The Program: Flamenco music. The troubadours. Geometry. Spectacular architecture. Romance poetry. The world has long been fascinated with the cultural and historical splendors of Spain's southern region, Andalusia. Much of what we take for granted in Western culture can be traced back to the time the Moors ruled this area. After a brief orientation in Madrid, students will visit four major historical cities in Spain: Toledo, Cordoba, Seville and Granada. These four cities are the jewels of medieval Al-Andalus. All former capitals of Muslim Spain, they contain a large number of architectural, manuscript and art objects that can be studied and analyzed by students. In Cordoba we will spend several days studying the magnificent Umayyad Mosque and cathedral. Most of the Muslim architecture has been preserved including the magnificent forest of ribboned columns and Byzantine-era mosaics. In Seville we will visit both the Giralda, built as a mosque by the Almohad Berber dynasty, and the Alcazar of King Pedro, a grand pleasure palace built according to the best standards of North African and Andalusi architecture and style. We will end of our travels in Granada where we will explore the Alhambra, the magnificent palace of fountains and fluid stucco muqarnas built by the Nasrids. Framing and informing our visits to these cities will be readings from two books: Maria Menocal's "Ornament of the World" and Dodds and Menocal's "Arts of Intimacy." Students will be asked to maintain an academic/scholarly journal with reflections on the questions raised in lectures at various sites. Students will also be asked to complete a final independent project. The subject of this research project, along with a list of related readings, will be agreed to before the trip begins.

Please click the link for the Marvels of Medieval Spain Brochure Brochure.
Please click here for the Program Health Description: Spain Medieval.

Application Deadline: February 28, 2013

Eligibility: The course is open to all students over the age of 18 who are in good academic standing.

*International students at Georgia State who hold F-1 visas must contact the Office of International Students and Scholar Services at 404-413-2070 to discuss possible implications of study abroad for their immigration status.

Courses and Credit: Students will earn 4 credit hours. Undergraduate students should register for HIST 4890 and graduate students should register for HIST 8890.

Accommodations:  Participants will stay in comfortable hotels and hostels in centrally-located areas in each city.

Costs: Program fee is $2,238*; tuition for 4 credit hours, please see Tuition Rates; and mandatory student fees (only the BOR Institutional fee and Technology fee).

If you are a non-GA resident student, you will receive the in-state tuition rate for the study abroad course. There is a $250 fee attached to this study abroad in-state tuition waiver. This waiver does not happen automatically. Please first register for the course and then let your Program Director know you are a non-GA resident.

*Program fee includes

- accommodations

- some meals

- ground transportation

- excursions and entrance fees  

- international medical insurance

**Program fee does NOT include

- airfare

- public transportation

- ground transportation back to Madrid from Granada (unless flying out of Granada)

- passport fees

- some meals

- personal expenses

Tentative Itinerary:
May 13-17 Madrid/Toledo/Cuenca
May 17-19 Cordoba
May 19-23 Seville
May 23-26 Granada/Ronda
May 26-29 Optional Trip to Barcelona

Payment Schedule:

 - February 28, 2013: $500 deposit with application

- March 10, 2013: $869 payment

- April 5, 2013: $869 remaining balance

*all payments are non-refundable upon receipt

Contact: Dr. Allen Fromherz, Middle East Institute and Department of History, College of Arts & Sciences
Email: afromherz@gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-6366