Spain: Cultures of the Contact Zone - Seville, Al-Andalus, and the Atlantic World

January 2-24, 2009

SPAN 225 / HONR 248E / SPAN 699 / CORE (3 credits)

Drawing from the cultural mosaic of the city of Seville and its surrounding region, students enrolled in Cultures of the Contact Zone will explore the Mediterranean and Transatlantic contexts that have influenced and shaped Spain’s history, identity, cultural and artistic expressions. Students will analyze the so-called convivencia period, when Jews, Muslims, and Christians co-existed in medieval Spain, aiming to understand the repercussions of this legacy. We will also examine the flourishing of the Spanish empire, its expansion towards the Atlantic islands and the New World and how this process changed the Old World forever.

Classes will combine lectures, discussions, readings, and to allow students to interact with the local culture and living history of the convivencia.

Accomodations

Students will stay with local Spanish families and in hotels.

Faculty and Staff

Eyda M. Merediz, Ph.D is a faculty member in the Spanish and Portuguese Department. Her interests focus on Colonial Latin America, Early Modern Spain and Transatlantic studies. For academic program and course information, please contact Dr. Merediz.

Dr. Merediz will arrange and oversee the program state-side, however, there will be 2 TA's who will actually accompany the students to Spain and oversee the group while there .  

For questions about the application, registration and pre-departure logistics, please contact Shoshana Griffith, a Program Assistant in the Study Abroad Office.