CIEE Study Center in Seville, Spain

Course name: THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO: HISTORICAL ROOTS AND

CONTEMPORARY SIGNIFICANCE

Course number: HIST 3001 SESU / REL 3001 SESU

Programs offering course: Summer Language and Culture

Language of instruction: Spanish

U.S. Semester Credits: 3 semester hours / 4.5 quarter hours

Contact Hours: 45

Term: Summer 2018

Course meeting times: TBD

Course meeting place: TBD

Professor: TBD

Contact Information: TBD

Office address: C/Mendez Núñez, 17. 2º. 41001 Seville

Office hours: TBD

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Camino de Santiago is one of the three most important pilgrimage routes in the

Christian history, together with the ones in Rome and Jerusalem. Its origin is dated back to the 5th

century with the objective to make the entire world aware of the existence of the tomb of the

Apostle James in a place called “Camp of the Stars,” known today as Santiago de Compostela.

The creation of the camino, the path, promoted by the monks and the noblemen of the time, has

generated a physical space that remains thanks to the confluence of people, cultures, languages,

thoughts alive and personal experiences that have continued it, with its bumps, until the present

time. The union of all these factors has turned the Way of St. James into a land of exploration that

allows one to appreciate and to understand the evolution as significant of aspects as history,

culture, religion, art, Literature, legend, the system of symbols and many more details of the

European and Spanish global culture from the Middle Ages to today.

Its very setting has caused it to be recognized world-wide as the First European Cultural Itinerary

(Council of Europe, 1987) and later as World Heritage (UNESCO, 1993)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The main goal of the course is to show a global vision of the route to then begin to focus and study

in detail the most relevant cultural, religious, historical, artistic, sociological aspects, etc… which

have been generated through the route throughout centuries. A special effort will be made in

studying what has been the evolution of all those characteristics from the Middle Ages to the

present time to be able to better understand the reality of contemporary Spain.

COURSE PREREQUISITES

With the intention of making it easier to understand the subject material, it is suggested that

students read the texts of the program prior to the beginning of the course, although it is not

essential.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

The principal aim is to assimilate theoretical and practical concepts derived from imagining the

Jacobean route. For that, throughout the course we will systematically work with all kinds of

academic material, from texts selected from the medieval and present, as well as those of

photographic and audio-visual material. For the greater understanding of this material, and as

exercises in the classroom, we will debate, to reflect on, compare and analyze the most important

aspects.

Before traveling to the north of Spain, we will complete an exam, covering all the theoretical aspects

that have been explained in class up to this point.

In addition, to complete the practical part, students must turn in a final essay, which will include

aspects of the theory as well as personal reflection and experience derived from the direct contact

on foot along the Way. This assignment will not be open; instead, it will be guided by the professor

and discussed in class for its correct execution and due seriousness and depth.

OUT OF CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Throughout the course we will arrange out of classroom activities to discover aspects on the

Camino de Santiago in the city of Seville. These activities will include visits to monuments and

places related to the route of silver, as well as the attendance to some conferences held by experts

in this subject.

ASSESSMENT AND FINAL GRADE

CIEE classes are not graded on a curve nor is there extra credit work. The final grade will be based

upon the following criteria:

1.- Final exam: 35%

2.- Final paper: 35%

3.- In-class participation: 15%

4.- On the route participation: 15%

ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION

Attendance policy

Students are not allowed to miss class for unjustified reasons. For each unexcused absence, the

participation portion of the grade will be lowered. Hence, it will be very difficult to receive a 10 in

the class. Please keep this in mind. If a student misses class once without a valid excuse (a note

from a physician in the event of an illness), then the professor will automatically lower the final

grade by 1 point (on a 10-point scale) for each class missed thereafter. Students with 3 or more

unexcused absences will fail the course. Students should arrive to class on-time. Arriving more

than 15 minutes late for a class will count as an unexcused absence. Please note that an excused

absence is one that is accompanied by a doctor’s note: signed stamped and dated. Travelling

and/or travel delays are not considered valid reasons for missing class.

Academic honesty

Students are expected to act in accordance with their university and CIEE´s standards of conduct

concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Use of online translators for work in Spanish will

result in an automatic failure.

CONTENT

PART I. THEORY, IDEAS AND CONCEPTS

I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE CAMINO

II. ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE CAMINO

• Figure of Santiago El Mayor.

• Discovery of the Tomb.

• Period of height of the Camino.

• Dark period of the Camino

• Revival and greatest present-day popularity.

III. SOCIETY IN THE JACOBEAN ROUTE

• The Camino as a reflection of the medieval society.

• Main protagonists.

• The Jacobean community of present day.

•

IV. ECONOMY

• Economic Culture generated in the Camino.

• Economic agents from the origins.

• Present Economy in the region.

V. LEGEND AND CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

• Origin and historical concept of Legend.

• Institutionalized legends on the route.

• Popular Legends throughout the Way

• Stories and tales of present day

VI. ART

• Romanesque as a backbone element of the Jacobean art.

• Architecture, painting and sculpture throughout the Camino.

• The Cathedral of Santiago, goal of the pilgrimage.

• Other artistic expressions: music, cinema.

VII. RELIGION AND CAMINO

• Origin of the religious pilgrimage.

• Worship of Santiago. Origins and evolution.

• The role of the Church in the history of the route.

• Other religions presents in the Jacobean route.

VIII. LITERATURE

• Literary Ideological currents.

• Jacobean Literature of the Middle Ages.

• Vision of the Camino in contemporary Literature.

IX. THE WAY AS APERSONAL EXPERIENCE

X. BASIC ADVICE FOR THE ON FOOT PILGRIMAGE

PART II. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

This second part of the course consists of the completion of the Camino de Santiago on

foot, starting from the town of Sarria, located over 100 kilometers from Santiago. The route

will be made in a total of 5 days walking an average of 20 kilometers daily that are around

5 or 6 hours stretches. For this reason, it is requirement to be in good physical condition.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Week 1 From May 25th to May 26th

Day 1 Introducing the course

Video introducing Camino de Santiago

Origin and History of the Way

The figure of Santiago el Mayor

Exercise about the representations of Santiago Apostle

Exercise about the Virgin Pilar

Introducing the Codex Calixtinus

Day 2 Discovering the Tomb

Highpoint of the Way

Text about the movement of the apostle Santiago

Text about the black plague in Europe

Week 2 From May 29th to June 2nd

Day 1 Dark times for the Way

Resurgence and Great Popularity Today

Text about the pilgrimage crisis

The figure of Elías Valiña

Statstic about the resurgence of the Way of St. James

Day 2 Society in the Jacobean Route

- The Way as a reflection of Medieval Society

o Principle protagonists

o The Jacobean community today

Economy

- Economic culture generated in the Way

o Econmic agents from their origins

o Current economy in the area

Reading document main characters in the way

Text about Gotescalco

Text of population in the Camino of Codex

Project presentation The Camino documentary

News about exceptional pilgrims

Text economic Cases throughout the Way

Date 3 Legend in Camino de Santiago

- Origin and historical concept of legend

o Institutionalized legends about the route

o Popular legends throughout the Way

o Contemporary tales and stories

Text. The concept of legend in the Way

Documents reading: legends of the Way in Codex

Contemporary legends

Day 4 Project on the film, “The Way” by Emilio Estevez

Theoretical Exam

Viewing the film

First evaluated assignment

Day 5 Out of classroom activity

Visit to the Association of Camino de Santiago Ruta de la Plata

in Seville.

Conference given by the president of the association

Presentation of the association

Delivery of the passport/credentials for the Way

Possibility of acquiring some products related to the Way

Week 3 From June 5th to June 9th

Day 1 Art in the Way

- The Romanesque as an integral element of

Jacobean Art

- Architecture, Painting and Sculpture along the Way

- The Cathedal of Santiago, pilgrim’s goal

- Other artistic expressions: music, film.

Videos about how to detect the Romanesque

Day 2 Religion and the Way

- The origin of the religious pilgrimage

- Worship of Santiago, origins and evolution

- The role of the church in the route’s history

- Other religions present on the Jacobean route

Texts. Hospitality in the Way

Text Military Orders

Text Monastic Orders

Basic Advice for the Piligrimage on Foot

Day 3 Literature

- Ideological Literary Currents

- Jacobean literature of the Medieval Period

- The vision of the Way in contemporary literature

Day 4 The Way as a Personal Experience

Presentation of bibliography

Document on frequently asked questions

Day 5 Completion of the final project

Individual work time in class

Week 4 From June 12th to June 18st

Day 1 Leaving Seville for the completion of the Way. Arrival to Sarria

at night

Day 2 Route Sarria-Portomarín (22,4 km)

Route on foot

Explanations along the Way

Contribution to Facebook project

Day 3 Route Portomarín-Palas de Rey (25 km)

Route on foot

Explanations along the Way

Contribution to Facebook project

Day 4 Route Palas de Rey-Ribadiso (26 km)

Route on foot

Explanations along the Way

Contribution to Facebook project

Day 5 Route Ribadiso- Arca O Pedrouzo (21 km)

Route on foot

Explanations along the Way

Contribution to Facebook project

Day 6 Route Arca O Pedrouzo-Santiago (20 km)

Route on foot

Explanations along the Way

Contribution to Facebook project

Day 7 Departures from Santiago to arrive in Seville at night

End of the Project

READINGS

Required readings and Workbook

Students can find them on the computers in the computer lab at the Palacio.

Books of interest

- Codex Calixtinus. “Guía del Peregrino Medieval.” 1998. Traducido Millán Bravo.

- Inés Ruiz Montejo: El Camino a Santiago. Andares de un peregrino en la España del siglo

XII. 2004

- Juan García Atienza: El camino de Santiago, la ruta sagrada. 2002

- Antonio Regalado y Beth Ann Lahoski: Un paso en el tiempo, historias de hospitalidad a

la vera del Camino del Apóstol. 2005

- María Merino: Peregrinos a Santiago, lo que viven, lo que sienten. 2010

- José M. Burguí: Guía del peregrino, de la explanada a obradoiro. 1997.

- Paulo Coelho: El peregrino de Compostela: Diario de un mago. 1989.

- Fernando Sánchez Dragó: Historia mágica del Camino de Santiago. 1999.

- Itziar Lopez Guil: El camino de Santiago. Una encrucijada de saberes. 2011

- Braulio Valdivielso Ausín: Aventura y muerte en el camino de Santiago.1999

- Xosé Luís Barreiro Rivas: La fundación de occidente. El camino de Santiago en

perspectiva política. 2009

- José Fernández Arenas: Elementos simbólicos de la peregrinación jacobea.1998

- Alfredo Gil del Río: El camino francés a Compostela. Evocaciones y Leyendas siguiendo

las Estrellas. 1999

- Julio Peradejordi: Leyendas e historias jacobeas. 1999

- Xosé Ramón Mariño Ferro: Leyendas y milagros del camino de Santiago. 2010

- AAVV. Monasterios y peregrinaciones en la España Medieval. 2004

Websites of interest for student research

- Biblioteca virtual Miguel de Cervantes. www.cervantesvirtual.com. This online library has

the fundamental objective of spreading and generating information, and promoting

communication and stimulation of the knowledge of Hispanic culure in an international

context.

- Google Scholar. www.googlescholar.com. Google Scholar allows the student to search

for a specialized bibiliography in a simplified way.

- WorldCat. www.worldcat.org. A very useful and complete network of library content and

services.

Films and Documentaries of interest about the Camino de Santiago

- El Camino de Santiago I. (1999). Robert Young. España. Serie TV. Capítulo I. 90’.

- El Camino de Santiago II. (1999). Robert Young. España. Serie TV. Capítulo II.90’.

- El Camino de Santiago III. (1999). Robert Young. España. Serie TV.Capítulo II.90’.

- Within the Way Without / Tres en el Camino. (2004). Laurence Boultins. España y Gran

Bretaña. 160’. (VOSE). Documental.

- Americano (Kevin Noland, 2005)

- ‘Al final del camino’ (Roberto Santiago, 2009)

- ‘Peregrinos’ (Coline Serreau, 2005)

- The Way (Emilio Estevez, 2010)