The practice of pilgrimage, visiting holy or symbolic places, often but not exclusively on privileged occasions, occupies an important place in the cultures of the Middle East, ancient and modern. The names of Jerusalem and Mecca are in this respect merely emblematic. The religious, social, political and material aspects of pilgrimage and its rites have given rise to a wide variety of judgements and interpretations, both in inside sources and in scholarly literature. Recent contributions from archaeology and the social sciences have proven particularly fruitful for our understanding of these phenomena. The course, therefore, combines a general and theoretical approach with a problem-oriented review of a particular body of evidence, relevant for the study of pilgrimage in both ancient and modern cultures of the Middle East.
The course comprises two complementary parts. The first part (during blocks 1 or 3) consists of five lectures that, in addition to offering an interpretative framework, cover particular themes or topics related to pilgrimage in the Middle East; a sixth meeting will be mainly devoted to brief presentations by the students themselves. The second part (during blocks 2 and 4) consists of the study of (a group of) relevant texts within the specialization chosen by the student; this part will be tutored by the staff of the department in question.
Attendance of the classes is obligatory. A brief presentation by the students themselves is part of the course.
Schedule
To be announced during an introductory meeting. (contact the supervisor Dr. J.G. Dercksen).
Method of Instruction –
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is to acquire a general knowledge of current approaches to pilgrimage and related phenomena as well as the ability to apply these to a particular body of relevant textual evidence from any given area of Middle Eastern studies.
Literature
To be announced.
Examination
A term paper is required which should demonstrate both familiarity with a given source or set of sources and the ability to apply the general views and approaches that are discussed during the lectures to this source material.
Information
For the course in general, with the coordinator, Dr. J.G. Dercksen.
For the paper and the source texts to be studied, please, contact the professor who is in charge of your MPhil-programme.
Remarks
Registration via U-Twist=