The Neighborhoods of Central Rome
The Historic Center of Wittenberg
The Neighborhoods of Central Rome |
The Historic Center of Wittenberg |
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| In our first week, we will study why Rome became an important Christian center, starting in the days of the Roman Empire, and will consider what made Christianity different from rival forms of ancient religiosity. We will explore the Roman Forum and other ancient sites and monuments, visit museums, and consider what church styles can tell us about the evolution of religious life. We will also highlight some distinctive features of Roman Catholicism as it continued to develop during the Middle Ages. |
| From the first to the fourth century, Christianity went from being a foreign, persecuted religion to the favored religion of the Roman Empire. |
| Emperor Nero |
St Sebastian (Martyr) | Catacombs |
Emperor Constantine |
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| We will trace the development of the spiritual and political power of the Papacy |
| Pope Innocent III |
Pope Julius II |
Pope Leo X |
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| We will trace the development of Catholic piety and correlate it with changes in the styles of church buildings: |
| San Clemente | San Giorgio Velabro | St Maria sopra Minerva | S. Andrea della Valle | La Maddelena |
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| We will spend time in the Vatican area - to attend a papal audience, to explore St. Peter's basilica, to visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel and the excavations under St. Peters (the Scavi). |
Papal Audience Hall |
Michelangelo's Pieta |
Sistine Ceiling |
Pope Benedict |
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| We will be living at the centrally-located Hotel Adriano, attending some classes in Piazza Navona and enjoying marvelous restaurants |
| Our Hotel |
Piazza Navona |
Primo Piatto |
Giolitti Gelato |
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| Usually there will be a morning excursion, an early afternoon class and then, if you wish, an additional optional activity to see things such as the following: |
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| We will complete our overview of the Italian Middle Ages and Renaissance by visiting the small hill town of Orvieto and the premier art-city Florence. |
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We will fly from Florence to Berlin and then settle into our new base in Lutherstadt Wittenberg. We will be studying the Reformation movement launched by Martin Luther through classes and tours in Wittenberg and, on alternate days, major excursions to other places of importance throughout the region. We will be living at the Leucorea, the renovated buildings of the old university. We will have an affiliation with the Institute for German Language and Culture. |
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Martin Luther |
Wife: Katharina |
Frederick the Wise | Melanchthon |
Cranach |
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| The places we will travel to by train or bus are in several German states: Sachsen-Anhalt, Sachsen, Thuringen, and Brandenburg/Berlin |
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| We will visit Erfurt where Luther attended university and joined a monastery |
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| We will visit the Wartburg Castle where Luther hid after being excommunicated, Eisenach where both he and J.S. Bach attended school (in different centuries) and Eisleben, the town where Luther was born. |
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| We will also study two modern crisis periods in Germany: the Nazi and Communist eras - to bring the story of East Germany up to date. We will visit the Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar and study church life in the DDR primarily in Leipzig and Berlin |
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| At the very end, we will spend a few days in Berlin to do some cultural touring and to increase our exposure to 20th century and contemporary Germany. Most of your work will be done so you will have some free time to explore the capital city. |
In addition to visiting many historical interesting places, there will be some opportunities to meet local people, such as the Sant' Egidio lay community in Rome and students at the local gymnasium (high school) in Wittenberg. And, of course, you get to know the group of 24 students of which you are apart. |
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Last modified April 8,. 2009