June 4 – July 2, 2023
History of the Italian Mediterranean: “Una Faccia, Una Razza”
Prof. Elizabeth H. Shlala, History Department, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Today, the Mediterranean Sea, which once appeared to be the cradle of cosmopolitan civilizations, has become the twenty-first century’s “largest mass grave.” The region that served as the heart of a world system for centuries, is now a heavily policed crossroads that divides more than it unites. “Levantine” has become a derogatory word. Venice is under water, losing her cultural heritage inch by watery inch due to climate change. In this course, we will use primary historical sources to analyze the continuities and changes of the Italian Mediterranean with Venice as our geographical, historical, and architectural center. It is an opportunity for first-hand intellectual exploration that we will not have for much longer.
Cultural Activities
Visits to the following sites may include:
• The Torcello
• The Arsenale
• The Libreria Acqua Alta
• The Jewish Ghetto
• The Lazaretto Nuovo
• The Cartographic Library
• The San Servolo Insane Asylum Museum
• Saint Mark’s Basilica
• The Doge’s Palace
• The flooded Crypt of San Zaccaria
• The new levee project