Sepharad: History and Jewish Heritage in Spain Advanced Humanities & Social Sciences Program Fall 2019 Semester - Barcelona

The course presents an itinerary around the human, historical and cultural heritage of the Spanish Jews, from the Middle Ages to present day. The first part of the course focuses on the cultural history of Sepharad, from the origins of Jewish presence to the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Next, the delves into the concept of "identity", understood broadly from the impact on Jewish/non Jewish identity of issues such as: Cryptojudaism under the Inquisition, a new Diaspora (the Sephardic), the return of the Jews from the late 19th Century, during the inter-war period and during the Shoah.

Finally, the course will also analyze the cultural, architectural and human recovery of the Spanish Jewish heritage. Different private and public initiatives aimed to develop tourism or marketing projects revolving around the "myth" of Sepharad will be analyzed as case studies. Students will work on individual or group projects to explore into questions such as: How is Jewish heritage and history presented in Spain? What are the strategies and outcomes of such projects? What is the prevalent discourse in these cultural initiatives? How does the Spanish society face its Jewish cultural roots today?