In this course, we will explore the history of medieval and early modern Europe through a close study of its peoples and their place within the wider world. Our investigation will begin in fourth-century Rome, as the rise of Christianity and imperial expansion shifted the political, social, and religious landscapes of Europe. We will interpret the past through the perspectives of powerful Umayyad caliphs in the Iberian Peninsula, Norse explorers in Scandinavia, and female mystics throughout Europe. We will conclude in 1648, at the close of the Thirty Years’ War, amidst an early modern moment with its own religious, political, and colonial landscapes both evocative of and far different from our fourth-century starting place. Along the way, we will ask historical questions such as: What did it mean to be “European,” and how was Europe connected to the early modern world more broadly? What was it like to navigate premodern European society from the margins, as a woman, person of color, or LGBTQ+ person? And what can this history reveal about our lives today, as we consider social and political reforms, gender and sexuality movements, and society in the midst of continuity and change?

Course Requirements:

Instead of midterm and final exams, students will complete reflective and creative writing assignments, culminating in a podcast script final project.

Intended Audience:

First and second-year students interested in history and all students needing humanities credit.

Class Format:

Lecture with discussion sections.