History

Explores how many populations, including the ancient Greeks, Romans, medieval and early-modern Europeans, molded their particular identities by constructing negative images of the “foreigner” or “other” based on perceived religious or ethnic differences. It examines in particular the formation and dissemination of religious and racial stereotypes and the inflaming of prejudicial passions that have led to violence. Particular emphasis will be placed on the long history of anti-semitism, and comparisons will be made with Byzantine and Muslim cultures. While it will focus on the subject primarily as a historical problem, the course will be interdisciplinary in approach, involving specialists from a range of disciplines.