This program will introduce students to six important Spanish cities—Segovia, Toledo, Córdoba, Sevilla and Granada—along with their history and cultural legacy. In particular, we will focus on the Medieval period when three different religious communities—Christian, Muslim and Jewish—struggled to co-exist and forge a new society, eventually evolving into modern Spain. The arrival in 711 c.e. of the conquering Arabs, along with their superior material lifestyle for the times, fueled a renaissance in Spain right up until their expulsion by the Catholic rulers, Isabel and Ferdinand, in 1492, the same year the Jews were also expelled. The all-pervasive cultural exchanges that occurred during these eight centuries among these three groups irrevocably shaped Spain´s identity and, from today´s perspective, now provide stimulating comparisons for examining current world events. Full program details.

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