HIS 2256 - Medieval Women

Credits: 4
This history course introduces students to gender history through the lens of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim women in medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. By studying not only Christian but also Muslim and Jewish women, students will encounter a variety of ideologies, mindsets, and experiences. The course is arranged thematically so that students will be able to compare, contrast, and contextualize the realities of women of three faiths during the Middle Ages. By reading and analyzing a combination of primary sources—many written by women—and scholarly articles/book chapters, students will approach this topic from multiple viewpoints and acquaint themselves with the historian’s craft and the practice of extracting information about medieval women from primary sources that often deal with other topics. With written assignments throughout the semester, students will engage in historical inquiry and analysis while interrogating the complex historical phenomenon of women in the Middle Ages.
McDaniel Plan: International; Social, Cultural, and Historical Understanding