Program Overview

This study trip is designed to engage high school juniors and seniors in an immersive exploration of the rich and complex history of Muslim civilization in medieval Spain. Through visits to key cities in Andalusia, students will examine how pre-modern Muslim communities encountered a new land, adapted to it, and built a society shaped by the values and ideas that characterized their worldview.

• Goals and Learning Outcomes

• 1. Travel as a Tool for Reflection and Growth
  Students will explore travel as a meaningful and reflective activity—one that fosters curiosity, empathy, and deeper engagement with the world. The program encourages students to move beyond passive tourism and instead approach travel as an opportunity for learning, connection, and self-development.

• 2. Recognizing Civilizational Patterns
  Through site visits and guided study, students will identify recurring cultural and societal patterns that shaped Muslim civilization across regions and time periods. The experience will highlight how diverse communities expressed shared ideals in unique local contexts.

• 3. Drawing Connections Between Past and Present
  By studying the history of Andalusia, students will develop the tools to draw connections between historical dynamics and present-day challenges. They will explore how questions of identity, community, governance, and coexistence continue to resonate today.

• 4. Cultivating Critical Thinking and Historical Inquiry
  Students will sharpen their analytical skills through engagement with primary texts, architectural analysis, and historical narratives. The program emphasizes critical thinking, comparative inquiry, and the importance of examining ideas from multiple perspectives—both historical and contemporary.

Muslims have a long history of traveling to trade, study, and explore, as seen in the chronicles of Ibn Battuta, Ibn Fadlan, Evliya Çelebi, and others. Travel allows us to experience theories, stories, and ideas tangibly. It sparks new thoughts, deepens understanding, and enriches our perspectives. The greatest souvenir one can bring home is a wealth of new ideas!

Independent travel for young people can cultivate resourcefulness, responsibility, independence, resistance, reliability, and logistical problem-solving. It is an effective way to transition into adulthood.