HISTORY 319
Medieval Mentalities, Western Europe c. 1100-1500
Please note: this is archived course information from 2018 for HISTORY 319.
Description
When we study the cultures of the past, is it possible to gain a sense not only of what people did but also how they thought and felt? Can we gain a sense of their worldviews, their attitudes or outlooks, their understanding of themselves and others?
This course seeks to explore the central and late medieval period in Europe by addressing such questions. We will investigate some of the key cultural mentalities of the era, including concepts of the earth and its place in the cosmos, social hierarchies, monarchy and other structures of power, monasticism, ideas about gender and sex, concepts of the family and childhood, attitudes to death, religious faith and dissent, explanations for Plague, motivations for popular revolts and the growing desire for new forms of knowledge and geographical exploration.
Students will be encouraged to examine the ways in which historians have sought to understand past mentalities and to consider some of the practical difficulties and creative possibilities in undertaking such a project.
Availability 2018
Semester 2
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator(s) Professor Kim Phillips
Assessment
Coursework only
Points
HISTORY 319: 15 points
Prerequisites
15 points at Stage II in History and 60 points passed
Restrictions
HISTORY 219
