HIST 342 - Constantine to Charlemagne

Examines the development of the medieval world from roughly CE 300 to 800. This period witnessed the transformation of one of world history’s great empires, the rise of two new monotheistic religions, and the emergence of new empires, polities, and cultures. In this class we will study the religious, political, and cultural histories of the Western Christian (Germanic) states, the Byzantine Empire, and the early Islamic empires. We will study both the larger social, cultural, and religious forces that shaped these diverging groups and the roles of individual leaders. The class will explore the construction of historical memory, the nature of biographies, and how modern historians understand these civilizations. This is a Core Course for AMRS, Medieval Studies majors and an Elective Course for AMRS, Ancient and Renaissance Studies majors. (Group I)