7:00-9:00P     M     BH141

Topic:  Marriage and the family in the Middle Ages
A portion of the above section reserved for majors

The modern institution of marriage, indeed the concept of the family
itself, is frequently described as imperiled.  But as a look back at
the Middle Ages will soon indicate, there was never a time when
marriage and the family could be perceived as safe or secure.  This
instability was latent in the very roots of both the medieval conjugal
unit and the family itself, arising, as they did, from an unwieldy
hybrid of the Roman, German, and Christian traditions.  The Christian
tradition would gradually gain an ascendance, but at a cost.  By
privileging chastity over marriage, the latter was consistently
disparaged.  This colloquium will initially delineate the theoretical
and practical implications of the Roman-German-Christian legacy.  The
main focus is on Western Europe in the high and later Middle Ages,
however, and the impact of social, economic, religious, and
intellectual developments on marriage and the family.  Issues, such as
the changing conceptions of gender roles among family members and in
society at large, will be highlighted.  Other salient problems for
consideration will be the relation between the church's eventual
control of marriage and the rise of vocal critics of the institution.
Requirements:  active participation, 2 short papers (based on class
readings), and one research paper (ca. 20pp.).