EC EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER PROGRAMS

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Yesterday, we went to the Palace of Knossos. It was interesting to see the history of conquests on this island. That's been an ongoing theme on this trip, how the location of this island made it a target for foreign intervention. The history of Crete has been molded by the empires that have conquered it. It seems as though in every village there is a monument commemorating the death of villagers. It really connects some of the topics of geopolitics we've discussed in class with the reality of local Cretans.

That's all for now folks

No comments:

Post a Comment

EC Eastern Security Studies Program

In the summer of 2011, as the "Arab Spring" was unfolding and the "Eurozone Crisis" was entering its second year, the Emmanuel College Eastern Mediterranean Security Studies Program was established in Crete, as a way to make the location the classroom. Beyond the grand theoretical, historical and political understanding that can be achieved through reading and classroom discussion and exchange, a more immediate, intimate and truer appreciation of the complexities can only achieved by experiencing the cultures, languages of personal interaction.

Since 2012 students have been able to combine an intensive curricular study, with the experience of immersion and living in a local setting. The geopolitical and geoeconomic forces that have acted in the region for centuries, can be identified in the classroom, but they can only be understood by being there. This year's EC EMSS Program will add a fourth week of study, experience and exploration and will also travel to the islands of Rhodes, and Cyprus. In Rhodes we will be partnering with the Prefecture of Southern Aegean and the Aegean University, while in Cyprus we will be hosted by the University of Nicosia.