Description

The objective of this seminar is to analyse the role that the Qur’an had in interactions in modern and medieval Europe with Islam, in debates between Christians of various persuasions and doctrines or in criticism of Christianity during the Enlightenment, among other areas of investigation. To what extent is the Qur’an imbedded in the political and religious thought of Europe and part of the intellectual repertoire of Medieval and Early Modern Europeans of different Christian denominations, of European Jews, freethinkers, atheists and of course European Muslims? During the sessions we will study how the Qur’an was interpreted, adapted, used, and formed in Christian European contexts since the Middle Ages, in order to understand how the Holy Book has influenced both culture and religion in Europe.

Throughout the sessions, we will examine the translations of the Qur’an, texts of religious controversy and European collections of Arabic manuscripts. Moreover, the presentations will be complemented with the debates of the round table where the most representative case studies will be explained. Note that the course will be taught by a group of leading international specialists in the field.

Student Profile

Postgraduates: History, Classical, Spanish or Semitic Philology, History of religions, Journalism, Philosophy

Director

Mercedes García-Arenal Rodríguez
Profesora de Investigación
Instituto de Lenguas y Culturas del Mediterráneo y Oriente Próximo
Departamento de Estudios Judíos e Islámicos, CCHS-CSIC
Leading PI of the EuQu Synergy Grant

Secretary

Katarzyna K. Starczewska
Contratada doctor
Instituto de Historia, CCHS-CSIC
Post doctoral researcher of the EuQu Synergy Grant

Place

Santander - Península de la Magdalena

Avda. de los Castros, 42
39005 Santander
Tel. 942 29 87 00 / 942 29 87 10

Ps. My sincere thanks to Dr. Emmanuelle Stefanidis for sending this information.