Islamic Medieval Spain in Literature, History and Cultural Memory
Cross-listed with HIST 390D
This student-directed seminar invites students to examine the nexus of identity, race and power in Medieval Spain as a marker of transition towards ‘modernity’ (711-present). Topics include:
- The emergence of Islamic rule;
- the reconquest of Spain and the Crusades;
- Legal history of the Inquisition, conversion, and expulsion;
- The intersection between the image of the “other” and the legacy of the “New World”;
- Nationalism, European integration, and immigration;
- Contemporary debates around interfaith relations in Al-Andalus;
- The conflicting systems of power in primary and secondary textual evidence, such as film, propaganda, and poetry.
Required readings: TBA
Language of instruction: English
Prerequisite: No prerequisites. Open to undergraduate students in 3rd year or higher.
Note: This course fulfills the Literature Requirement for the Bachelor of Arts.