Medieval Studies Courses
Summer and Fall 2006
The following aims to be a complete and definitive listing of courses in medieval studies scheduled for summer and fall 2006. However, all the information below is subject to change, and there may be courses that were overlooked. Please consult the Registrar's online schedule or the websites of individual departments for up-to-date information on courses scheduled for forthcoming semesters.
UNC students may also take courses at Duke University through inter-institutional registration. See the courses webpage of the Duke University Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies for the most up-to-date information on medieval courses at Duke.
Summer (I) 2006
HIST 15: Medieval Europe, 300-1500 (MTWRF 1:15-2:45) Joshua Westgard
An introductory survey of the history of medieval Europe from Constantine to the eve of the Reformation. While the focus will be mainly on political and ecclesiastical themes, we will not neglect important intellectual, cultural, and social developments. Readings: Hollister-Bennett, Medieval Europe, 9th ed. (2002); and A Monk's Confession: The Memoirs of Guibert of Nogent (trans. Archambault, 1996). Evaluation: two midterms, one 4- to 6-page essay, final exam.
Summer (II) 2006
RELI 27: History of Christian Traditions (MTWRF 11:30-1:00) Rabia Gregory
Fall 2006
Art
ART 351 (old 82): The Art of the Crusaders in the Holy Land, 1098-1291 (MWF 10:00-10:50; two lectures and a class for discussion on Fridays) Jaroslav Folda.
This course deals with the history of art and architecture in the Crusader States in Syria/Palestine between the capture of Antioch and Edessa and the fall of Acre in 1291. Art Historically we shall address the question, 'What is Crusader Art?'. In dealing with this important though little known material, we shall identify the major examples of Crusader Art, discuss the patrons and the artists when possible, and trace developments, main features and characteristics of the art in historical context in the Near East.
ART 471 (old 59): Northern European Art: 1300-1550 (MWF 1-1:50; two lectures and a class for discussion on Fridays) Jaroslav Folda.
This course focusses on the developments in medieval painting in manuscript illumination and on panels mainly in France and the Netherlands, with some notice taken of work in Germany, Italy and England. The historical discussion begins with Paris as the center of manuscript illumination c. 1300 and traces the flowering of the International Gothic style, the climax of Franco-Flemish manuscript painting, and the rise of Flemish Realism among the greatest artists of the Netherlands, including Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, and Hugo van der Goes.
ART 961 (old 350): Loca Sancta: Pilgrimage and Artistic Response (M 2-4:50) Dorothy Verkerk.
Asian Studies
ASIA 138 (old 36)/RELI 180 (old 25): Introduction to Islamic Civilization -- See below under RELI 180.
ARAB 203 (old 103): Intermediate Arabic (TR 2-3:15 [sec. 001] and TR 3:30-4:45 [sec. 002]) Nasser Isleem.
Classics
CLAS 245/WMST 245 (old 045): Women of Byzantium (TR 12:30-1:45) Carolyn Connor.
A study of women's roles and influence in the Late Ancient and Byzantine world of the 4th to the 14th century, based primarily on literature and art.
While the medieval culture of Byzantium was dominated by men in the realms of politics, administration and the military, women were active in important areas of culture and society. We will read and discuss a number of contemporary Byzantine texts written by or about women. These and other, secondary sources shed light on issues, such as the options open to Byzantine women, their rights under the law, female asceticism and piety, women's roles in religious life and communities, domestic life, and the gender roles assigned to ordinary women. Representations of women in art serve as testimony to their creative roles as donatrixes, patterns of life, styles of dress and adornment, and, of course, their actual appearance. Our study will enable us to know and "observe" these culturally remote but fascinating women who shared and contributed to one of the world's great civilizations.
Texts: Coursepack; Procopius, Secret history; The Alexiad of Anna Comnena.
Satisfies the Western Historical/Non-Western/Comparative, and the Cultural Diversity requirements.
CLAS 418 (old 118): Introduction to Byzantine Civilization (TR 9:30-10:45) Carolyn Connor.
Introduction to the history, art and architecture, religion, and literature of Byzantium, from the founding of the capital, Constantinople, by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great in 330 CE, to the Turkish conquest in 1453, noting the interaction of ancient Greek and Roman traditions, Persia, and the Islamic Near East, and the Crusades with this Christian Byzantine empire. Basing our study chronologically on historical events, we will follow an interdisciplinary approach, pursuing the connections among readings of contemporary Byzantine texts, analyses of buildings and works of art, and religious debates, including the crisis over Iconoclasm. Our aim is a synthesis of diverse materials, and illumination of what is simultaneously a culturally remote, and a surprising accessible and fascinating civilization.
Open to Graduate students; UG Prerequisite: at least one course in Classics, Archaeology, Religious Studies, Art History or History, or permission of the instructor (962-7638). Satisfies the Western Historical /Non-Western /Comparative Perspective requirement.
LATN 530 (old 130): Introduction to Medieval Latin (TR 9:30-10:45) Maura Lafferty.
This course will survey Medieval Latin literture from its beginnings, its dual roots in everyday language and in the language of the Christian Scriptures and liturgy, through the high Middle Ages. We will read selections from major authors from a wide range of genres.
Prerequisite: LATN 21, 22, 102X or the equivalent.
English
ENGL 320 (old 52) Chaucer (MWF 11:00-11:50) Joe Wittig.
In this course we will read a representative cross-secion of Chaucer's most important poetry: Troilus and Criseyde, The Parliament of Fowls, and much of The Canterbury Tales. We will read these works in the original Middle English (and students will be expected to give this their best shot). But the emphasis will be "literary," not linguistic, concentrating on what Chaucer has to say and on understanding him in his historical, intellectual and literary context.
Syllabus from last fall's course can be found at: http://www.unc.edu/~jwittig/52/en52.htm
ENGL 719 (old 237A) Old English Grammar and Readings (MWF 9-9:50) Joe Wittig.
An introduction to the Old English language, with some attention to its social and cultural contexts. Emphasis is on learning the rudiments of Old English as introduction: to the structure and history of the English language; as preparation for further study of linguistics or the history of the language; and/or to Old English literature. Those majoring or minoring in medieval will be asked to read more extensively in OE and be held responsible for more linguistic detail.
Exams and Papers: Regular in-class translation quizzes; midterm and final exam. A a term project (its nature negotiable) to supplement class work.
Teaching Method: Lecture and discussion
Texts: Bright Ringler Cassidy, Bright's Old English Grammar and Reader; recommended: Mitchell-Robinson, A Guide to Old English.
ENGL 780 (old 211) Proseminar, 800-1500 (TR 2:00-3:15) T. H. Leinbaugh.
This course will survey the major works of Old and Middle English literature using a standard anthology (the Norton) and then focus on several representative texts (with special emphasis on Beowulf and Chaucer) with a view towards investigating scholarly approaches to literary material and the research tools necessary for the study of Old and Middle English.
Exams and Papers: Short reports (each student will present three or four), one longer essay and a final exam.
Texts: The Norton Anthology; Peter Beidler, ed., The Wife of Bath (essays on New Historicism, Marxist, Psychoanalytic, and Feminist Criticism); Seamus Heaney, ed. Beowulf; extensive reading in academic journals and secondary works.
Germanic Languages
GERM 053 (old 006G) First-Year Seminar: Early Germanic Culture: Myth, Magic, Murder, and Mayhem (MWF 12:00-12:50) Paul Roberge.
This seminar is an introduction to the culture of the Germanic-language areas of northwestern Europe from the Middle and Late Roman Empire (100-476 CE) through the Viking Age (973-1066 CE), We shall study creation myths and mythic heroes as well examine as the nature of myth (e.g., as explanatory stories). Examining a specimen of sagas, inscriptions, and historical documents, we shall also consider the reconstruction of political and legal structures, the exercise of power and control, and the ethos of might-makes-right. All texts are in English translation.
GERM 820 (old 210) Topics in Medieval Literature: Visual Poetics and the History of Imagination (TR 3:30-4:45) Haiko Wandhoff (Max Kade Visiting Professor; Humboldt University of Berlin).
In this course students will read a survey of German medieval literature through the lens of historical theories of imagination. The amazing visual poetics of courtly epics and romances—vivids descriptions, ekphrases, allegories, and narrative explorations of the heart and brain-will be linked to medieval concepts of the human mind and its need for mental imagery. We will compare historical notions of the 'inner eye' and 'inner seeing' with modern beliefs, but students will also gain insights into the fictions and functions of literature in medieval culture. Primary texts include: Heinrich von Veldeke, Eneasroman; Chritien de Troyes, Erec et Enide; Hartmann von Aue, Erec; Wolfram von Eschenbach, Parzival; Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan; Wernher der Gartenaere, Helmbrecht.
Class Discussions in English. Texts available in modern German or English translation. Reading knowledge of modern German is recommended.
History
HIST 107 (old 15) Introduction to Medieval Europe (MW 11:00-11:50, with recitation on Fridays) Brett Whalen.
This course provides an introduction to the history of Europe and the Mediterranean world during the Middle Ages, covering from around the fourth through the fifteenth centuries. It begins with the transformations of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity and ends with the "discovery" of the Americas and the Reformation. The course surveys political, cultural, social and economic developments in medieval Europe, paying particular attention to topics in religious history. A special emphasis will also be placed on the interactions between Western European Christians and non-orthodox and non-Christian communities (e.g. Greek Christians, heretics, Jews and Muslims).
HIST 156 (old 27) English History to 1688 (TR 3:30-4:45) Barbara Harris.
HIST 177H (old 47H) The Apocaylpse in the Christian Middle Ages (MW 3:00-4:15) Brett Whalen.
The coming of Antichrist, the conversion of the Jews to Christianity, and the final persecution of the Church before its eternal triumph—these are just some of the events that medieval Christians foresaw with the approaching end of time. This course will explore the development of Christian apocalyptic expectations and anxieties during the European Middle Ages. Based on the Book of Revelation and other sources (both scriptural and non-scriptural), Christian intellectuals and prophets from the fifth to the fifteenth centuries speculated and debated about the future of God's plan for his followers: Was the culmination of history going to happen sooner or later? Could its date be accurately predicted or not? Would there be an eschatological transformation of earthly institutions, ushering in a thousand years of terrestrial peace before final judgment? In addition to examining the importance of medieval apocalyptic thought for religious history, we will investigate its connections to European political, social and cultural values. Although our focus will be on the Middle Ages, we will also consider the persistence of apocalyptic scenarios in the modern period, including contemporary ideas about "the Rapture" and transformation of the Middle East as a prelude to Armageddon.
HIST 255 (old 56) Manor to Machine: The economic shaping of Europe to the Industrial Revolution. (TR 11:00-12:15) Melissa Bullard.
What are the medieval origins of capitalism? What factors led to the Industrial Revolution? What is meant by an economy historically? These are some of the important questions we ask in History 255 (old 56) to guide our study of the economic development in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution. It took many centuries for Europeans to learn to think of economics as an independent area of life and to redefine what was considered legitimate profit. Thus, we begin our study with the legacy of the Ancient world and Aristotle's thoughts on "oeconomia," which shaped the attitudes of the medieval church towards money and gain. Other topics include the agricultural economy of the medieval manor and its legacy for protoindustrial practices; the urban and commercial explosion of the later Middle Ages; economic roles of women; mercantilism; and the debates about the origins of capitalism and the Industrial Revolution. Stressed throughout is the dynamic interplay between changing economic practices and people's assumptions about material life. Enrollment is limited to 20-25 students to encourage a friendly atmosphere and lots of discussion. The syllabus and assignments will be posted on the course web page. Mechanics include essay exams, student projects, and a paper.
Religious Studies
RELI 161 (old 27) History of Christian Traditions (T 3:30-6:20) Peter Kaufman.
RELI 180 (old 25)/ASIA 138 (old 36) Introduction to Islamic Civilization (TR 12:30-1:45) Carl Ernst.
Romance Languages
FREN 370 (old 60) Survey of French Literature I (TR 12:30-1:45) J. Noblitt.
FREN 721 (old 221) Old French (TR 3:30-4:45) Ed Montgomery.
Please note the time change!
Introductory Course in Old French. An examination of the development and subsequent evolution of the Old French vernacular out of Vulgar Latin and the Low Romance of Gaul through the examination of the major aspects of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. As the main objective of the course is the acquisition of an effective reading knowledge of Old French, focal texts will include La vie de Saint Alexis (11th century), the Lais de Marie de France (12th century) and shorter selections from major 13th-century works. Evaluation will be based upon a mid-term and final examination.
Interested students are encouraged to direct questions to Prof. Montgomery at his email address, emontgom@email.unc.edu.
FREN 830 / ROML 830 (old 330) Bestiaries, Lapidaries, and Herbals (TR 2:00-3:15) Ed Montgomery.
Please note the time change!
As indicated by its title, this course will consist of an examination of three equally important traditions of the 12th-century renaissance in Western Europe and particularly in the Anglo-Norman culture of France and England. Sometimes referred to as pseudo-scientific literature and, at other times, as didactic literature, the multiplicity of treatises that comprise the overall corpus represent medieval authors' acquisition and interpretation of ancient scientific and pseudo-scientific works on animals, minerals and plants. The immediate popularity and germinal effect of the earliest western European texts such as the Bestiaire of Philippe de Thaün and Bishop Marbod de Rennes' De lapidibus, a treatise on minerals, precious and semi-precious stones that was adapted into Anglo-Norman French prior to 1150 as well as into Provençal, Italian, Irish, Danish, Hebrew and Spanish, testify to the influence of such works at this crucial literary period. In addition to these seminal works, special attention will be devoted to the famous and luxuriously-painted Aberdeen Bestiary as well as to Alfonso el Sabio's El Primer Lapidario that was compiled between 1276-78. Though there are no vernacular herbals that date from this period, students will explore this tradition through the examination of various illustrated herbals from the time of Dioscorides to the advent of vernacular materia medica of the 14th and 15th centuries.
Interested students are encouraged to direct questions to Prof. Montgomery at his email address, emontgom@email.unc.edu.
ITAL 240 (old 040) Dante in English Translation (TR 12:30-1:45) Dino Cervigni.
Italian 240 intends to analyze Dante's New Life and some fundamental cantos of the Divine Comedy (Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise) within the context of their ancient sources and contemporary criticism and Dante's complete oeuvre.
ITAL 631 (old 231) Dante I (TR 3:30-4:45) Dino Cervigni.
A critical reading of Dante's Vita nuova and Inferno within the context of their ancient and medieval traditions and with particular emphasis on recent American criticism. The course will be taught in English or in Italian according to the students' request. Reading knowledge of Italian is recommended. Textbook: Original text with facing English translation.
ROML 830 (old 330) Bestiaries, Lapidaries, and Herbals -- See above under FREN 830.
SPAN 367 (old 78) History of the Spanish Language (TR 2-3:15) Lucia Binotti.
SPAN 721 (old 221) Old Spanish I (T 3:30-6:00) Lucia Binotti.
Women's Studies
WMST 245 (old 045): Women of Byzantium -- See above under CLAS 245.
WMST 294 (old 94A): Courtship and Courtliness (TR 9:30-10:45) E. J. Burns.