GIS 220 ISLAM IN SICILY

An exploration of the historical, cultural, and literary implications of Islamic presence on Sicily, from the Middle Ages to the present. The course frames these explorations with the theoretical notions of “third space,” "boundaries," and "transgression." It traces the ebb and flow of Islamic influence on the island’s culture at the peak of Arab presence and during the era of Norman rule in medieval Italy. Moving forward, it touches upon the ever-shifting alliances between Muslims, Christians, and Jews as the Ottoman and Christian empires fought for primacy in the Mediterranean. Finally, it delves into the current issues of migration, integration, mafia, and the new face of multi-ethnic, multi-religious Sicilian culture.