| Unit name | Medieval Mind (Level C Special Topic) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST10038 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Pohl |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
Special Topic Project - HIST13003 |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
From a modern perspective, the Middle Ages can seem a strange and curious kind of beast. In everyday language, the term ‘medieval’ is often used to designate outdated, cruel or even barbaric world views (for example, when speaking about ‘medieval’ forms of violence or ‘going medieval’ on someone). Popular imagination readily paints the Middle Ages (referred to by some as the so-called ‘Dark Ages’) as a period marked by, on the one hand, extreme violence and lack of knowledge (as opposed to, say, the Enlightenment) and, on the other, religious extremism paired with superstition (a world when people believed in heaven and hell, saints and everyday miracles, at the same time as going on Crusade to fight the infidel in far-off parts of the world). Last but not least, medieval Europe is commonly conceived of as a society that knew little social tolerance and promoted sexual oppression of women and those whose desires fell outside the norms decreed by the Roman Catholic Church. This unit will debunk these common myths and misconceptions about the Middle Ages by offering a more nuanced view into the intriguing and multifaceted ways in which medieval people perceived the world they lived in. We will read original sources written by medieval historians, churchmen, lawyers, poets and philosophers that allow us to enter into a fascinating world inhabited by saints and sinners, popes and prostitutes and, not least, ordinary men and women.
1 x 2-hour seminar per week
One 2-hour examination. This will assess ILOs 1-5.
