Program Details : University Catalogs : University of Minnesota

ARCH 5423 - Gothic Architecture

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Arch 4423/Arch 5423
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

History of architecture and urban design in Western Europe, from 1150 to 1400. prereq: MS Arch or M Arch major or instr consent

ARTH 3009 - Intersectional Medieval Art (AH)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ArtH 3009/MeSt 3009/RelS 3609
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

Grounded in critical race theory, intersectionality, and queer theory, this class draws on primary texts and a range of visual and material sources to trace the histories, experiences, and representations of marginalized identities in the medieval world. We will consider gender, sexuality, and race in the context of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures during the Middle Ages. This class will examine topics including transgender saints, miraculous transformations, demonic possession, female artists and patrons, the "monstrous races" of travel accounts, and gender-affirming surgeries. In contrast to misconceptions of a homogenous white European past, the reality of medieval Europe was diverse and complex, and its boundaries - geographical, cultural, bodily, and otherwise - were in flux, as reflected in its visual and material culture.

ENGL 3101 - Knights and Pilgrims in Medieval Literature (LITR)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	EngL 3101/MeSt 3101
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Fall Odd Year

Medieval writers and readers were fascinated by stories about knights and about pilgrims. In this course, we study some of the best-known and most compelling narratives and poems from the Middle Ages. Although written hundreds of years ago, these literary works speak to us of the human desire to strive for meaning and excellence, to work toward shared ideas of community, and to explore worlds beyond the sometimes narrow confines of home. Knights and pilgrims appear as central figures in a wide range of literary works. Some of the texts are humorous, like Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in which pilgrims, from social classes ranging from knights to tradespeople, travel together and tell stories. Some are exciting and emotional, like Malory's retelling of stories about King Arthur and his knights. Others provide us with explorations of longing for change: in these works people search for new kinds of social and spiritual life such as Margery Kempe's autobiographical account of her experiences as a pilgrim to Rome and the Holy Land. Still others, such as Langland's Piers Plowman, which incorporates pilgrimage and chivalric quest, critique and explode static ideas about social problems such as poverty and hunger. Some draw our attention to the dangers and turmoil involved in love and relationships, such as Marie de France's courtly, aristocratic lays: Marie's knights and ladies take up the search for love and meaning. Some, finally, invite us to imagine ourselves in mysterious otherworlds, such as Mandeville's Travels and Sir Orfeo, both of which focus on travel and self knowledge. These exciting and challenging works continue to speak to us about the quest to pursue ideals and to change the world and ourselves.

ENGL 3102 - Chaucer

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	EngL 3102/MeSt 3102
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Major/representative works written by Chaucer, including The Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde, and the dream visions. Historical, intellectual, and cultural background of the poems. Language, poetic theory, form.

ENGL 4612 - Old English I

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	EngL 4612/EngL 5612/MeSt 4612
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

"I am learning Anglo-Saxon and it is a vastly superior thing to what we have now" (Gerard Manley Hopkins, letter to fellow poet Robert Bridges, 1882). This course is an introduction to the rich language and literature of Anglo-Saxon England (ca. 500-1100). "Old English," or as it is sometimes known, "Anglo-Saxon," is the earliest form of the English language; therefore, the primary course goal will be to acquire the ability to read Old English texts in the original. No previous experience with Old English or any other language is necessary or expected; undergraduates and graduate students from all departments are welcome. For graduate students in English, Old English I may count for the rhetoric/language/literacy distribution area. This course also fulfills the literary theory/linguistic requirement for the undergraduate English major. A knowledge of Old English will allow you to touch the most ancient literary sensibilities in the English tradition; these sensibilities are familiar and strange at the same time, as we sense our deep cultural connection to these texts across the centuries, yet also find that the past is a strange place indeed. The power of Old English literature has profoundly influenced authors such as Tennyson, Pound, Graves, Wilbur, Hopkins, Gunn, Auden, Seamus Heaney, C.S. Lewis, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.

ENGL 4613 - Old English II

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	EngL 4613/MeSt 4613
Typically offered:	Periodic Spring

The second semester of Old English is devoted to a full translation and study of the great Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf." J.R.R. Tolkien wrote of the poem that "its maker was telling of things already old and weighted with regret, and he expended his art in making keen that touch upon the heart which sorrows have that are both poignant and remote." "Beowulf" is an exciting tale of strife and heroism; but it is also a subtle meditation upon the character of humanity as it struggles to understand the hazards of a harsh world, the inscrutability of fate, and the nature of history itself. "Beowulf" is not only important for a detailed understanding of Anglo-Saxon culture, but it is also a significant and moving poetic achievement in the context of world literature. We will read and translate the poem in the original Old English; thus ENGL 4612 (or a similar course resulting in a basic reading knowledge of Old English) is a prerequisite. "Beowulf" has been the object of intensive scholarly study; we will delve into the debates over the poem's date, genesis, manuscript and historical context and critical interpretation. Spending an entire semester studying one complex work can be an invaluable experience. Please contact the instructor for any questions concerning the prerequisite.

ENGL 5110 - Medieval Literatures and Cultures: Intro to Medieval Studies

Credits:	3.0 [max 9.0]
Course Equivalencies:	EngL 3110/EngL 5110
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Major and representative works of the Middle Ages. Topics specified in the Class Schedule.

FREN 3611 - Speaking of Love in Medieval France: Stories, Songs, and Letters (LITR, GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Fren 3611/Fren 3711
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Fall Even Year

How did people talk about love in the Middle Ages? What songs did they sing about it? What stories did they tell? How did it define the self? In this course, we will study troubadour songs, short tales, romances, and letters composed in twelfth-century France and Anglo-Norman England. We will examine their historical context: the patronage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her family, the broader context of medieval court life, and the erudite circles that formed during the rise of the Parisian schools. Because what people say is determined by the language, motifs, and forms that they have available to them, we will discuss the transmission of ideas about love and the interpretation of exemplary figures (Tristan and Iseut, Lancelot and Guinevere). We will also consider the literary form of these texts in relation to their meaning. But at the heart of our inquiry will be the notion of the self. How did "speaking of love" allow medieval writers to cultivate their own subjectivity or individuality? Texts will include troubadour songs, the Lais of Marie de France, the romances of Tristan and Iseut by Thomas of England and B�roul, Chr�tien de Troyes's Arthurian romances, and the letters of Abelard and Heloise. We will also study a film about Eleanor of Aquitaine and her family (The Lion in Winter, 1968) and a contemporary opera about a troubadour and his lady, Kaija Saariaho's L'Amour de loin (2000). FREN 3611 and 3711 meet together. Both FREN 3611 and 3711 are taught in English. Reading and writing assignments for FREN 3611 are in modern French. FREN 3611 may count towards the major or minor in French Studies. Reading and writing assignments for FREN 3711 are in English. FREN 3711 does not count towards the major or minor in French Studies. prereq: FREN 3015

GER 3601 - German Medieval Literature (LITR, GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Fall Odd, Spring Even Year

Literary investigation of the greatest works of medieval German poetry. Readings in English. Majors will be required to write a paper with use of secondary sources in English and German. prereq: No knowledge of German required

GER 3702 - Beginning Middle High German

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Middle High German grammar. Selected literary texts. prereq: 1004

GER 5721 - Introduction to Middle High German

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Fall Odd Year

Introduction to Middle High German language and literature. Study of grammar through formal description of Middle High German phonology, morphology, and syntax. Normalized MHG texts read.

GER 5734 - Old Saxon

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Study of the poetry of Old Saxon. Detailed investigation of Old Saxon in comparison with the other Old Germanic languages.

HIST 3101 - Introduction to Medieval History (HIS, GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Hist 3101/MeSt 3001
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

Europe from decline of Rome to early Renaissance. Politics, institutions, society, economy, and culture of Middle Ages.

HIST 3609 - Military History of Premodern Europe

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

How changes in European warfare shaped society from the late Roman Empire to the Military Revolution and rise of the nation-state, 300-1800 CE. Topics include styles of warfare and perceptions of war; the relationship between war and society; the roles of religious belief and technology in the practice of war. What produces a military revolution?

HIST 3611 - Medieval Cities of Europe: 500-1500 (HIS, GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Hist 3611/MeSt 3611
Grading Basis:	OPT No Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

European cities changed from Roman times through the urban nadir of the Early Middle Ages to the flowering of cities in the High and Late Middle Ages.� We explore planned towns, ad hoc developments, revived Roman sites, and economic, political, cultural, and sensory elements of city life.� Students design a medieval city using Arc.GIS and StoryMap. Contact the instructor for more information.

HIST 3613 - History of the Crusades (HIS, GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Hist 3613MeSt 3613//RelS 3715
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

Crusading spirit in Europe. Results of classic medieval crusades ca 1095-1285. States established by crusaders in Near East. Internal European crusades. Chronological prolongation of crusading phenomenon.

HIST 3616 - The Hundred Years War: France and England in the Middle Ages (HIS)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Hist 3616/Hist 3616W/MeSt 3616
Grading Basis:	OPT No Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Politics, society, and culture in medieval France from the end of the Carolingians to the end of the Hundred Years War.

HIST 3621 - Creating the Modern World in Medieval Europe: The Renaissance, 1200-1600

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Political/cultural history of city-states of northern/central Italy, 1200-1550. Emphasizes Florence/Venice. Readings include Dante, Machiavelli. prereq: Intro course in European history before 1500 recommended

HIST 5900 - Topics in European/Medieval History

Credits:	1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Selected topics in European or medieval history not covered in regular courses; taught as staffing permits. prereq: Grad or [advanced undergrad with instr consent]

HMED 3065 - Body, Soul, and Spirit in Medieval and Renaissance European Medicine

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Body/soul in medieval theology/cosmology. Religious conceptions of body/soul. Medical conceptions in medieval world. Medieval/renaissance psychology. Medical astrology and its consequences. Medical normal/abnormal body. Medicine of reproduction and sexual identity. Death, burial, dissection, and resurrection in medical/religious perspective. Macrocosmic/microcosmic body. Limits to human power/authority over body. Anatomical/chemical body/spirit.

LAT 5200 - Advanced Readings in Latin Prose

Credits:	3.0 [max 18.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

The primary material for this course will be a selection of readings from three or more different Latin prose authors connected by genre (e.g. historical writing, philosophy, religious texts), theme (e.g. Epicureanism and Stoicism, Christian apologetics, grammarians), period (e.g. Republican, Late Imperial), or the like. Primary readings and critical approach will vary from year to year, making the course repeatable. Some modern secondary reading will be assigned to provide a basis for discussion and a model for student written work. prereq: [LAT 3004 or equiv], at least two yrs of college level Latin. Contact the Classical & Near Eastern Religions & Cultures department (CNRC) with any questions.

MUS 3601W - History of Western Music I (WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

This is the first course in the undergraduate music history sequence. We will study music composed over a very broad time span, ca. 800 to 1700, looking at the works' musical structures within the larger contexts of musical style, social/political significance, and broad aesthetic and philosophical movements. In addition, as a writing intensive course, students will hone their writing skills, focusing in particular on listening to and analyzing early music. Pre-reqs: MUS 1501 and MUS 1511

SCAN 3502 - Scandinavian Myths (LITR, GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	MEST 3502/Scan 3502
Typically offered:	Fall Odd, Spring Even Year

Literary and cultural investigation of the popular beliefs, myths, and religion of the medieval Scandinavians; the interaction of paganism and Christianity; the reflection of myths in Old Scandinavian literature and art. All readings in English.

SCAN 5502 - The Icelandic Saga

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Study of the sagas written in 13th-century Iceland. Discussion includes cultural and historical information about medieval Iceland and analysis of a selection of saga texts using contemporary critical approaches. All readings in translation.

SCAN 5701 - Old Norse Language and Literature

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	MEST 5701/SCAN 5701
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Acquisition of a reading knowledge of Old Norse; linguistic, philological and literary study of Old Norse language and literature.

SPAN 3503 - Pre-modern Spanish Culture and Thought (HIS)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

Notions of nation, empire, and race precipitated by presence of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Iberia in 12th and 13th centuries. Toledo as center of translation, technology, innovation, design, and philosophical inquiry for all of Europe. How Iberian literary works differed from those produced in the rest of Western Europe. Readings from Saint Isidore, Ibn Hazm, Averroes (Ibn Rushd), and Maimonides. prereq: A grade of C- or better in SPAN 3104W or SPAN 3104V or TLDO 3104W or ARGN 3104W or SPAN 3105W or SPAN 3105V or TLDO 3105W or SPAN 3107W or SPAN 3107V or TLDO 3107W

SPAN 3703 - Origins and History of Spanish and Portuguese

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

This course constitutes an introduction to the origins and history of the Spanish language. Spanish (or Castilian) descends from Latin, which is also the ancestor of Portuguese, Italian, French, Romanian, among others. This is why we say bueno in Spanish, bon in French, buono in Italian, bom in Portuguese, and buna in Romanian. Also, Latin belongs to a wider group of languages: the Indo-European family, which also includes Sanskrit, English, German, and Russian, among others. For this reason, the word for the number two in English is similar to dos in Spanish, dva� in Sanscript, dva in Russian and zwei in German. In the course, we will see how Latin words changed to become Spanish words. These changes did not happen in a void. Therefore, in the first part of the course we will study the historical circumstances that caused the birth and expansion of Spanish. When Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula there were other groups already there who lent some of their words to Latin. Celts occupied the northwestern portion of Spain, which is known as Galicia. Interestingly, the traditional musical instrument of Galicia is the bagpipe, as in Ireland and Scotland, which also have Celtic ancestors. Some Celtic words passed to the variety of Latin spoken in the Iberian Peninsula, and later to Spanish. Thus, while France and Italy utilize the Germanic word bier to designate beer: French bi�re, Italian birra, in Spanish we say cerveza, which comes from the Celtic word cerevisia. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes invaded the Iberian Peninsula. This is how some Germanic terms passed to Latin and eventually became Spanish. Since English is a Germanic language, these Spanish terms are similar to the English ones: spy esp�a, vandalism vandalismo, goose, ganso, etc. At the end of the Germanic rule, Arab groups invaded Iberia. As a result, Spanish has more than four thousand Arabic words, as ojal� from inshallah ?god willing?. The Arabs brought with them advances in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, agriculture, poetry, etc. For this reason, during the Middle Age, Al-Andal�s, which was the name of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula occupied by the Arabs, flourished economically and culturally. It is during this period that Spanish developed. In the second part of the course, we will see how Latin words transformed into Spanish. These changes were not at random, on the contrary most of them changed in predictable ways. For example, the Latin letter p when placed between two vowels became b in Spanish: the word lupus ?wolf? became lobo in Spanish, scopa ?broom? became escoba. Studying this evolution will help you understand the reason behind some supposed irregularities in the Spanish Grammar: duermo vs. dormimos. Also, you will be able to recognize the relation between some English and Spanish words, since both languages are like lone cousins. prereq: A grade of C- or better in SPAN 3104W or SPAN 3104V or TLDO 3104W or ARGN 3104W or SPAN 3105W or SPAN 3105V or TLDO 3105W or SPAN 3107W or SPAN 3107V or TLDO 3107W.

SPAN 5160 - Medieval Iberian Literatures and Cultures

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

The major literary genres developed in Spain from the Reconquest to 1502, with reference to the crucial transformations of the Middle Ages, including primitive lyric, epic, clerical narrative, storytelling, debates, collections, chronicles, "exempla," and the Celestina (1499-1502).

University Catalogs

Medieval Studies Minor