Themester

Who had religious power in the Middle Ages? Popes and Priests. That’s clear. Kings and Emperors, too. The leaders of the institutional church were all male, and they had a monopoly on religious status, education, and power. And yet this was also an era when illiterate saints and holy women loomed large in the Christian imagination, and many seemingly marginal figures deeply influenced Christianity. How do we account for this seeming contradiction? What kinds of authority were at play in medieval Christianity at the time when the authority of the institutional church so dominated Christian territories in western Europe and the Byzantine empire?

To answer these questions, this course first surveys the power of the papal church. Then we encounter the saints, monks and other ascetics and visionaries who had charismatic power. Finally, we delve into the curious world of scholars and mystics who claimed authoritative knowledge of God. Along the way we’ll encounter angry kings, arrogant popes, passionate crusaders, extraordinary mystics, and some of the greatest thinkers in the history of Christianity. Assignments include short reflection papers, in-class activities, a take-home midterm, and a final project.

Instructor: Dr. Constance Furey

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