Charity L. Urbanski
Disintegration of the medieval order under the impact of the national state, the secularization of society, and the decline of the church. Movements of reform and revolution. The culture of late gothic Europe.
The Later Middle Ages were a far more complex and dynamic period than the official description of this course would have you believe. It was a period beset by wars and epidemics, but one that also saw the flowering of intellectual, religious, and cultural movements. This course will explore the late medieval origins of the state, the impact of war and plague upon western Europe, changes in European social and religious life, and the vibrant culture of late medieval Europe.
Student learning goals
This course will focus on the analysis of primary and secondary sources and the production of argumentative papers.
General method of instruction
Lecture and discussion of primary and secondary sources.
Some background in either medieval or early modern European history is strongly recommended, but not required. Ideally, students will have taken either HIST 112 or another 300-level class in medieval or early modern history prior to taking this class. If you do not have this background, you may want to read through a basic western civilization textbook that covers the period from 1100 to 1500 before the beginning of the class.
Class assignments and grading
Reading will average about 200 pages per week. Regular attendance at all class sessions is expected, as is participation in class discussions.
Assignments and grading will be described on the syllabus.