• Why Study the Middle Ages?, Chapter 1 (PDF)
• Why Study the Middle Ages?, Chapter 2 (PDF)
• Why Study the Middle Ages?, Chapter 3 (PDF)
• Special Guest: R.A. Salvatore, Author and Alum

• BA: Thomas Malory, 774-829
• Eirik the Red and Other Icelandic Sagas, 3-88

• Marianne O’Doherty, “Where Were the Middle Ages?”
• François-Xavier Fauvelle, The Golden Rhinoceros, “Introduction: Africa in the Middle Ages” (PDF)
• Wendy Belcher, "Introduction," Early African Literature: An Anthology of Written Texts from 3000 BCE to 1900 CE 
• Ruth Finnegan, Oral Literature in Africa, “Chapter 3: The Social, Linguistic, and Literary Background” (only need to read through Section I)
• “West Africa’s oral histories tell us a more complete story than traditional post-colonial narratives”
• “Not just a pretty face: Women as storytellers and subjects in the folktales of Northern Sudan”
• Akintunde Akinyemi, "Yoruba oral literature: A source of indigenous education for children" (PDF) 

• Sundiata
• The Manden Charter (PDF)
• “Images of African Kingship, Real and Imagined”
• UNESCO declaration
• Kouroukan Fouga

• Tarikhu Farrar, "The Queenmother, Matriarchy, and the Question of Female Political Authority in Precolonial West African Monarchy” (PDF)
• “The Medieval Black Mother” (link to presentation slides)
• Wendy Belcher, “Medieval African and European Texts about the Queen of Sheba”
• Ethiopian The Kebra Nagast, 21-32, 84-90
• “How black women were whitewashed by art”

• "The Life of a Mystic"
• BA: Julian of Norwich, 617-634
• BA: Margery Kempe, 635-658
• Boccaccio, 1.2 and 1.3 
• BA: Chaucer, “The Prioress’s Tale,” 562-568
• BA: Persecution of Jews, 694-697

Chapter 2 makes a very big and obvious point as to why we should study the Middle Ages; so that we can make progress today. A variety of scientists from multiple fields study medieval history for their own reasons; doctors test medieval medicinal recipes, engineers study medieval designs to replicate and even refine them for modern projects, epidemiologists look at medieval pandemics to understand certain statistics, and so on. Also, going back to disabilities, looking to the past can clearly show that they aren’t just a modern day problem. Scientists can use DNA testing on ancient skeletons to diagnose leprosy and determine where it may have spread. Archaeological evidence can also be used to show specific geographical areas where Paget’s disease may have been present, among other diseases. One more important point this chapter mentions is the study of diversity in medieval times. Popular media often depicts medieval times, namely Europe, as exclusively white and Christian, but this is not correct. In fact, many scientific advancements were made by medieval Islam, Greek texts held an abundance of scientific knowledge, and the critical number 0 was invented in India and reached North Africa long before reaching Europe. 

Chapter 3 brings important points about how studying certain time periods can stop one from wrongfully romanticizing or demonizing a certain period of history. People in medieval times were neither just the mindlessly barbaric sub-humans or chivalric heroes that so many make them out to be. In fact most of them were normal people just like the ones we have today. Romanticization of a time period or its supposed “values” can even be dangerous or harmful in our society today, such as with Shallowater High School in Texas, which encouraged students to follow the “Rules of Chivalry” and treated girls as inferior to boys. We can also see good in medieval populations if we study the time period. For instance, during the black plague, we can see essential workers carry on their duties, family and friends care for each other, and medicines created in an attempt to address the crisis; many parallels to the Covid-19 pandemic that occurred just a few years ago. There were also bad parallels between then and now, for small and vulnerable populations were blamed for the pandemic itself occurring (Jews in medieval times, Asians in modern times). These bad parallels are a key reason why history needs to be studied, so that they are not created again in the future. As the old saying goes, those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.

Today in modern society we think of knights in shining armor and much more when we think of the Middle Ages, but there are a lot of similarities that we can see from back then in present time. Back then they had music, social systems, science and technology (STEM), and religion. In chapter one we can see how religion and belief played a big role back then. Personally I fell to believe society and how the medieval time was exactly how Game of Thrones depicted it and every other movie or show that takes place back then. These three chapters really helped me have an open mind and change my thinking towards this time. Chapter one emphasizes that the study of the Middle Ages through the humanities allows for a deeper understanding of both historical and contemporary human experience. It calls for a nuanced exploration that recognizes the complexities and continuities of human thought, belief, and culture across time. The first chapter also emphasizes the importance of medieval culture, literature, history, philosophy, and art, because it helps us connect with the experiences of people from a completely different era of time while also reflecting on our own. We then see a shift where STEM comes into play. Chapter two explains how citizens back then played a huge role in creating the foundation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. One of the big reasons we know this is the transition from oral to written texts. This helped scientists and mathematicians whenever it came to writing formulas, graphs, equations, etc. Another thing I learned from this chapter was how they followed climate change. I always thought that was more of a recent discovery and not something from the Middle Ages. Not only did they discover climate change, but they figured out potential links between climate change and historical events, like the Mongol invasion or the decline of the Silk Road hubs. This was the most interesting thing I found from these three chapters.  Another misconception found from this time was how they used superstition and magic to cure disabilities and illnesses, but they actually had real medicines. One notable example is the discovery of the efficacy of a ninth-century eye salve recipe from Bald’s Leechbook, which has been proven effective against the MRSA superbug. Diversity was a big misconception, whenever there are movies or shows, they only have white males as the actors, but there were many scholars from various ethnicities and religions that worked together to advance knowledge in STEM fields. Chapter three shows the misconceptions of white supremacy and terms from the medieval like “chivalry”. People think the only people who lived back then were toxic masculine knights who had multiple women. Also, how these women were not warriors or important to the successes of many societies. 

All in all, these three chapters talk about the misconceptions that we see today in shows and movies. They explain how the Middle Ages were the foundations for STEM, social systems, language, reading and writing, and many more. 

Quiz 2

9/27/24

Why Study the Middle Ages? I always believed that the Middle Ages were not interesting and did not relate to anything in my life. Believe it or not, the factors and discoveries within the United States and the medieval times have similarities. So many aspects of medieval times such as philosophy, writing, and music are similar to the United States. Faith and religion were a major aspect of this time. It was a major way for everyone to express themselves. This is very prominent in today's world. So are gender roles and race or religion factors. We see these human differences being discussed more and more today. The Middle Ages set these beliefs and ideas in stone for us to continue to believe or discuss today. Gender, race, religion, and other human differences were explored during this time. More knowledge of science and medicine was found during this period. Also, medieval remedies began to be used in medicine and have created the foundations for our medicine and remedies today. Domestic violence was another issue occurring during this time. This was not tolerated. A king was beheaded for this act. I also did not have a great understanding of the government and its powers, along with the economic factors during this time. I feel that before doing my readings, the only ideas I had of the Middle Ages were wars, knights, kings, armor, and more.

The Heliand was likely written between 825 and 850 AD, during the rule of Emperor Louis the Pious, the son of Charlemagne. At this time, the Germanic Saxons, who lived in what is now northern Germany, had recently experienced a forced conversion to Christianity following years of resistance. Large-scale baptisms played a vital role in the Saxons' eventual submission after Charlemagne's military campaigns against them (the Saxon Wars, 772–804 AD) largely dismantled their pagan practices. However, military force alone was insufficient to convert a warrior society with strong customs and beliefs; Christian teachings needed to be reinterpreted in a way that resonated with their values.

One of the most striking features of the Heliand is how it adapts the Christian narrative to fit the Germanic heroic culture. Jesus is depicted not just as a spiritual leader but as a "chieftain" or "lord" who leads his loyal followers, much like a Saxon warrior king would lead his army. His disciples are described as his "thegns", and their relationship is one of loyalty and mutual duty.This portrayal helped to make Christianity more relatable to the Saxons, who valued loyalty, honor, and bravery in battle. For instance, the Sermon on the Mount is delivered in the tone of a chieftain giving wise counsel to his warriors, rather than as a gentle, purely spiritual teaching. The harsh realities of life in the early medieval period are acknowledged in the text, and Jesus is presented as a strong, commanding figure who faces opposition with courage and resolve—qualities the Saxons would have admired.

The Heliand also incorporates aspects of Saxon pagan traditions to make the new Christian faith feel less alien. There are mentions of fate, or "wyrd," which was a fundamental part of the Germanic perspective. While the poem does not advocate for paganism, it indicates that God governs fate, thereby redefining an essential element of Saxon belief within a Christian framework. The focus on loyalty and familial bonds in the poem reflects the significance of these values in Saxon culture. The depiction of Jesus’ connection with his followers shows how he is a lord/king, and his journey to Jerusalem is compared to the final, fateful mission of a war.

The Heliand is more than just a religious text, it is a cultural artifact that provides insight into how early medieval Christianity was spread and adapted among Germanic peoples. It stands as an example to the blending of Christian theology with Germanic heroic ideals, showing the complex interactions between religion, culture, and politics in Europe. Moreover, the Heliand offers modern readers a glimpse into the mindset of the Saxons during a time of significant transformation. It also highlights the role that literature played in shaping religious identity, particularly in how a foreign faith was made familiar and acceptable to a resistant population.