ANT 390-Topics: Travel Study in Anthropology/Geography

Topic: City, Landscape, and Heritage in a Mediterranean Environment

UM-Salona
UMaine students visiting ruins of the Roman amphitheater in Split, Croatia

Program Fee: To be announced

Dates: May 12-28, 2024 (tentative)

Information Packet

Instructor:
Gregory Zaro
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology / Climate Change Institute
5773 South Stevens Hall
581-1857
gregory.zaro@maine.edu

 


General Course Information 

Experience the perfect balance of Study Abroad and Travel Study in a Mediterranean environment! This 17-day course is primarily based in the 3000-year-old Croatian coastal city of Zadar with additional stays in the historic Ottoman town of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the ancient/medieval city of Split, also situated along the shores of Croatia’s Adriatic coast. The curriculum is designed to explore the ways in which cultural heritage is embedded within everyday lifeways of the Mediterranean built environment through its cityscapes and surrounding countrysides. It also explores the ways in which archaeological and historical disciplines can inform on questions of conservation, sustainability, and urban resilience in the twenty-first century.

There will be several group meetings in Orono before departure. Please see ‘Information Packet‘ above for more information and a detailed schedule of activities. Contact Dr. Gregory Zaro (instructor info above) for questions.

Zadar, Croatia
Zadar, Croatia
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Map of Zadar (home base for the program) and other locations to be visited during the course.
Location of Zadar (home base for the program) and other locations to be visited during the course.

Who takes this course?

Students of all majors and all undergraduate levels take this course. The interdisciplinary nature of this program naturally draws interest from the social sciences, humanities, and environmental studies. Previous students have come from anthropology, art, biology, earth sciences, engineering, history, and international affairs, among others. There are no prerequisite courses for this program.

The Student Experience

This is an experiential learning course. Over the duration of the class, students will:

  • complete a small set of readings, an exam, and several assignments designed to engage students directly with Zadar’s ancient cityscape
  • Engage in daily group discussions, walking tours, and outdoor ‘lectures’
  • discover the rich cultural heritage of Croatia’s past through visits to museums, nearby cultural and archaeological heritage sites, and Mediterranean island landscapes
  • visit the historic Ottoman town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to experience a cultural and historic landscape very distinctive from those of the Croatian coast
  • experience the coastal city of Split, Croatia, and the ancient palace structure of the former Roman Emperor Diocletian (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), around which medieval Split formed
  • explore the archaeological site of Salona near Split (the former Roman capital of Dalmatia)

Course Fee and Registration

The course fee (to be determined) will cover all costs while in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ground transportation, lodging, all meals, planned museum visits, site visits, etc.). Additional costs include international roundtrip airfare to Zagreb, Croatia and tuition (3 credits).

Registration is by permission only. All prospective students must submit an application to Professor Zaro (Croatia Application – link coming soon). Upon approval, students will be given instructions on how to register for ANT 390 for the summer 2024 term.

 

Back to Field School Opportunities