NES 1932

FWS: Conflict and Coexistence: Religion in the Medieval Mediterranean

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2018-2019.

Many modern ideas – such as the "Clash of Civilizations" and convivencia ("living together") hypotheses – have been applied to the history of interfaith interactions among members of Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in premodern times. In this class, we will read a variety of primary sources from the 7th-14th centuries with the goal of understanding medieval encounters (both real and imagined) between these three faith communities. We will discuss different types of encounters, such as the Crusades, travelogues, and trade, focusing throughout on the concept of alterity, or otherness. How and why did medieval authors construct a sense of Other? And how were medieval understandings of the Other related to conceptions of Self? Student essays will use primary texts to examine the creation of the self/other dichotomy, analyze different types of encounters, and ultimately evaluate modern theories about these premodern interactions.

When Offered Spring.

Course Attribute (CU-ITL)
Satisfies Requirement First-Year Writing Seminar.

View Enrollment Information