History of the Medieval World

The online course in discussion is a full-year world history class that focuses on the Middle Ages, a thousand-year span preceding the First Crusade. It explores the disintegration of the Roman Empire, the rise of Christianity and Islam, and the intricate relationship between human society, culture, and the environment during this period. The course delves into the formation and resurgence of distinct cultural spheres such as the Latin West, the Greek East, the Islamic World, as well as the Indic and far eastern cultural realms. It provides opportunities for students to understand key processes of socio-cultural change and continuity throughout the first millennium, gaining insights into the origins of the modern nation-state, the evolution of world religions, and the rediscovery of classical wisdom.

Assessments include weekly discussion questions or reading notes, timeline maintenance, open-book reading quizzes, short response papers, longer papers, and comprehensive semester exams.