HIST 2004A: The Later Medieval World
Winter 2025
Instructor: Sarah Keeshan
Introduction: This course is a broad survey of European history from c. 1000 CE – 1500
CE, covering the historical period we now refer to as the Central and Late Middle Ages. The Middle Ages is simultaneously familiar to us, thanks to medieval-themed popular culture, and foreign, as medieval individuals and peoples often understood themselves and the world in very different ways than we do today. This – along with the large scope of the course – makes the Later Middle Ages a period of history that is particularly difficult and exceptionally rewarding to study. As we have a lot of ground to cover, this course is concerned with the broad sweep and themes of later medieval history. We will make use of a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, including written records, literature, art, and architecture, as well as scholarly books and articles, cartoons, newspaper articles, and memes. Beginning with the eleventh century as a time of reconfiguring, we will pay particular attention to the ways in which later medieval peoples organized their communities and made sense of the world, and the ways in which they formed connections with their neighbours via trade, religion, learning, warfare, and disease. The majority of the course will consist of a largely chronological narrative of the Middle Ages, and a “Mentalities Module” will explore different thematic elements that help us to engage with some of the material realities and mentalities of late medieval life.
We will explore the later medieval world, paying particular attention to the Mediterranean milieu, while exploring the interconnectedness of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Western Asia. Topics will include the fall of the persecution and cooperation, the growth of towns and trade, changes in intellectual thought, rebellion, plague, and the fuzzy historical border with the Early Modern Period. Throughout, the course will demonstrate the diversity and complexity of the Later Middle Ages.
Class Format: This is an asynchronous online course that consists of recorded lectures and asynchronous written discussion group participation. Students will have both the lecture material as well as the opportunity to shape their learning experience, interact with each other, the professor, and teaching assistants in more depth through the discussion groups.
Aims and Goals: This course will serve as a foundation for students intending to pursue further studies in history and will provide essential historical context for the study of the history of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (modern or classical) and of global history from 1000-1500 CE. In addition, the critical study of a subject both familiar and foreign – as well as the opportunity to practice working in a variety of ways with a breadth of historical documents – will help students develop critical thinking skills and a historical literacy that is beneficial both within and outside of traditional humanities disciplines.
Assessment: Assignments include participation in discussion groups, a creative, experiential assignment designed to help students engage with medieval material culture, a workshop on research basics, and a scaffolded primary source assignment.
Text: There are two required texts: Barbara Rosenwein, A Short History of the Middle Ages. Volume 2: From c. 900 to c. 1500. 6th ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2023, and Barbara Rosenwein, Reading the Middle Ages. 3rd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2018. Both texts are available for purchase in electronic or print form directly from U of T press, and available as e-books through the Carleton library.
Questions? Please email me at: sarah.keeshan@carleton.ca