Religious and Cultural Diversity in Urban Landscapes

Course

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/G_RCDUL

Course Objective

After this course students:will have a broad overview of the history of religious migration and the history of religious coexistence especially in Amsterdam;will understand how migrants claimed space in Amsterdam;will be able to analyze how stories of "diaspora" and "exile" stamped religious heritage especially of Jews, Christians and Muslims;will be able to contribute to debates on migration and on the place of migrants in (Amsterdam's) urban space;have a well-informed view on how to preserve the diversity of religious heritage

Course Content

The focus of this course is on the history of religious diversity in Amsterdam and on the history of religious migration to Amsterdam. Students will learn to see how stories of migration and exile contributed to the religious identity of Jews, Christians and Muslims. It provides students with an overview of the diversity of Amsterdam's religious heritage and discusses how, throughout history, religious majorities and minorities were able to claim a space within Amsterdam. Students will contribute to a larger research-project. The goal of this project is to collect to stories of migrants; to analyze how these stories propelled a specific religious identity; to contribute to the preservation of religious heritage of migrants.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, seminar, excursions

Method of Assessment

Students will write a paper on a migrant in Amsterdam (5000 words).

Literature

Will be published on canvas

Target Audience

This course is part of the master-track Exploring a Discipline: the future of religious heritage. It is open for other master's students as elective. It aims at students interested in history, religion and/or debates on heritage.

Recommended background knowledge

Students should have a general overview of European history. Some background in religious history is desirable, but not necessary.
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master