TH 527 - Special Topics: Catholic Culture and History in Spain

This course will be a full immersion into the Catholic history and culture of Spain, from its earliest martyrs to its Catholic Monarchs, based in the emblematic city of Granada. Students will see first hand the last bastion of the Islamic empire in Europe, epitomized by the Palaces of the Alhambra, which would become the jewel of a newly unified Spain after the Reconquista achieved by Queen Isabel and King Fernando. We will examine the resulting transformation of the city, visible today in its monasteries and churches, and the resulting transformation of the world through Isabel’s backing of Columbus’ journey and her subsequent efforts in the evangelization of the Americas. Throughout this journey students will examine the vocation of the Catholic Church in history and in the present day and reflect on the meaning and development of Catholic culture in a pluralistic world.

Credits: 3