Sacred Cities: Jerusalem and Mecca

Catalog description

A study of the holy cities, Jerusalem and Mecca, is fundamental to a rich understanding of the history, archaeology, anthropology, religion, geography, and politics of the Middle East. But how are historical cities such as Mecca and Jerusalem constructed as sacred places? What are the rituals within both centers, and what kind of behavior are expected for these heritage and holy places? Beginning in antiquity and continuing through the medieval and modern periods, this course will chronicle the rise, fall, and reconstruction of Jerusalem many times over in historical relationship with the rise and development of Mecca as a sacred city. Emphasis is placed on the architecture of both cities, the phenomenology of the sacred, the nexus between power, prayer, peace and violence, and, finally, how Mecca and Jerusalem are centers in the arts, mercantile trade, politics, and literature of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Inter-religious, political, and heritage dialogues are encouraged to understand the history of Middle Eastern landscapes. We will investigate the meanings Mecca and Jerusalem have had in the past and will consider current questions about their futures.