University of Colorado Boulder - Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain
- Offered byCoursera
Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain at Coursera Overview
Duration | 37 hours |
Start from | Start Now |
Total fee | Free |
Mode of learning | Online |
Difficulty level | Intermediate |
Official Website | Explore Free Course  |
Credential | Certificate |
Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain at Coursera Highlights
- Shareable Certificate Earn a Certificate upon completion
- 100% online Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
- Flexible deadlines Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
- Intermediate Level
- Approx. 37 hours to complete
- English Subtitles: English
Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain at Coursera Course details
- This course evaluates the medieval history of Toledo from the era of the Visigoth Kingdom (6th-8th centuries) through its Islamic period (8th to 11th centuries) and into its reintegration into Christian Spain (after 1085 c.e.) In particular, we take note of the cultural and religious transformations that characterized the city with a special effort to understand how many peoples and religions came to settle and live amongst one another. We will virtually-tour the Islamic and Christian structures of the Museo de Santa Cruz, Iglesia de San Román, Sinagoga del Tránsito, Mezquita de Bab al-Mardum, Archivo Municipal de Toledo, and the Archivo Historico de la Nobleza.
- We examine the Visigoths transition from Christian Arianism to Catholicism and the harsh treatment of the Jewish population. We explore Islamic governance and development of the medieval city of three faiths, with a special interest in its cultural achievements. We will study King Alfonso ?The Wise? (1252-1284)?s efforts to characterize himself as the ?king of three religions? via his legal codices, the creation of the Cantigas de Santa María, and his intellectual endeavor known as the Toledo School of Translators. We evaluate the robust Jewish and converso noble families of the city and appreciate their intellectual, religious, and economic contributions to Castilian life. We will bear witness to the rise of anti-Jewish blood purity statutes, the creation of the Inquisition, and the expulsion of the Jews. We also briefly introduce and study Spanish manuscripts from the municipal and cathedral archives to make new scholarly breakthroughs relating to the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim interrelations.
- No knowledge of Spanish is needed to participate in the course or in our transcription efforts.
Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain at Coursera Curriculum
Course Introduction and an Abbreviated History
Welcome to the Course!
Key Elements of the Course
Medieval Spain: A Historical Overview
Roman Hispania (201 BCE-418 CE)
Visigothic Hispania (418-711 CE)
Course Introduction
Revise: Course Syllabus
Course Assessments
Collaborators and Funders
Communication and Social Media
Discussion Guidelines
Week One Overview
Why study medieval Spain? Viewing our modern challenges through the lens of the past.
Hispania: Iberia in Relationship to the Romans
The Fall of Rome and the Visigoths
The Formation of Medieval Europe
Byzantium: The Eastern Roman Empire
Europe's Sibling, the Islamic World
Toledo: Neolithic and Bronze-Iron Ages
Toledo: Under Roman Rule
Toledo: Capital of the Visigoths (5th ? 7th Centuries CE)
Toledo: A Monetary Center for the Visigoths
Supplemental Reading: Chapter 1: Ancient Hispania, A History of Spain and Portugal, V. 1
Supplemental Reading: The Visigothic Code
Supplemental Web Materials: Google Arts and Culture: Historic City of Toledo
Supplemental Reading: Hodgkin, Thomas. "Visigothic Spain." The English Historical Review 2, no. 6 (1887): 209-34.
Supplemental Journal Article: Spain?s Newly Renovated Museo Arqueológico Nacional
History Quiz 1: Course Introduction and an Abbreviated History
Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Toledo Until 1212 CE
Islamic Conquest and Settlement (711-756 CE)
Islamic al-Andalus: The Umayyad Dynasty (756-1061 CE)
Introduction to the Museo de Santa Cruz (Toledo)
Islamic Toledo and Material Culture ? Part 1
Islamic Toledo and Material Culture ? Part 2
Islamic Toledo and Material Culture ? Part 3
Resurgent Christian Kingdoms (711 ? 1212 CE)
Week Two Overview
Islamic Conquest of Visigothic Spain (711 CE)
Al-Andalus: Islamic Spain (711-1061 CE)
Sefarad: Jewish Spain
Toledo: Under the Umayyads (711-1009)
Islamic Water and Food Revolution in Iberia
Islamic Taifa Kingdoms (1009-1091), Almoravids (1086-1145), and Almohads (1145-1269)
The Taifa of Toledo: Independent Islamic Kingdom (1009 - 1085)
The Christian Kingdom of Castile and the Origins of the Reconquest (711 - 1212 CE)
Saint James and the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
Toledo: The King Who Re-claimed the City: King Alfonso VI of Castile and Leon
King Alfonso VIII and Queen Leonor: From Alarcos to Las Navas de Tolosa
Civilizations in Conflict?: The Complications of the Reconquista
Supplemental Reading: Chapter Two: Al-Andalus
Supplemental Reading: Chapter Four: Castile-León in the Era of the Great Reconquest
History Quiz 2: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Toledo Until 1212 CE
Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Toledo After 1212 CE
Catholic Spain and the Nasrids (1212 ? 1502 CE)
Christian Toledo and Material Culture
The Museo Sefardí - Director Santiago Palomero Plaza
Moving from Judaism to Catholicism: Re-Appraising the Santa María
Cultural Backlash: Blood Purity Statutes and Intolerance
Week Three Overview
What is coexistence (convivencia)? It is positive, negative, and ambivalent.
Simon R. Doubleday's The Wise King: A Christian Prince, Muslim Spain, and the Birth of the Renaissance
Castilian King Alfonso X "The Wise" (r. 1252-1284 CE) and the Cantigas de Santa Maria
Alfonso X's Las Siete Partidas: A Legal Code for Three Religions
Mozarabs of Toledo: Christians Who Assumed Islamic Culture
Jewish Love and Marriage in Christian Spain
Jewish and Converso Intermediaries in Medieval Toledo and Castilian Kingdom
Todros Abulafia: A 13th Century Jewish Poet Fond of Debate
Unforeseen Events: The Plague, A Dead King, and Anti-Jewish Sentiment
Toledo at the Center of "Blood Purity" Laws: Separating "New" from "Old" Christians (1450s)
Christian Unity Under Queen Isabel (Castile and Leon) and King Ferdinand (Aragon and Catalonia)
Creating Conversos: The Carvajal-Santa Maria Family in Early Modern Spain
The Spanish Inquisition Begins Its Work (1478 - 1480 CE)
The Spanish Tisha B'Av: The End of Jewish Spain and the Expulsion (1492)
Departing Spain: Jewish Artifacts from the Museo Sefardi of Toledo
Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand Expel Spanish Muslims (1502 CE)
History Quiz 3: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Toledo After 1212 CE
Introduction to Archives and Paleography
Introduction to the Archivo Municipal de Toledo and Its "Secret Archive"
Introduction to the Archivo Historico de la Nobleza
Week Four Overview - Archives and Paleography
Introduction: What is Paleography?
Choose One Level of Difficulty: Introductory, Intermediate, or Advanced Paleography
Collection of Paleography Resources
Collection of English-Spanish Language Resources
Introductory Paleography: A Script from the 18th-19th Century
Intermediate Paleography: A Script from the 13th Century
Advanced Paleography: A Script from the 15th Century
18th-19th Century Paleography Problem A - Set 1
18th-19th Century Paleography Problem A - Set 2
Introductory 18th-19th Century Paleography Quiz
13th Century Paleography Problem Set A
13th Century Paleography Problem Set B
13th Century Paleography Problem Set C
Intermediate 13th Century Paleography Quiz
15th Century Paleography Problem A - Set 1
15th Century Paleography Problem A - Set 2
15th Century Paleography Problem A - Set 3
Advanced 15th Century Paleography Quiz
The SILReST Paleography Method for 15th Century Manuscripts
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Transcription Strategies - SILReST (s?ll-r?st)
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Strategy #1 - Scan the document
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Strategy #2 - Identify easy letters
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Strategy #3 - Locate common words
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Strategy #4 - Recognize abbreviations
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Strategy #5 - Search for cognates
Advanced Spanish Paleography: Essential Strategy #6 - Type your transcription
Advanced Paleography: Learning a Script from the 15th Century (Part 1)
Advanced Paleography: Learning a Script from the 15th Century (Part 2)
Week Five Overview
The SILReST Paleography Method
SILReST Paleography - Problem A - Strategies 1 and 2
SILReST Paleography - Problem B - Strategies 3 and 4
SILReST Paleography - Problem C - Strategies 5 and 6
SILReST Paleography Method Quiz: A Quick Reminder
The Global Team at Work: Transcription & Interpretation Project
Overview of Paleography Projects and a Farewell
Week Six Overview
Introductory 18th-19th Century Manuscripts
Intermediate 13th Century Manuscripts
Advanced 14th-15th Century Manuscripts
Optional Practice Collaborative Project: Introductory 18th-19th Century Paleography
Optional Practice Collaborative Project: Intermediate 13th Century Paleography
Optional Practice Collaborative Project: Advanced 14th-15th Century Paleography
Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain at Coursera Faculty details
Toledo: Deciphering Secrets of Medieval Spain at Coursera Admission Process
Important Dates
Other courses offered by Coursera
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?
Useful Links
Know more about Coursera
Know more about Programs
- Teaching & Education
- Middle School
- Physical Education
- Pre Primary & Primary School
- Secondary & Sr. Secondary School
- Nursery & Primary Teacher Training (NPTT)
- Special Education
- Nursery Teacher Training (NTT)
- Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)
- Vocational Education
- Pre Primary Teacher Training (PPTT)
- Primary Teacher Training (PTT)