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Historical Interpretation of Cultural Resources

Code: 44170
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Tourism Management in Cultural Heritage OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Esteve Dot Jutglà
Email :
esteve.dot@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Jordi Figuerola Garreta
Jordi Cortadella Morral
Carolina Batet Company

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Laia Aleixendri
Rafael Coronado

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites

Objectives

The aim of this module is to understand the role of history as the guiding framework for the interpretation and enhancement of both tangible and intangible heritage resources, providing the conceptual and methodological foundations required to develop interpretive narratives and heritage-based discourses tailored to different audiences.

Students will also acquire the necessary tools to identify, analyse and interpret historical evidence and sources in a variety of formats, assessing their context, meaning, and social and material implications in order to apply them to the design and management of cultural tourism products and experiences.

The module also aims to examine museums and interpretation centres as spaces for heritage mediation, analysing different models of knowledge management and interpretation, visitor profiles and expectations, and the evolution of these institutions in response to contemporary social, cultural and tourism demands.

Learning outcomes

  1. Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  2. Communicate and justify conclusions clearly and unambiguously to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  3. Be able to continue learning autonomously.
  4. Identify and describe the main historical content that can be applied to different tourist resources.
  5. Identify the different historical periods that heritage resources for tourists that are the object of study belong to.
  6. Extract relevant information from a historical source from one of the historical periods that tourist resource belongs to.
  7. Identify the different historical events that have taken place in a tourist heritage resource and explain them in all their complexity.
  8. Recognise how historical space offers content in keeping with the environment in which it is found.
  9. Explain the causes and the consequences of the main historical phenomena that directly affect a heritage resource.
  10. Select historical information to be communicated in the presentation of heritage resource according to the resource and the public.
  11. Interpret the role of history to make the area where the heritage resource is found more dynamic.
  12. Analyse the importance of history and heritage as resources for tourism and the social and cultural identity of a region.
  13. Interpret historical documents related to the tourist heritage resource to be promoted.
  14. Make a historical analysis of the scientific elements of industrial heritage.
  15. Work both individually and in interdisciplinary teams.
  16. Manage and develop original contributions in the framework of theoretical research and/or practical application.

Contents

The main contents of this module refer to:

  1. History as a backbone for tourism: Objectivity in history, historiographical schools, the development of historical discourse. The application of the historical contents of cultural tourism such as: synthesis, interpretation, intentionality and singularity.
  2. Analysis of tangible and intangible heritage: Archaeological tourism and the historical interpretation of its tangible and intangible elements. Historical interpretation projects. Historical memory and new interpretative proposals
  3. Knowledge of the history of science and technology: industrial heritage and the interpretation of scientific and technological elements, the vision and management of knowledge of technical museums.
  4. As well as addressing the analysis of new spaces of historical interpretation, objectives, variety of approaches, analysis of the contents: The construction, exhibition, promotion and evaluation of the contents. The typologies of visitors and the evolution of these spaces based on current demands.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Workshop 22 0.88 1, 2, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15
Classroom 26 1.04 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15
Tutoring 23.5 0.94 2, 10, 13, 16
Study 72.5 2.9 3, 9, 13, 15, 16

The teaching methodologies to be used in this module will be a combination of:

  • Exhibition classes
  • Classroom and out-of-the-classroom practices
  • Visits to cultural management companies, fieldwork outings*
  • Tutorials
  • Reading articles, reports and books of interest
  • Personal study

The language used for this module will be Spanish.

This subject allows the use of AI technologies as an integral part of the submitted work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution from the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.

Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Active participation in class 20% 0 0 2, 4, 7, 9, 13, 15
Work delivery 35% 0 0 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 16
Oral Presentations Works 35% 4 0.16 1, 10, 11, 12, 14
Synthesis Tests 10% 2 0.08 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

The assessment system for this module is based on:

  • Active participation in class (participation also includes the concept of attendance in this module which cannot be less than 80%).
  • Submission of assignments, workshops, visits, etc. This corresponds to 35% of the overall mark for the module.
  • Oral defence of the assignments. This corresponds to 35% of the overall mark for the module.
  • Synthesis tests. This corresponds to 10% of the overall mark for the module.

Irregularities in an assessment activity

Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism or the improper use of AI, unless such use has been expressly authorized) will result in a grade of 0 for that assessment activity.

Where obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment is an essential requirement for passing the course, or where multiple irregularities occur in different assessment activities within the same course, the student's final grade for the course will be 0.

In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

Basic References

CARR, Edward Hallet (2017). ¿Qué es la historia? Ariel.

CHAMPION, Erik (2021). Virtual Heritage: A Guide. Ubiquity Press.

CÓRDOBA DE LA LLAVE, Ricardo (coord.) (2016). La ciudad medieval: nuevas perspectivas.

GARCÍA, Jorge (2012). Patrimonio arqueológico y turismo cultural. Síntesis.

GOODACRE, Elizabeth (2002). Living the Past: Reconstruction, Re-enactment, and Education at Museums and Heritage Sites. London: Middlesex University Press.

HERNÁNDEZ, Francesc Xavier & ROJO, María del Mar (eds.) (2021). Museos, patrimonio e historia pública: debates contemporáneos. Trea

MORAL, María (2017). El turismo de batallas: un turismo experiencial y sostenible. Revista Turydes: Turismo y Desarrollo Local Sostenible, 10(22), 1–16

QUEROL, María Ángeles (2020). Manual de gestión del patrimonio cultural. Akal.

RENFREW, Colin & BAHN, Paul (2016). Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. Thames & Hudson.

RIEGL, Aloïs (2008). El culto moderno a los monumentos. Visor.

ROJAS, Antonio (2019). La recreación histórica en Cataluña como recurso de la socialización del conocimiento. Her&Mus: Heritage & Museography, (20), 123-147.

ROQUÉ, Xavier (2016). Making Marie Curie [Reseña del libro Making Marie Curie: Intellectual Property and Celebrity Culture in an Age of Information, de E. Hemmungs Wirtén]. Ambix, 63(4), 356–357.

Software

At Moodle Platform

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon