Travel is a fundamental aspect of the human experience. This course explores the human experience of travel using materials originating from across premodern world. Students investigate materials ranging from maps and pilgrimage accounts, to poetry and stories to understand what has compelled people to undertake the often perilous road. In the process, they consider the role of travel in cultural contact, communication, exchange, and the generation an spread of knowledge.
Writing intensive.
Section Comments: Open only to new freshman in June. Continuing students who will be freshmen or sophomores in the fall may register when Webcat registration re-opens in mid-July.
Department Approval Required. Contact Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Only listed campus in section: Durham, Manchester
Only the following students: Honors Program
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course, World Cultures(Discovery), Scheduled meeting time, Inquiry (Discovery), Online with some campus visits, Honors course, EUNH
Instructors: STAFF
Additional Course Details:
Travel is a fundamental aspect of the human experience. Science and History show us that practically as long as there have been humans, they have been wandering around the planet. Even when not physically travelling, we invent tales of travel and adventure to entertain ourselves at home. Origin stories of peoples and nations, like Rome (Aeneas coming from Troy) or the United States (Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock), often begin with a tale of travel and migration. As a locus of intensive travel from an early on, this course will explore the human experience of travel using materials originating from or generally associated with the pre-modern Mediterranean Basin. Students will investigate maps, pilgrimage accounts, tales, letters, chronicles and more to understand what has compelled people to undertake the often perilous and uncomfortable road and analyze how travelers presented their journeys and the others they encountered. Moreover, they will consider the role of travel in cultural contact, communication, exchange, and the generation and spread of knowledge.