An Overview of the Medieval Studies Program

The medieval period, ca. 450-1500 was a dynamic period of interaction, influence, interdependence, and clashes between three great civilizations in the Mediterranean world, Latin Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic caliphates.  Each grew out of  Graeco-Roman civilization in combination with local conditions, specific historical circumstances, and new religious developments.  In the West, the central thread from the fading of the Roman Empire to the rise of modern national states in the seventeenth century is the culture of Latinity and a common version of Christianity associated with Rome; in the East, from the fourth century, development centered on the Eastern Roman or Byzantine empire, a vast, diverse Greek-speaking Christian civilization which lasted until 1453; in the south-east, a new religion, Islam, arose in Arabia in the seventh century and soon spread along with the Arabic language of its sacred book as far as India, Syria, and Spain, while receiving influences from every country it touched.   The aim of Medieval Studies is to apply an interdisciplinary approach to this phase of history and culture.  Opportunities for studies in this area are aimed 1) to make students aware of the great range of disciplines and fields that are involved in the study of the medieval world; 2) to introduce students to the large number of scholars and specialists in areas of medieval study who are active on the faculty of the UW-Madison; 3) to provide opportunities for both students and faculty to pool their interests and knowledge and explore the interrelationships among the medieval disciplines in ways usually not feasible within conventional academic compartmentalization, and thus 4) to give undergraduate students an academic structure of study not available within any one department; and 5) to give interested undergraduates an opportunity to develop skills necessary to prepare them to go on to studies in medieval areas at the graduate level.

These purposes are embodied most specifically in the interdisciplinary courses offered under the auspices of the Program. Medieval Studies 215, "Life in the Middle Ages," provides a survey of civilization and culture in medieval times, with lectures given by various medievalists on the faculty in the area(s) of their particular specialty. Medieval Studies 550, "Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in Medieval Culture and Civilization," and 551, "Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature," present a closer study on a more advanced level of a specific theme or topic in the medieval area. Other courses were developed under the provisions of a three-year grant (1976-79) from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and these form the core of the Program: 309 "The Medieval Crusade: Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy"; 310 "Mediterranean Cities: A Cross-Cultural Approach"; 311 "Schools & Learning in the Medieval World"; 312 "Popular Culture in the Middle Ages"; 350 "Rome: The Changing Shape of the Eternal City"; 363 "Science, Philosophy and Poetry in the Middle Ages: The Tradition of the Liberal Arts"; 366 "The Religious Community: The Roots of Christian Monasticism"; and 368 "The Bible in the Middle Ages." The three purposes noted above are also served more broadly by assembling under a common heading a number of specialized courses in particular medieval subject matter that are offered in conjunction with other departments. Opportunities are provided, finally, for individualized study on an independent basis with one or more faculty members.

Certificate Program: The Medieval Studies Program offers a certificate in Medieval Studies. All students are eligible to earn the certificate: they must complete eight courses in the medieval area, according to specific distributional requirements, and maintain a B average (3.0) in those courses that count toward the certificate. For further information about the certificate program, please see the Chair, address above.

It is possible to major in Medieval Studies under the provisions of the Individual Major Program. For further information contact the Chair or the appropriate academic dean in the College of Letters and Science.