MRST 110 - Medieval and Renaissance Culture: Humanities

Credits: 3 An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the Medieval and Renaissance periods through the study of a particular topic. Recent studies: Elizabethan England, and Life and Death in Dante’s Florence.

Winter 2021, MRST 110-01: Medieval and Renaissance Culture: Plague: A Medieval Pandemic (3). Between 1347 and 1352 a pandemic spread across Europe that ultimately reduced the population of the continent by at least one third. Even worse, the same disease hit repeatedly and decimated each of the next four generations. This course will explore the causes, experiences, and consequences of this disease, colloquially referred to as ‘The Pestilence’ or ‘The Black Death.’ These explorations will allow us a window into some of the deepest tensions in the medieval world. Our attempts to understand these tensions will reveal just as much about the people of the Middle Ages as about those who now tell their stories: us. Students will explore the topic by studying medieval art and literature; modern and medieval science; archeological approaches; questions about the role of religion, politics, and economics; as well as the reliability of historical sources. By the end of this course, students will be able to articulate informed perspectives on these topics, while providing compelling and balanced arguments for their interpretations. (HU) Vise. FDR: HU