History 118 - Get Medieval I: The 'Dark Ages'

This course surveys the so-called “Dark Ages,” the name given to the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the end of the first millennium (c. 400-1000 CE). Often seen as a time of cultural and political decline, or even the “end of civilization,” this period was characterized by lively experimentation that created the social and political frameworks of the Mediterranean basin and Europe. From the courts of Byzantium and the nascent kingdoms of western Europe to the cultural and intellectual hubs of al-Andalus and the Islamic east, students will encounter all manner of historical actors: prostitutes and concubines who became rulers, ascetics who sought a life of discipline, believers whose faith brought them to new lands, kings who became more myth than memory, and many others. The course will also introduce students to the Viking incursions, the first medieval renaissance, and the worlds reflected in epic tales like Beowulf. Along the way, students will acquire crucial historical skills: learning the basics of source criticism, assessing change and continuity over time, and engaging with interdisciplinary scholarship. This course is not repeatable for credit if you have taken HIST-128 Get Medieval. Meets twice weekly.

Limited to 25 students. Fall semester. Professor Murrell.

How to handle overenrollment: HIST majors, then to first-years, second-years, and so on.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Close analysis of historical evidence, which may include written documents, images, music, films, or statistics from the historical period under study. Exploration of scholarly, methodological, and theoretical debates about historical topics. Extensive reading, varying forms of written work, and intensive in-class discussions.