The discussion group ended up being very fun, but that depends on your TA. It was a hit or miss with the lectures, some being boring and others extremely interesting. How much you enjoy this class really depends on how much you enjoy history classes in general. I wouldn't take this class if you are just looking to fulfill the requirement.

wonderful person, i really liked it.

Not as bad as others say, but not the type of professor who will get you interested in ME history. I've heard people worry that they would lose interest in it from the class, but this fear is unwarranted. If you're interested in ME history and are NOT a freshman, you will do fine. In the end, he knows that the material is hard and grades easily.

great prof! One of my fav prof at Georgetown! lectures are a little dry but he knows what he's talking about. long readings but midterm and final are graded pretty easily. midterm is just memorization, take this class if you want a requirement done and don't mind memorizing for a good grade

One of 3 profs for my study abroad in Turkey (villa). Saw him everyday for 4 months, took 2 amazing history classes with him. Very knowledgeable, had interesting discussions. Has great stories from his life. Fair grader, flexible with changes in syllabus to accommodate students. I'm NOT a history guy but really enjoyed it all. A funny joker to boot

Not for everyone, but one of the most interesting and engaging classes i've taken. he demands a lot, but is helpful and also has a great, if quirky sense of humor. he made me infinitely more interested in the region!

This class is different to many history classes I have taken, but in a good way. The readings are quite heavy, but are really specific and interesting. As well as the class content itself, I learnt a lot about the study of history itself and some useful analytical tools. Whenever I went to see him Agoston was always approachable and very helpful.

not only changed the way i thought about the region, but also how i studied history. prof. agoston's knowledge about the region is vast (plus, he tells amusing stories). i entered the class with little background, and while it was challenging, it was very much worth the work. i would definitely recommend this class.

Professor Agoston is both an intellectual and an effective teacher---a rare combination. His class is very engaging (if you have a minimum interest in the subject matter) and his exams/papers are fairly graded. Additionally ,he is very approachable and down to earth. I would highly recommend him!

Professor Agoston is very excited during his lectures, and is a preeminent expert in the field. His Middle East 1 history course is exceedingly easy if you can memorize large amounts of information, and is actually quite interesting as well. He is a nice guy who loves to have students talk with him about the course, even freshmen.

middle east history I class is amazing. It does, however, it require a LOT of work and extraordinary memorization skills. His exams are excruciatingly hard &require a lot of intensive preparation but they are graded fairly. He is not the kind of professor who will refuse to give you full credit if you deserve it. He is Very interested in the topic.

Class is definitely skewed towards the Ottomans (2/3 tests dealt with them), and the reading can be tedious--especially now that he requires you post a half-page reflection on the readings prior to every class. Pretty easy though if you can memorize a hundred or so terms before the tests and show up to class.

I've had the pleasure of taking not 1 but 2 of Prof Agoston's classes. He is a great teacher who is not only passionate about what he studies but also extremely accomplished in his field. Yes there's a good amount of reading but it's a history class and Agoston is very helpful and always available. I definitely recommend taking him while at gtown!

Great class that covers a lot of material from European and Ottoman history. Prof. Agoston is extremely knowledgable and a remarkably fair grader, but you definitely have to put in the work. The bulk of the grade comes from a research paper which you are given a lot of freedom with.

Took him for Middle East I; 2 tests and an optional final (best 2 of the 3 grades count), 2 short response papers and a 10 minute presentation. Lectures were hit or miss, but as long as you show up and memorize 60 or so terms for the tests you'll do fine. Very easy grader and a nice guy, he knows his stuff, would definitely recommend taking him.

Very Good class. The readings are light but covers the topics sufficiently deep. Gabor is a master at what he teaches and selects just the appropriate sources to get the points across. There are two response essays based upon the readings and 3 tests of which 2 of them counts. Overall the class is easy and interesting. Please take it.

Prof. Agoston is a great professor. That being said, this is the sort of class you have to give proper time and attention to. The bulk of the information you'll be tested on is going to come from the readings. Personally I put this course on the back burner and it came back to get me at the end. Overall it's a great class. Take advantage of it.

Professor Agoston is a really nice guy who knows everything there is to know about the Ottoman Empire. He's a fair grader and very helpful if you ask for help. The 2.5 hour class was long and sometimes slow, but I ultimately enjoyed the class and would take it again. Don't wait to start the final paper.

His classes are going to seem very intimidating and you're going to feel like the world is ending; however, Professor Agoston is on your side and is always willing to help you. The TA's are always available to help also. I would recommend you start studying at least a few days before the test because it is a lot of memorization. Great guy!

I've taken prof. Agoston for both the gen-ed and an upper level history class and he's the man. He's extremely knowledgeable in his field and loves to ramble, so some might find lectures dull (not me) . He's very clear about assignments (not many), and he's a very lenient grader:skim the reading, show up, participate and you'll do fine. Take him!

Agoston is one of Georgetown's greatest gems. If you don't speak Arabic or aren't versed in Arab studies, you may feel out of your depth at first. Yet Agoston is extremely helpful outside of class and happy to give you books to get you up to level. The readings are fascinating, Agoston is a hilarious lecturer and you will learn so much from him!!

A good professor and very knowledgeable about his topic. Concious about helping students and was helpful with research projects. Seminar at times could be tangential, but normally on interesting tangents in fairness!

The professor is incredibly well spoken, and very knowledgable about Ottomans. Lots of reading assigned, skim one and make sure to participate. Very approachable outside of class, and is more than willing to help students as well as just chat. Exams are memorization based, start two to three days before.

I was not a big fan of history and left my core history courses until senior year. However, professor Agoston made me fall in love with Ottoman history. He has profound knowledge of the subject he teaches and is also a great lecturer. He is willing to help you outside of class and improve your grades, if you are willing to put in the effort.

Agoston is by far one of the best professors I ever had. He is incredibly engaging and although the material may be difficult at times, its hard to notice as he keeps it very entertaining and interesting.

Although the lecture is not structured as well, it is an easy class to get an A if you skim through your readings and have basic knowledge of the Middle East. He also drops your lowest exam grade. Easy A if you put in a little effort.

Agoston is a good prof for upper level classes where you can actually participate but can be deadly (Ive heard) in lecture style classes. For his upper level classes its all papers so you dont need to memorize everything (which is good because he does assign a lot of reading). Solid choice, especially if interested in Ottoman history.

Professor Agoston is one of those few teachers that pushes his students while not being overbearing which is very rare quality among professors. His lectures are also very insightful and do not enforce a particular historical argument on his students. The grading and expectations are clear and fair. One of the best teachers I've ever had.

Agoston is incredibly knowledgeable about the topics covered in the class... that being said, some of his lectures are hard to follow as he includes very specific details/tangents that are hard to put in context. Grading is really up to your TA. Reading was rather extensive for each class, but assignments were very straightforward. Learned a lot!

I really like Gabor and took a few of his classes (HIST-160 too). That said, lectures can be hard to follow but he is great in smaller groups where you can ask questions if you get lost (which does happen with his lectures). If you show you care at all (office hours to ask questions), he gives you the benefit of the doubt. Great stories too - ask!

Some of these reviews are unfair. His lectures can drag and sometimes he goes on unrelated tangents, but he does want students to succeed. He provides plenty of clarity about what's being tested and study aids on Canvas. He has lots of good stories too, but don't take this class if you're lazy. Don't skip class and be sure to participate a lot.

Agoston is caring and clearly very knowledgeable. Lectures and discussions can be boring, but you can easily get by doing none of the reading. Quizzes and map quizzes are open note. Essays graded generously. I didn't learn a lot, but did well and would take again.

I really enjoy Professor Agoston's classes. He's knowledgeable and passionate. He cares deeply about Middle Eastern history and is an expert in the field. As a student, prepare to do a lot of reading. However, you get what you put in. I will have taken three of his classes during my time at Georgetown. I would take more if I could.

This is definitely a hard class. But one that's worth it. Prof. Agoston is so well-knowledged in his field and while can be difficult to keep up with the readings, it always ends up being worth it during the discussions. But again, only take it if you are willing to read that many readings. (He is such a caring an awesome professor).

Prof. Agoston is a great professor. He might be difficult to follow, but he's surely an expert on the topic, and his interest rubs off on you.

Every class someone does a presentation on the readings for the week, and then class is just a discussion based off of the topics in the readings. Super easy and super manageable. Professor Agoston is incredibly knowledgeable, and does a great job of explaining historical events. Easy and clear grading. Highly recommend.

Would highly recommend his ME 1 for early history req. Fairly easy class because everything (besides final) is open note and TAs are known to be chill for the most part. Lectures are boring at times but he's definitely a real expert. Stopped doing readings but I still learned a lot. Good class.

Prof is so sweet and funny. open note quizzes (easy and drops the lowest), 2 500 word reflection papers (also not too bad) and a 500 word book review. genuinely cares about his students and history as a whole. 10/10 would recommend any day of the week and ignore all bad reviews. barely did any reading, but still learned so much.

Professor Agoston cares a lot. He can ramble during lecture, but he's funny and incredibly knowledgable. Above all wants his students to learn. I really liked this course, and thought it was one of the most interesting ones I've taken. Readings are really well chosen and interesting. It doesn't take too much effort to do really well in this class.

Prof Agoston is a caring and approachable professor. There's a lot of reading each week but as long as you do your best to understand the topic of the week, you should be fine. Be ready to participate in weekly discussions, as it is a big part of your grade. Overall - the class is very interesting and he is always willing to help in office hours.