COURSE SYLLABUS: CIVILIZATION & CULTURE (SPANISH & ISLAMIC)

Location: Granada, Spain

Partner Institution: University of Granada

Course Title: Spanish & Islamic Civilization & Culture (Civilización y cultura españolas e islámica en España)

Session: Summer (CILYC)

Instruction in: Spanish

Contact Hours: 45 hours

Credits: 3 credits, 4 quarter units

Course Description

This class explains and considers the basic points of Spanish & Islamic cultures in the Spanish Peninsula. It will delve into the topics as well as the specific characteristics of the different aspects of a very concrete theme. The course covers cultural aspects of different fields of the study of Spain and interrelates them, when possible, to make an exhaustive study of the phenomenon considered universally as genuinely Spanish. This course is divided into three blocks that teach the student the most important aspects of the Hispanic-Muslim civilization and. Block I gives an overview of Arab culture. In Block II the student learns and understands the reality of Al-Andalus on a political, economic, social, and cultural level. In Arab culture the city is the nucleus where these aspects are inter-related. The course studies the Hispanic-Arab city with special focus on Granada and the Alhambra as real-life examples.

Program

Block I: Arab-Islamic Culture

Al-Andalus

Topic I: Pre-Islamic Arabia

• Social, political, economic, religious, and linguistic structure of Arabia before the birth of the Prophet

Topic 2: Mohammed

• Prophet and man of the State
• Biography of Mohammed until the beginning of the revelation
• The beginning of Islam
• The development of Islam until the death of the Prophet

Topic 3: Modus Vivendi of Islam

• The Koran and the Hadices
• The pillars of Islamic faith
• The beginning of Islamic theology
• The juridic schools

Topic 4: Political History of Al-Andalus

Block II: The Al-Andalus Environment

Topic I: From the Conquest to the Caliphate

• The Arab-Berber conquest
• An emirate dependent on Damascus
• The Omeya Caliphate of Cordoba

Topic 2: The Kingdoms of Taifa and the Magreb Dynasties

• Disintegration of Al-Andalus
• Taifas
• Almohades
• Almorávides

Topic 3: The Kingdom of Granada

• Granada of the Nasries
• The nostalgia of Al-Andalus
• Moriscos

Topic 4: The tolerance of Muslim Spain

• Arabs and Berbers
• Jews
• Mozárabes
• Mudéjares

Topic 5: Al-Andalus a Feudalism Sui Generic

• Agriculture and ranching
• Industry: production and professional organization
• Commerce

The Hispano-Arab City

Topic 6: The City

• Alcazabas
• Medinas
• Arrabeles
• Jewish sector
• Musara and musalla
• Cemeteries
• Streets, adarves, plazas
• El zoco: alhóndigas and alcaicerías
• The outskirts of the city

Topic 7: The Architecture

• Houses
• Palaces
• Baths
• Mosques

The Andalusian Culture

Topic 9: Poetic Splendor of Al-Andalus

• Topics
• The most relevant poets
• Popular poetry: Ibn Guzmán and el zéjel
• Relationship between Andalusian poetry and Romance poetry

Topic 10: Hispanic-Muslim Art

• General vision
• Architecture
• Al-Hambra
• Applied arts
• Dance and music

Block III: Spanish Culture

• Spain: Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?
• The different Spains: geographic, linguistic, and cultural diversity
• Bullfighting: symbol, rite, and  metaphor
• Flamenco and duende
• Other forms of music. Other languages: castellano, gallego, catalán, vasco, etc.
• Gastronomy: the Mediterranean diet. olive oil and wine.
• Religion and folklore, manifestations: Holy Week (Semana Santa) the romeries (romerías)
• The Spanish family structure
• Contemporary Spain: principal ideological, political, and cultural tendencies
• Spain as part of the European Union

Activities

In addition to following the explanations given in class, reading articles about concrete topics presented by the professor are considered an instructive, complementary and recommended element of the class. These articles could be from books or newspapers, or come from film or audio recordings. They will be of a nature considered appropriate by the professor to the topics discussed. The class will also follow magistrate explanations, reference readings, films, and visits to the architectural visages of the Islamic past found in Granada.

Course Evaluation

The final course grade is determined by:

• Active class participation and attendance: 20%
• Student involvement in cultural visits and activities: 30%
• Final exam and an overview report on the points studied in class: 50%

Bibliography

This is an interactive subject and there are many different types of materials used in its teaching that are best suited for each of the topics discussed (books, newspaper articles, radio excerpts, film, music, documentaries, etc.).

Readings:

• El Corán, introducción, traducción y notas de VE RNET, Juan, Barcelona, Planeta, 1983.
• SANTIAGO SIMÓN, E., Las claves del mundo islámico (622-1945) nº 49, Barcelona, Planeta, 1991.
• COLLINS, R., La Conquista Árabe (710-797), Barcelona, Crítica, 1991.
• SECO DE LUCENA, L., Plano de Granada árabe, Granada, 1 910.
• LÓPEZ GUZMÁN, R La arquitectura del Islam Occidental, Granada, 1995

Films:

• Mahoma, el mensajero de Dios, Producción británico-kuwaití, dirigida por Mustafa Akkad.
• Requiem por Granada, fragmentos de la serie de televisión.
• Legado Andalusí, fragmentos audio -visuales.

Contact Information:
SOL EDUCATION ABROAD
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