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Summary

During the semester Language and Culture program, the course is offered in both English and Spanish. During the summer Intensive Spanish Language and Culture program, it is only offered in Spanish.

The course is divided into two Sections in which the most important aspects of the Hispanic-Moslem Civilisation will be interconnected, appearing in Section I general Arabic culture. The aims of the course are to enable the student to recognize the reality of Al-Andalus on a political, economic, social and cultural level (Section II). As the city is the nucleus where these aspects will be interrelated, the Hispanic- Arabic city is studied in sub-section B, with special interest in Granada and the Alhambra.

Syllabus
Section I: Arabic-Islamic Cculture
1. Topic 1: Pre-Islamic Arabia:- Social, political, economic, religious and linguistic structure of Arabia before the birth of the prophet.
2. Topic 2: Mahomet: prophet and man of the State. – Biography of Mahomet up to the beginnings of the revelation. The beginning of the Islamic preaching. The development of the Islam until the death of the prophet.
3. Topic 3: Modus vivendi of the Islam. The Koran and the Hadices.- The pillars of the Islamic faith.- The beginnings of the Islamic theology.- The judicial schools.
4. Topic 4: Political history of Al-Andalus.

Section II: Sub-Section a: Al-Andalus
5. Topic 1: From the Conquest to the Caliphate: The Arabic-Berber conquest.-Emirate dependent on Damascus.-The Omeya Caliphate of Córdoba.
6. Topic 2: The Taifa Kingdoms and North African dynasties: Disintegration of Al-Andalus.- Taifas.- Almohads.- Almoravids.
7. Topic 3: The kingdom of Granada: Nasrid Granada.- Nostalgia for Al- Andalus.- Moors.
8. Topic 4: Tolerance in Moslem Spain: Arabs and Berbers.- Jews.-Mozarabs.- Mudejars.
9. Topic 5: Al-Andalus a sui generis feudalism: Agriculture and cattle.-Industry: professional production and organisation. Trade.
Sub-Section b. The Hispanic-Arabic City
10. Topic 6: The city: Fortresses.- Medinas.- Outskirts.- Jewish quarter.- Cemeteries.- Streets, adarves and squares.- the market-place: corn exchanges and alcaicerias.- environs of the city.
11. Topic 7: The architecture of the city: House.- Palaces.- Baths.- Mosques.
12. Topic 8: A day in Al-Andalus: Family.- Wife.- Food.- Clothes.-Celebrations.
Sub-Section c: Andalusí Culture
13. Topic 9: The poetic splendour of Al-Andalus: Themes.- Most relevant poets.- Popular poetry: Ibn Guzmán and the zéjel.- Relation between Andalusi poetry and romance.
14. Topic 10: Hispanic-Moslem art: General view.-Architecture.-Al-Hambra.-Applied arts.- Dance and music.

Activities
Class lectures on the course content along with visits to the principal architectural remains of the city where questionnaires will be filled in. At the end of the course a map will be given out and the students will complete with the most important andalusí features which constituted the Islamic city.

Evaluation
Attendance and class participation will be 20%.
Participation in cultural activities and visits will be 30%.
Exam and a coherent summary of class notes will be 50%.

Bibliography
El Corán, introduction, translation and notes by VERNET, Juan, Barcelona, Planeta, 1983.
SANTIAGO SIMON, E., Las claves del mundo islámico (622-1945) number 49, Barcelona, Planeta, 1991.
COLLINS, R., La Conquista Árabe (710-797), Barcelona, Critica, 1991.
SECO DE LUCENA, L., Plano de Granada árabe, Granada, 1910.
LÓPEZ GUZMÁN, R., La arquitectura del Islam Occidental, Granada, 1995.
Films: Mahoma, el mensajero de Dios, British-Kuwait production, directed by Mustafa Akkad.
Requiem por Granada, clips from the television series. Legado Andalusí, audio-visual clips.