History of Christianity from Constantine to the Reformation

RELIGION 41 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course offers a historical overview of Christianity between the fourth century and the early sixteenth century.  We will study Christianity’s emergence in this period from a persecuted religion within the Roman Empire to a position of dominance in both medieval Europe and Byzantium.  Tracing this history up to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and the fracture of Latin Christendom into Catholics and Protestants, the course will explore major figures, institutions, and ideas, along with the development of Christian beliefs and practices.  Further topics to be considered include the conversion of pagan peoples; the divergence of Latin and Greek Churches; the Crusades; monasticism, scholasticism, and mysticism; saints, relics, and pilgrimage; lay piety; late medieval crises and reforms; and Christianity’s interactions with Islam and Judaism.

This course can be used to fulfill the Foundational, History, and Thought & Religion distribution requirements for the undergraduate secondary field in Medieval Studies.