is key

Took this class for a GE with a moderate interest. So much reading that I feel like a book exploded in my brain, killing many brain cells in the incident. I don't feel like a learned very much. Lectures hard to follow. Final 3 essays for 3 hours. No midterm, and 3 three page essays. Don't take unless you're a history major!!!!

The lectures are pretty dry but interesting if you really get into it. If you do all the readings, you can learn a lot about the Middle East. Three 3 page papers, we read five books, and a course reader. A lot of reading. He wrote one of the books for the class, so he is a complete expert.

Prof. Humphreys is the best teacher in the entire history department. He is a tough grader, but very fair. If you talk to him in office hours and follow his advice, you can and will get a good grade. Class is all paper writing. 145B is the same but with a final which you design yourself. Great class if you are interested in Middle East