10500 Pilgrimage: Jews, Christians, Muslims 1

Credits: 6 advanced credits in Medieval History or in Medieval History of the Jewish People

Prerequisites: 36 credits, including one course in Medieval History or in Medieval History of the Jewish People. Students must also fulfill all English requirements and take bibliographic instruction in the Library.

Authors: Ora Limor, Elchanan Reiner, Miriam Frenkel

The course deals with pilgrimages in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages as a social and religious phenomenon, and with the literary phenomenon of pilgrim literature. The Holy Land, and specifically Jerusalem, were chosen as the geographic focus of the course, as they are sacred to all three monotheistic religions, and a destination of pilgrimages for all of them. This allows for comparisons, which is not the case in any other location. The course deals with religious behavior of believers of the three religions, both aspects that are common to all and those that are unique to each one.

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1Students may write a seminar paper in this course, although it is not required.