HIST 235 Medieval World
This course offers a broad survey of medieval Europe (ca. 500-1500), a formative period in western society known for its soaring gothic cathedrals, the culture of chivalry, church and state power struggles, the crusades, the Black Death, Dante, and the emergence of the inquisition. We will examine western Christendom in the making by tracing the growth of its central institutions alongside its encounters with others - Pagans, Jews and Muslims - as it sought to expand its horizons and borders. Readings will emphasize primary sources in translation. No previous knowledge of the Middle Ages is assumed. This course counts as a foundational course in History or Political Theory within the liberal arts core requirements.