Of Plagues, Invasions and Superstitions: The Middle Ages Reconsidered Liberal Arts & Sciences Program Summer 2023 June/July 8-Week - Rome

This course will focus on the long-lasting cultural impact of social and political life during the Middle Ages. The course will provide students with an opportunity to explore the medieval culture, society, and politics to help them better understand how this distinctive historical period shaped the very foundations of Western identity.

Lectures and study excursions will cover a broad chronological span (4th - 13th century) treating the transition from paganism to Christianity in Rome, the consequent changes in the political and socio-economic arrangements, and the impact on the artistic production of the city.

The course will also address the ideological implications of selected phenomena including migrations of past societies, the fear of diversity, and the consequences of protracted wars, such as plagues and death among the medieval populations.

The course readings will include selected historical, archaeological and art historical perspectives, which will provide a theoretical framework for both in-class discussions and study excursions.