OSHER 320 - Sacred Mountains of the World

This course will explore humankind's relationship with the mountain environment. From the sacrificial rituals of the Inca, to the vision quests of the Apache and Navajo in the American West; from the Athabascan legends of Denali, to the European Romantics' first artistic forays in the Alps--the course will use the academic and interdisciplinary lens of the humanities to open up the different ways cultures have made sense out of the spiritual and creative dimensions of the world's high places. The class will incorporate multimedia lectures, assigned reading, and open discussion. Students will be provided a broad introduction to the mountain world and the role it has played in shaping the mythology and culture of many of history's greatest civilizations.