Paradise Lost: Muslims, Christians and Jews in Al-Andalus

(4 Credits)

How do we understand the present-day significance of the past interactions of the Abrahamic Faiths? Are current ideals of tolerance a productive lens to use to understand and evaluate relations between Jews, Christians, and Muslims? From the beginning of the 8th to the beginning of the 17th century, Islam played a crucial role in the history of the Iberian Peninsula. Today this period is often portrayed as one of inter-religious harmony, while al-Andalus is simultaneously mourned in contemporary Islamist discourse as a lost paradise. In this course, using historical, religious, and literary writings from all three faith communities, we will investigate the rich and complex history of al-Andalus, focusing on the changing relationships between Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. The course will include three film screenings and a visit to the Abrahamic House on Saadiyat Island.