An examination into the rich world of medieval Europe between the collapse of the western Roman Empire and ending with the first stirrings of the Renaissance in the 14th century. The course will explore the preservation of learning and vibrant intellectual culture of monasteries, the political struggles of the Holy Roman Empire, the Anglo-Celtic enthusiasm for spirituality and education, the Islamic cities and cultural centers of Spain, the rich liturgy and culture of medieval Catholicism, and the lives of rulers like Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, and Otto the Great. The course culminates in the horrific catastrophe of the Bubonic Plague and the beginnings of recovery in the Renaissance.
Semester Offered
Alternate years.