Minor Courses

This is a partial list of courses that fulfill the minor requirements. Other courses may fulfill the requirement as well, particularly topics courses when taught on a medieval topic; please consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Ruth Karras, at rmk@umn.edu.

ARAB 3542. Medieval Islam.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §ARAB 5542,HIST 3542, MELC 3542) Islamic dynasties, Mamluks and Mongols, and Crusaders and Assassins. Abbasid Caliphate’s disintegration and rise of Seljuk Turks.

ARAB 3542. Medieval Islam.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §ARAB 5542, HIST 3542, MELC 3542) Islamic dynasties, Mamluks and Mongols, and Crusaders and Assassins. Abbasid Caliphate’s disintegration and rise of Seljuk Turks.

ARAB 5542. Medieval Islam.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §ARAB 3542, HIST 3542, MELC 3542) Islamic dynasties, Mamluks and Mongols, and Crusaders and Assassins. Abbasid Caliphate’s disintegration and rise of Seljuk Turks.

ARTH 3009. History of Medieval Art.

(4 cr; Stdnt Opt) Emphasis on principal monuments, their decoration and function (e.g. Old St. Peter’s, Rome; Hagia Sophia, Istanbul; Palace Chapel, Aachen; St. Sernin, Toulouse; Cathedral of Chartres, Paris, Rheims).

CAS 5311. Medieval Sages.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §MELC 5311. Prereq –background in Iranian, Central Asian, or Islamic studies recommended) Study and discussion of the intellectual life of the region from the rise of the Ghaznavids (A.D. 1000) to the fall of the Timurids (A.D. 1500). Ibn Sina (Avicenna), al-Biruni, al-Ghazali, Rumi, Sa’di, and Firdowsi are among the sages whose lives are examined

CLCV 3502. Scandinavian Myths.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt)Literary/cultural investigation of popular beliefs, myths, and religion of medieval Scandinavians. Interaction of paganism and Christianity. Reflection of myths in Old Scandinavian literature/art. All readings in English.

ENGL 3101. Survey of Medieval English Literature.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud) Major/representative Medieval English works, including Sir Gawain the Green Knight, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Piers Plowman, Book of Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich.s Revelations, and Malory's Morte D'Arthur.

ENGL 3110. Medieval Literatures and Cultures: Intro to Medieval Studies.

(3 cr [max 9 cr]; Stdnt Opt) Major and representative works of the Middle Ages. Topics specified in the Class Schedule.

ENGL 3115. Medieval and Renaissance Drama.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud) |Medieval/Renaissance drama in terms of performance. Performance history, enactments of scenes from cycle/morality plays, informal production of a morality play.

ENGL 3101. Survey of Medieval English Literature.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud)Major/representative Medieval English works, including Sir Gawain the Green Knight, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Piers Plowman, Book of Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich.s Revelations, and Malory.s Morte D.Arthur.

ENGL 3102. Chaucer.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud) Major/representative works written by Chaucer, including The Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde, and the dream visions. Historical, intellectual, and cultural background of the poems. Language, poetic theory, form.

ENGL 3110. Medieval Literatures and Cultures: Intro to Medieval Studies.

(3 cr [max 9 cr]; Stdnt Opt) Major and representative works of the Middle Ages. Topics specified in the Class Schedule.

FREN 3111. Medieval Stories.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–3101) Reading/ discussion of major forms of medieval tale (comic, bawdy, moralizing, fantasy, historical) in modern French translation. Explores their relationship to development of French culture, especially urbanization, class relations, marriage, role of Church.

FREN 3140. Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature.

(3 cr [max 9 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–3101) Different aspects of French literature/culture of medieval/Renaissance periods (11th-16th century). Content varies depending on instructor. Literary, historical, or social problem. Period, author, genre, or topic of interest. Readings may be literary, critical, cultural, historical, political, etc. Specific content posted in department and in Course Guide.

GWSS 3414. Women in Medieval Europe.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud) Women’s role in family, politics, religion, work, and social movements. Representations of women in religious texts, art, literature, scientific studies, and law. Methods/approaches to study of women’s history.

GER 3601. German Medieval Literature.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq –No knowledge of German required) Literary investigation of the greatest works of medieval German poetry. Readings in English. Majors will be required to write a paper with use of secondary sources in English and German.

GER 5740. Readings in Philology.

(3 cr [max 9 cr]; Stdnt Opt) Philological analysis of a chosen text in any medieval Germanic language.

HIST 3101. Introduction to Medieval History.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Europe from decline of Rome to early Renaissance. Politics, institutions, society, economy, and culture of Middle Ages.

HIST 3541. Islam in the Catholic Age: Arab Phase 600 A.D. to 900 A.D.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §ARAB 3541, ARAB 5541, MELC 3541) The Rise of Islam in its Arabian setting. Roles of the prophet, the orthodox and Umayyad caliphs. Development of Islamic state and empire, organizations, institutions, and status of Muslims and non-Muslims.

HIST 3542. Medieval Islam.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §ARAB 3542, ARAB 5542, HIST 3542, MELC 3542) Islamic dynasties, Umayyads of Spain, Shiites, assassins, Abbasid Caliphate’s disintegration and rise of Selguk Turks. Sunnism re-emerges. IlKhanids.

HIST 3609. Military History of Medieval Western Europe.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Concept and conduct of war in Western Europe in the Middle Ages and the relation between the military and society.

HIST 3611. Medieval Cities of Europe: 500-1500.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Evolution of Western European cities from the late Roman town to the early Renaissance city-state.

HIST 3613. History of the Crusades.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Crusading spirit in Europe. Results of classic medieval crusades ca 1095-1285. States established by crusaders in Near East. Internal European crusades. Chronological prolongation of crusading phenomenon.

HIST 3614. Women in Medieval Europe.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Women’s role in family, politics, religion, work, and social movements. Representations of women in religious texts, art, literature, scientific studies, and law. Methods/approaches to study of women’s history.

HIST 3616. France in the Middle Ages.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Politics, society and culture in medieval France from the end of the Carolingians to the end of the Hundred Years War.

HIST 3618. The Dark Ages Illumined: Medieval Europe to 1050.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Origins of medieval Europe, Germanic and Viking invasions, feudalism, manorialism, Islam, the papacy, monarchies, intellectual developments.

HIST 3619. Chivalry, Crisis, and Revival: Medieval History 1050-1500.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Chivalry and courtly love, crusades, revival of towns and trade, monarchies, religious developments, Black Death, famine, and wars

HIST 3621. Renaissance Italy: 1200-1550.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq –intro course in European history before 1500 recommended) Political /cultural history of city-states of northern/central Italy, 1200-1550. Emphasizes Florence and Venice. Readings include Dante and Machiavelli.

HIST 3642. Knights, Peasants, and Bandits in Medieval England.

(3-4 cr [max 4 cr]; Stdnt Opt) Social history of medieval England from 1066 to 1500. Peasants, nobility, and bourgeoisie, including their economic institutions, living conditions, and entertainments. Legal and illegal ways
of coping with economic and social change resulting from plague and wars.

HIST 3714. Medieval Spain.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Development of the medieval kingdoms of Spain from Roman times to ca. 1500. Major social, economic, and cultural developments. Christians, Jewish, and Muslim interaction. Role of Spain in the beginning of European expansion..

HIST 3900. Topics in Medieval and Modern European History.

(1-4 cr [max 16 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–Jr or sr or #) Selected topics in medieval and modern European history not covered in regular courses. To be taught as staffing and demand exist.

HIST 5111. Proseminar in the History of Medieval Europe.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. Prereq–Advanced undergrads of exceptional ability or grads, #) Examination of basic scholarly bibliography for medieval Western European history. Aim is to help students to prepare for M.A. and Ph.D.
examinations.

HIST 5115. Medieval Latin Historians.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq –Reading knowledge of Latin) Writing of history in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. Focus on idea of history, philosophy of various historians, techniques of research by medieval historians and chroniclers, history as
literature, and value of medieval histories to modern research scholars. Latin texts only.

HIST 5501. Medieval Europe and the World.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. Prereq–#) Place of medieval Europe in the world. Relations of Europe with Asia, Africa, and the Americas. European knowledge of the world’s other great cultures. European travelers/explorers. Assessment of other cultures’
knowledge of Europe in the period.

HIST 5611. Proseminar in Medieval History.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. Prereq–Grad student or #) Basic scholarly bibliography for medieval Western European history during early Middle Ages. Foundation for teaching courses in medieval history, preparing for general doctoral exam.

HIST 5612. Proseminar in Medieval History.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. Prereq –[5611, grad student] or #) Basic scholarly bibliography for medieval Western European history during central/later Middle Ages. Foundation for teaching courses in medieval history, preparing for general doctoral exam.

HIST 5614. The Medieval Church.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–Grad student or #) Introduction to history of western church in Middle Ages. Emphasizes church teachings and institutional structures, beliefs/practices of lay people, medieval Christian encounter with non-Christian world.

HIST 5616. Proseminar in Medieval Spain.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. Prereq–#) Graduate research on the development of the medieval kingdoms of Spain from Roman times to ca. 1500. Emphasis on major social, economic, and cultural developments. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim interaction.
Spain and the beginnings of European expansion.

HIST 5900. Topics in European/Medieval History.

(1-4 cr [max 16 cr]; A-F only. Prereq–Grad or [advanced undergrad with #]) Selected topics in European or medieval history not covered in regular courses; taught as staffing permits.

HMED 3065. Body, Soul, and Spirit in Medieval and Renaissance European Medicine.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud) Body/soul in medieval theology/ cosmology. Religious conceptions of body/soul. Medical conceptions in medieval world. Medieval/renaissance psychology. Medical astrology and its
consequences. Medical normal/abnormal body. Medicine of reproduction and sexual identity. Death, burial, dissection, and resurrection in medical/ religious perspective. Macrocosmic/microcosmic body. Limits to human power/authority over body. Anatomical/chemical body/spirit.

HUM 3027. Lyric Song in Medieval Culture.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Courtly, paraliturgical, and popular song traditions, 1100-1500, in specific contexts: castle, palace, monastery, nunnery, cathedral, theater, tavern, street and countryside. Social roles of men and women as patrons, performers, poets, composers. Writing historical narratives and recreating medieval performance traditions.

ITAL 3209. Literature of Medieval City-States.

(4 cr [max 16 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–3015) The beginnings of Italian vernacular literature in the context of the city-states of the 11th to 14th centuries.

ITAL 3501. The World in the City: Italy 1100-1660.

(3 cr [max 12 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–3015) The culture and civilization of Italian cities in medieval and early modern periods.

MELC 3542. Medieval Islam.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §ARAB 3542, ARAB 5542, HIST 3542, MELC 3542) Islamic dynasties, Mamluks and Mongols, Crusaders and Assassins. Abbasid Caliphate’s disintegration and rise of Seljuk Turks.

MELC 3602. Persian Poetry in Translation.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §CAS 3602, CAS 5602, MELC 5602) Major poetic works of Iran in translation dealing with life at the medieval courts, Sufic poetry, and “new” poetry. Rudaki, Khayyam, Rumi, Hafiz, Yushij, and Farrukhzad are among the poets whose works are examined.

MELC 5311. Medieval Sages.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §CAS 5311. Prereq–background in Iranian, Central Asian, or Islamic studies recommended) Study and discussion of the intellectual life of the region from the rise of the Ghaznavids (A.D. 1000) to the fall of the Timurids (A.D. 1500). Ibn Sina (Avicenna), al-Biruni, al-Ghazali, Rumi, Sa’di, and Firdowsi are among the sages whose lives are examined.

MELC 5602. Persian Poetry in Translation.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. §CAS 3602, CAS 5602, MELC 3602) Major poetic works of Iran dealing with life at the medieval courts, Sufic poetry, and “new” poetry are studied. Rudaki, Khayyam, Rumi, Hafiz, Yushij, and Farrukhzad are among the poets whose works are Examined

MUS 3027. Lyric Song in Medieval Culture.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Courtly, paraliturgical, and popular song traditions from 1100 to1500 in specific contexts: castle, palace, monastery, nunnery, cathedral, theater, tavern, street, and countryside. Social roles of men and women as patrons, performers, poets, composers. Write historical narratives and recreate medieval performance
traditions.

PHIL 4003. Medieval Philosophy.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–[Grad or upper div undergrad] student) Survey of several major figures of the medieval Christian synthesis (e.g., Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Scotus, Ockham).

PHIL 4030. Medieval Philosophers.

(3 cr [max 6 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq –3001 or 4003 or #) Major work of selected medieval philosophers (e.g., Anselm’s Proslogion, Aquinas’s Summa contra Gentiles, Books I/II, Nicholas of Cusa’s On Learned Ignorance). Works discussed may vary from offering to offering.

SCAN 3502. Scandinavian Myths.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Literary and cultural investigation of the popular beliefs, myths, and religion of the medieval Scandinavians; the interaction of paganism and Christianity; the reflection of myths in Old Scandinavian literature and art. All readings in English.

SCAN 5502. The Icelandic Saga.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Study of the sagas written in 13th-century Iceland. Discussion includes cultural and historical information about medieval Iceland and analysis of a selection of saga texts using contemporary critical approaches. All readings in translation

SCAN 5701. Old Norse Language and Literature.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Acquisition of a reading knowledge of Old Norse; linguistic, philological and literary study of Old Norse language and literature.

SCAN 5710. Topics in Old Norse Literature.

(3 cr [max 9 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–5701 or equiv) Topic may focus on Old Norse prose or poetry. Primary texts read in Old Norse. Critical literature about texts, medieval Icelandic culture in English. Topics specified in Class Schedule.

GER 3702. Beginning Middle High German.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–1004) Middle High German grammar. Selected literary texts.

GER 5721. Introduction to Middle High German.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Introduction to Middle High German language and literature. Study of grammar through formal description of Middle High German phonology, morphology, and syntax. Normalized MHG texts read

GER 5722. Middle High German: Advanced Readings.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–5721) Acquisition of fluency in reading Middle High German normalized as well as non-normalized texts, both poetry and prose.

GER 5731. Old High German I.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Study of the monuments of Old High German. Detailed investigation of Old High German in comparison with the other Germanic languages.

GER 5732. Old High German II.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–5731) Study of the monuments of Old High German. Detailed investigation of Old High German in comparison with the other Germanic languages.

GER 5734. Old Saxon.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Study of the poetry of Old Saxon. Detailed investigation of Old Saxon in comparison with the other Old Germanic languages.

ENGL 4612. Old English I.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt) Introduction to the language through 1150 A.D. Culture of Anglo-Saxons. Selected readings in prose/poetry.

ENGL 4613. Old English II.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–4612) Critical reading of texts. Introduction to versification. Readings of portions of Beowulf.

ENGL 5110. Readings in Middle English Literature and Culture.

(3 cr [max 9 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–Grad student or #) Wide reading in literature of period. Relevant scholarship/criticism. Topics vary. See Class Schedule.

HUM 3002. Humanities in the West II.

(4 cr; Stdnt Opt. §HUM 1002) Sixth to Fourteenth centuries: Growth of Christendom; monasticism; feudalism and courtly love, rise of towns and universities. Art and architecture: Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic. Music: Gregorian chant, minstrelsy, liturgical drama. Literature: epic, romance, Dante. Islam. Scholastic philosophy: Abelard, Aquinas.

ARCH 4423. Gothic Architecture.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. §ARCH 5423. Prereq –3411 or #) History of architecture and urban design in Western Europe, from 1150 to 1400.

ARCH 5423. Gothic Architecture.

(3 cr; A-F or Aud. §ARCH 4423. Prereq–M Arch major or #) History of architecture and urban design in Western Europe, from 1150 to 1400.

ARTH 5234. Gothic Sculpture.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–jr or sr or grad or #) The origin, character, and development of Gothic sculpture in France, the German empire, and the Netherlands, 1150-1400. Emphasis on French sculpture of the cathedral age and the emergence of a court style in Paris and elsewhere in Europe (e.g. London, Prague).

ARTH 5252. History of Early Christian Art in Context.

(4 cr; Stdnt Opt. §CNES 5252. Prereq–One 3xxx ArtH course or #) The role played by art in the formation of early Christian and Byzantine communities, and in establishing their relationships with the Pagan world and early Islam.

LAT 5200. Advanced Reading in Later Latin.

(3 cr [max 18 cr]; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–3004 or 3114 or 3300) Reading course. Authors of late antiquity, Middle Ages, and Renaissance. Topics specified in Class Schedule.

SPAN 5106. The Literature of the Reconquest and Feudal Spain.

(3 cr; Stdnt Opt. Prereq–three 3xxx or 5xxx literature courses in Spanish) The major literary genres developed in Spain from the Reconquest to 1502, with reference to the crucial transformations of the Middle Ages, including primitive lyric, epic, clerical narrative, storytelling, debates, collections, chronicles, “exempla,” and the Celestina (1499-1502).