SPAN 326 - Medieval Spain at the Crossroads of Cultures

Institution:

Catholic University of America

Subject:

Description:

Have Muslims, Christians and Jews ever lived together in harmony? The question is obviously of enormous relevance to modern times, for to be able to answer it in the affirmative would provide some rebuttal to those who assert that the conflict is intractable. Given the long and complex shared history of the three Abrahamic faiths in Spain, one can find many examples of tensions, violence and war. Yet at the same time, Spain also offers fascinating examples of interreligious cooperation, collaboration and tolerance. This course will examine Islamic Spain and its myriad depictions in an interdisciplinary fashion. We will begin by looking at the controversies surrounding the historiography of the period, examining early Arabic and Christian sources, as well as modern histories. The course will then turn to the religious and intellectual traditions, exploring how theologians, philosophers and mystics from all three faith groups attempted to reconcile religion and philosophy. We will also study various aspects of culture in these groups, from architecture, storytelling, music and poetry to culinary traditions. Class will be conducted in English. Students who wish to count the course towards the Spanish (or SIS) major or minor, will meet weekly for an additional hour of discussion in Spanish.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.cua.edu

Phone Number:

(202) 319-5000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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