As a student of Spanish since the age of 5, I have learned a great deal about the history of Spain. Growing up learning about Spain in elementary, middle, high school and as a Spanish major at Pitt with study abroad in Spain, I took numerous courses on Spanish History. I never learned about the history of Jewish Spain. The main focus has always been anything related to Catholic Spain and some Arab history starting in 711 and lasting about 800 years. There is a huge portion of history missing from the narrative.
Joining this seminar has taught me more about the history of Jewish Spain and the intersection of the three religions throughout time in Spain, in just a few short days, than my whole education. This is such an important piece that should be incorporated into the mainstream conversations about Spanish history. I know that I will teach my students what I have learned on this seminar and share my new found knowledge with my colleagues so that the awareness can be spread throughout our small part of the educational world. I would encourage colleges and universities to offer a more well-rounded and thorough view of Spain’s history than what is currently offered so that every story can be told.