1:00-2:15P     MW     BH103

Above section carries culture studies credit

This course is an introduction to the Middle Ages in Western Europe -
a term designating the period between the fall of the Western Roman
Empire and the Renaissance.  It is the time of the crusades, the
cathedral, the Black Death, and a lot more!  While modern cinema
idealizes the medieval period for its chivalry and romance, historians
have often dismissed it as "barbarous" and even stagnant.  Both of
these assessments are prejudiced.  The romantic view is undercut by
masculine society's frequently abusive treatment of women.  The
cynical dismissal is unjustified in the face of the incredible
vitality of the period and the number of important medieval legacies
still with us today (such as: the city, parliament, the nation state,
underwear, and the university - - to name a few).  This course will
attempt a more balanced assessment of the Middle Ages, providing a
bird's-eye view of important political, social, and intellectual
trends.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the primary sources - -
documents produced in the medieval period - - that give a flavor for
the medieval person's actual experience and thought.  Requirements:
active participation, 2 short papers (ca. 5 pp), 2 exams.