Starting with Ferdinand Braudel’s La Méditerranée et le monde méditerranéan à l’époque de Phillippe II (The Mediterranean and the mediterranean world in the age of Philip II) the “Mediterranean” has been a focus of theorization about time, environment, religion, economy, and human interaction. Debates and theories about the role of the Mediterranean Sea have been used as models for examining the role of other seas, oceans and, more recently, deserts. Primary among these has been the Indian Ocean. In this class, students will become familiar with various approaches to the history of the pre-modern Mediterranean and the cultures/lands connected to it, and debates as to whether the Indian Ocean may be said to have served comparable function. In addition to these theoretical debates, students will learn about cross-cultural exchanges and the movement of religions and goods across both bodies of water, the technologies and environmental factors affecting such travel, and religious practices and beliefs which the dangers of sea-travel inspired. Students will begin by reading some of the fundamental works on the pre-modern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. * Note to give students time to do the readings, classes will meet every other week, unless stated otherwise. Students are expected to use the time, including the 2 hours they are having free from meeting in the intermediate week, to do the readings. Some topics are set, however, in conjunction with the professors, students will have the opportunity to select two of the topics we will explore in detail together. This class is primarily aimed at MA students but is open to highly motivated undergraduates. Instruction and written assignments should be in English.
- Kursleiter/in: Alexandra Cuffel
- Kursleiter/in: Adam Knobler