NES 1964

FWS: Jerusalem Stories: How texts and artifacts tell the tale of the Holy City

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2022-2023.

Jerusalem is home to holy sites venerated by the adherents of the three great western monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For most of its existence it has also been a national capital or major provincial center for the many states and empires which vied for control of the vital Levantine land bridge connecting Africa, Europe and Asia. Thus, many pivotal events which shaped western civilization were played out in the streets and structures of Jerusalem. Through a series of writing exercises this class will explore selected aspects of the interplay between the history and archaeology in understanding Jerusalem throughout its long life, including the Bronze Age, Jerusalem as the capital of the Davidic dynasty, the Roman–Byzantine era city of Herod and Jesus, Jerusalem of the Caliphs, the Crusader and medieval Jerusalem, and Ottoman Jerusalem as the city entered the modern era. A special emphasis will be to examine the debates and controversies that affect our understanding of transformative moments in the city's life. Students will examine original textual sources in translation and archaeological materials to better understand the nature of these debates.

When Offered Fall.

Satisfies Requirement First-Year Writing Seminar.

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