General theme in the Tracing back Europe course will be the Aegean area as the cultural interface between the Middle East (Asia) and Europe. The Greek myth of Europe being abducted by Zeus may symbolise this interaction. In a period of (1) confrontation between 'Christian' and 'Islamic' values and (2) discussions about the Turkish relation with Europe, this theme should be a topical issue in education. A number of sub-themes will be, more or less explicitly, prevalent:
Spread of the early agrarian
Greek heritage on both sides of the Aegean (Troy, Greek colonies, Persian Wars), Hellenistic (Alexander) and Roman (Constantine) influences,
The spread of (Asian/Middle East) Jewish/Christian monotheism to develop into the dominant European religion (letters of the Apostle Paul, Nicaea Council, Arianism, Iconoclasm),
Arab conquest and the Crusades,
Islamic and 'Western' (Byzantine) art,
The Ottoman Empire (Soleiman the Magnificent) as the counterforce against the Habsburg empire(s),
Westernising in Turkey (Kemalism) - is Turkey part of Europe?
Cultural influence, modern labour migration and the 'Islamisation' of Europe.
