Azahar

Azahar: The Cultural History of the Islamic Conquest and the Christian Reconquest of Spain

Azahar seminar students

Our popular, long-running Azahar seminar retraces the splendor of Islamic culture and the drive of Hispanic national reunification. You will learn about the Islamic influence on the rich traditions of the Iberian Peninsula, including the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate in Cordoba and the Nassrid Emirate in Granada. Muslim, Jewish, and Christian coexistence and tolerance helped produce such cultural and social monuments as the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Cathedral of Toledo, the Giralda of Sevilla, and the Alhambra in Granada. All lectures are delivered in situ, and some in Spanish. Course evaluation is based on attendance, participation, quizzes and a final examination. Azahar participants may have a choice of an All-School Excursion, later in the semester, to Barcelona or Lisbon, depending on space availability.

Details

  • Sites:
    Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada
  • Length:
    15 days
  • Course Numbers:
    FLL 400.1 (Foreign Languages & Literature)
    - or -
    HUM 400.1 (Humanities)
  • Credits:
    Two. May not be taken as an audit. An optional third credit is available with completion of an independent study project.
  • Course Fee:
    The course fee for Azahar is included in your program fee. Breakfasts and one meal per day (lunch or dinner) are included in the program, but students should budget approximately $200-$250 for additional meals.
  • Professors:
    • Alejandro Medina
      Professor of Comparative Literature, Philosophy, and Hispanic Studies
    • Robert Kuhl
      Professor of Hispanic Literature and Language
    • Elena Postigo
      Professor of History and Women's Studies