1492 History and Memory
What is this travel course about?
This travel class uses 1492 as a lens to explore the Roman, Arab, and Christian history of Spain, focusing on the Christian conquest of Muslin Granada, the Christian expulsion of the Jews and the creation of the Sephardic diaspora, and the fateful Columbus voyage which brought together the fates of Africa, the Americas, and Europe, all of which happened in just one year: 1492. We will also explore this history through key biographies — some familiar, like Christopher Columbus, some less so, like Queen Isabella, “The Catholic,” who in 1492 both conquered Granada and sponsored Columbus and King Fernando III, now Saint Fernando, who conquered Cordoba and Seville from Muslim control 250 years before her. Traveling through the most beautiful cities of Southern Spain and their world-famous sites, eating tapas, watching flamenco, and bearing witness at the only remaining early modern synagogues in Spain, we will also analyze how these 1492 events are understood, explained, and commemorated in Spanish public historical practice in museums and memorials today. This class is thus about 1492, but also about how we, in 2023, understand 1492 and what that pivotal year has come to represent to us, more than five hundred years later.
Does this course fulfill any major/minor/concentration requirements?
An experiential requirement in the History Major
Are there prerequisites for this travel course?
The ability to walk for several hours a day in warm weather
Where will we go?
In Spain: Toledo, Cordoba, Granada, and Seville
What are the dates of the travel course?
May 8 - June 1, 2024
How much is the program fee?
$5,050
What costs are covered in my program fee?
Airfare, lodging, in-country transportation, entrance and activity fees, and six group meals.
What other costs should I prepare for beyond my program fee?
Most meals, souvenirs, and any additional, non-group activities on your own.
Are there scholarships available for this travel course?
Yes!