Participants on this LAB explored how the Moorish conquest of and rule over the Iberian peninsula for seven centuries shaped Andalucía and the country as a whole.
They studied its architecture and urban design, its land use and agricultural crops, and its social and religious challenges. The group visited the original Moorish seats of power in Córdoba and Granada to understand how the Moors ruled, first as a Caliphate and then as Taifa Kingdoms, and some of their remarkable achievements. They learned about the scientific advances the Moors introduced, their cultural refinement and extensive knowledge of Classical texts, and how this knowledge was then transferred to Christian Spain and the rest of Europe. Students also learned about the legacy of Islam and Judaism in Spanish history and the troubled history of these religions in the region.
As part of this exploration of how Andalucía embraces its history and defines itself and its relationship to Spain and Northern Africa, this LAB also considered current migratory patterns from Africa into Spain. Students learned about modern marginalised groups and their experience in their adopted country. Throughout the LAB, students worked individually and in pairs to complete a short research-based project concerning questions such as: How do we define national identity? How do we integrate various communities into a unified whole? What should be preserved and who decides? Upon return, the group presented their projects to the wider College community at Yale-NUS.
