Reading and composition courses based upon primary historical documents and secondary historical scholarship. These courses provide an introduction to core issues in the interpretation of historical texts and introduce students to the distinctive ways of reading primary and secondary sources. Courses focus on specific historical topics but address general issues of how historians read and write. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement.

At the close of the Middle Ages, many of the institutions and ideas which had underpinned European society for centuries came under strain. Causes included environmental and economic pressures, political rivalries, and religious dissent. In fact, many historians refer to a late medieval crisis, extending for much of the fourteen and fifteen hundreds. Yet the term crisis, both when referring to the past and to modern times, has a very wide array of meanings. This semester, we will dive into the world of the late Middle Ages and consider what it means to be in “crisis,” and whether the term helps us to understand the past and, perhaps, the present.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills