Study Abroad
Crete: Crossroads of Mediterranean Cultures, Greece
CLOSED
January 11 - 25, 2009
Visit the ancient island of Crete where the mysterious Snake Goddess reigned over a peaceful mercantile civilization whose innovations in plumbing and artistic home décor were not reached again until the 19th century. See the courts of the Minoan palaces where young boys and girls defied death, performing acrobatics with gigantic bulls, the earthly incarnation of the male principle of the Minoan religion.
The island of Crete, centrally located in the eastern Mediterranean, has been a cultural and mercantile hub since the Neolithic period. It has been the contested prize of imperial powers from the Mycenaean Greeks to the Ottoman Turks, but it has also been the stronghold of pirates and guerrillas resisting foreign occupation. The major religions of the West have all fought to gain a toehold on Crete; today the cult of tourism seems on the verge of swamping its ancient folkways. The program also includes times in Iraklion, Chania, and Ierapetra with visits to the Acropolis, the Palace of Knossos, local monasteries, the Commonwealth War Cemtery in Souda, Psychro Cave, and more.
This study tour will reveal the rich complexity of the history and culture of the 'great island', as the Greeks call it. The program covers all of Crete’s history, from the Minoan period to the Mycenaean takeover through the Roman period. After the Romans, the island was held by the Byzantine empire in Constantinople until the Saracen invasions. The Byzantines briefly reconquered the island until it fell to the Venetian Republic, who after 400 years, lost it to the Ottoman Turks. In the late 19th century revolutionary movements finally led to union with the Greek mainland in 1912.
Instructor: Allaire B. Stallsmith, Towson University History Department
Course: HIST 494: Crete: Crossroads of Mediterranean Cultures (3 credits).
Students will attend lectures on Cretan history, culture, ethnography, art, architecture and religion, and they will participate in field trips to archaeological sites, churches, fortresses, museums, and remote mountain villages. There will be also be opportunities to experience the modern life of Crete.
TU students may receive Honors credit for their study abroad experience - click here for more information.
Cost:* $4,200 includes tuition (3 credits), health insurance, housing, daily breakfast, roundtrip airfare, and excursions. Additional costs include $150 study abroad fee, meals, and personal expenses.
*The Towson University Study Abroad Office reserves the right to make any necessary changes including adjustments in cost in the event that unforeseen circumstances arise.
Click here for information about scholarships.
Application Deadline : OCTOBER 15, 2008. Admission is on a rolling basis. Early application is advised as space is
limited.
Application Process: Fill out an application (PDF) and submit it to the TU Study Abroad Office. $250 deposit required at time of application. Non-TU students must also submit a completed Non-Degree Enrollment Application (PDF) .
For more information: Contact the TU Study Abroad Office or Prof. Allaire Stallsmith.
Study Abroad Office
Administration Building, 2nd Floor
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 410-704-2451
Fax: 410-704-4703
Email: studyabroad@towson.edu |
