In the summer of 2027, Dr. Marcus Meade will lead a study abroad trip to Portugal focused on the country’s role in the shaping of modernity and how it takes up narratives associated with the Age of Discovery.
As the result of several 15th-century innovations in seafaring, Portugal sparked an Age of Discovery that arguably gave rise to the modern world. This age established a new model of international commerce and geopolitical relations dominated by colonialism and extractive capitalism.
“The cool thing about Portugal is that it’s this small country kind of on the edges of the European Union,” Dr. Meade said, “but it may be the country most responsible for the world we live in today.”
Dr. Meade’s courses will provide students the opportunity to learn this history and examine how Portugal takes up, confronts, and communicates the legacies of that time. The group will spend two weeks in Lisbon—Portugal’s capital city—and one week in Lagos—a site of historical significance to the Age of Discovery.
The trip will involve the exploration of historical and cultural spaces, discussion of relevant texts, and reflection on the journey. Projects for the courses offered will have students shoot photos and videos and write reflections on their experiences.
It promises to be a remarkably learningful adventure.