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Center for Medieval Studies
cmedst@umn.edu
612-626-0805
cmedst@umn.edu
612-626-0805
Edited by UMN faculty Calvin Kendall, Oliver Nicholson, William Phillips, and Marguerite Ragnow, this volume brings a comparative approach to what, in recent years, has been a hotly debated topic within and across a number of academic disciplines: conversion to Christianity. These debates register the challenges inherent in attempting to understand a transformation that was at once personal and collective--a matter of inner conviction and outward conformity. The essays in this volume range from the late antique Middle East to medieval Western and Eastern Europe; from early modern Asia to the Americas and islands in the central Pacific.
Collectively, the ten authors encourage consideration of the conversion phenomenon comparatively across time and space. Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Prince of Austurias Professor of History at Tufts University, frames the essays in a broader global perspective in light of the two other major world religions, Islam and Buddhism, in his Prologue, while John M. Headley, Distinguished University Professor, University of North Carolina, considers the various conversion processes and their broader impact within the cultural transformation of the societies involved, foreshadowing "the uncertain extension of the universal jurisdiction of humanity . . . to the peoples of the globe" that is one of the transformative processes of the 21st century.
ISBN: 9780979755903 (hardcover) 2009, 449 pages.
Price: US $95.00
On Wednesday, 18 March 2009, UMN History graduate students Philip Grace and Basit Qureshi traveled to Cambridge-Isanti High School in Cambridge, MN to present our first "Making a Medieval Book" Outreach program of the year.
Social Studies teacher Donna Ferber's two classes welcomed Philip and Basit, and enjoyed both learning about book construction in the middle ages, and the medieval dress worn by the two presenters.
Ms. Ferber wrote us with her impressions:
I just wanted to thank you for helping to set up the visit by Basit and Philip. It went really well! They were engaging speakers who knew how to interest a teenage audience. The visuals were very helpful, and everyone--including me!--learned a lot. The costumes were a hit as well. All in all, the experience has been entirely positive for me and my students. Some of them talked the next day about how much they enjoyed the visit. Thank you for helping me to make history real to my students.
We look forward to more successful Outreach presentations this spring!
The Center for Medieval Studies would like to wish a fond farewell to Susan Noakes, Professor in the Department of French and Italian, who stepped down as CMS Director this summer. Professor Noakes took the CMS helm in 2002 and successfully steered us through some big changes including moving offices and administrative units; starting a Medieval Outreach program in local schools; and co-editing the journal Medieval Encounters with Professors Kathryn Ryerson and Barbara Weissberger. Continue Reading.
November 20th, 2008