Spain during the Middle Ages (c. 500-1500) represented a crossroads of religious cultures. Some historians have described this as a /convivencia/ or period of harmonious coexistence. For others it was a time of hostile /reconquista/, a march toward a unified Catholic state in 1492 ending with the defeat of the Moors and expulsion of the Jews. This seminar will examine the complexity of medieval Spain as something more than either /convivencia/ or /reconquista/. Using key primary and secondary texts we will analyze the changing relations and the cultural, political, and social interaction among Jews, Christians, and Muslims in shaping the legacy of medieval Spain.
Seminar led by Ann Kuzdale, Chicago State University