Medieval people often looked to the natural world with admiration, praising its abundance and divinely imbued splendor. But they could also view nature with fear and trepidation: the wilderness was sometimes a frightening place, filled with feral creatures, natural hazards, and even supernatural dangers. This course examines medieval attitudes toward the natural world and the evolution of those ideas over time, placing them in conversation with modern views. By reading primary texts in translation and examining our own attitudes, we will explore such questions as whether some medieval attitudes even promoted what we now call ‘sustainability.’ In this First-Year Writing course, students will develop and strengthen academic writing skills by submitting drafts for feedback, using scaffolding techniques, and crafting arguments based on primary sources. No prior knowledge of medieval or European history is needed, and all readings will be in English.

Course Requirements:

Students will be evaluated based on class participation and writing assignments submitted via Canvas at specific times.