The Middle Ages is one of the most maligned and misunderstood eras in European history. Often referred to as the "Dark Ages," it is depicted in films and popular books as a time of ignorance, violence, and superstition. It is commonly used as a synonym for anything backward and primitive. Journalists have commented on how the Taliban sent women back to the Middle Ages. Anarchic and disorganized governments are likewise characterized as medieval. Of course, it has also provided fodder for humor. In Pulp Fiction, the character of Samuel L. Jackson famously remarked: "I'm going to get medieval on your ass." In a Seinfeld episode, George asserted that not only had no one ever successfully accomplished the roommate switch in the entire history of western civilization, but that in the Middle Ages you could get locked up for even suggesting it.

What were the Middle Ages like?

This is not an easy question to answer, since the Middle Ages cover a long time period that stretches from c. 500 to c. 1500 and a large geographical expanse that includes Great Britain and Northern Europe as well Mediterranean regions such as Spain, Italy, and the Near East. Nonetheless the characterization of the medieval era as a time of desperation and despair, violence and unbridled passion, ignorance and superstition is both unfair and anachronistic, reflecting the problems and prejudices of modern society more than the reality of the earlier period.

The courses I teach introduce students to the time period from the perspective of the people who lived in the society. Although the mentality and mindset of the era can at times seem strange, by studying in depth texts written during the period students can gain an appreciation for a culture foreign in time if not in space. The Middle Ages is, in fact, Europe's temporal "other," a society that is different due not to distance but to time.

Why study the Middle Ages?

First, you can gain access to a foreign culture that is nonetheless an integral part of modern-day Western culture. Believe it or not, many medieval traditions and customs can be seen in our own society, even if they have been radically transformed over the last five hundred years. Just as courses on Africa or Asia can help you to understand the diversity of the contemporary world, pre-modern history provides a window onto a distant Europe.

Second, historical events, even ones in the remote past, affect the world today, either directly or indirectly as the basis for building myths. The crusades of the Middle Ages, for example, have been invoked by both sides of the current war. "Charlemagne" is the name of a column in the Economist that speaks of issues related to the unification of Europe. Wouldn't it be interesting to know the basis for these historical analogies?

Finally, the Middle Ages is fun, even at its most gruesome. Since the events took place so long ago, it is often easier to study violent and distasteful events with a degree of detachment and humor that generally would provoke strong emotions.

A sampling of some of the topics and questions you might encounter in my courses:

Relics and Patron Saints:
Why does the shoe of the Virgin Mary have the power to help criminals and sinners?
Why does the child-martyr Saint Foy torture wealthy women who refuse to give her jewelry and fine clothes?
How can two heads of Saint Patrick exist?
How can the theft of a relic from a neighboring church be considered a pious act?

Monks and Ascetics:
How to become a saint in five easy steps.
When does fasting to the point of death represent a pious Christian life?
Why did medieval churchmen believe that men could control their sexual urges better than women?
What, precisely, is a chaste marriage?

Heretics and Dualism:
How can a person possess orthodox beliefs and still be considered a heretic?
Can you believe in two gods and still be a Christian?

The Crusades:
Were they religious wars or merely an excuse for economic opportunism?
Who was Saladin and why is he invoked today?

The Fall of the Roman Empire:
Where, precisely, did it go?
How is it linked to the Byzantine empire, and why do we use the term "byzantine" today to refer to something complicated and inflexible?
Did the Germans invade the Roman empire in the fourth and fifth centuries, or were they impoverished immigrants seeking a better life?

Christians, Jews, and Muslims:
Was there more religious tolerance in early medieval society than today?
Why did the persecution of Jews emerge with a vengeance in Europe in the twelfth century?

Learning and Education:
Were people in the Middle Ages ignorant?
Did women read and write?
Why did Aristotle's thought represent such a threat to twelfth-century society, and what role did it play in the castration of the famous philosopher and theologian Abelard?

Courts and the Law:
How can a society function without jails or a police force?
Can vendetta be the basis of a viable legal system?
How can throwing someone in the water, and watching if s/he floats or sinks, result in a fair legal decision?

 

• Valerie Ramseyer vramseye@wellesley.edu
• Created: November, 20, 2004
• Expires: November, 20, 2007
• Last Modified: November, 20, 2004