History of Culture in the European Middle Ages 3700-CS1-2-HKES
The lectures outline the history of the culture of the European – primarily Latin – Middle Ages, showing its unity and diversity, lastingness and change, on the example of the most important phenomena of political history, social history, religion, science, art, literature.
The lectures teach students an interdisciplinary approach to issues of Mediaeval culture, how to notice features which prove both the unity and diversity of Mediaeval culture, to understand Mediaeval civilization processes. They help develop an attitude of respect for the culture of past ages and the ability to make conscious judgments.
The students are required to put in:
- 60 hours of participation in the lectures ("contact" hours)
- 90 hours of their own work (preparing for the exam, work necessary to achieve the planned effects of learning).
Course coordinators
Type of course
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course students will be able to:
- present the course, causes, and consequences of the most important processes of Mediaeval culture (based on the knowledge obtained from the lectures, required reading, and selected supplementary reading) [K_W02, K_W07, K_W12, K_U06, K_U11, K_K02, K_K05]
- analyze and interpret trends of Mediaeval culture using examples from that culture, selected by themselves or analyzed during the lectures, e.g. works of art, architecture, literature, theology, philosophy, etc. (based on the knowledge obtained from the lectures, required reading, and selected supplementary reading), where:
a) in their analysis, they will identify features proving that an occurrence was distinctive within Mediaeval culture as well as features proving it was typical of Mediaeval culture
b) in their interpretation, they will decipher the symbolic meanings of the occurrence in accordance with the symbolic tradition of Mediaeval culture
c) on the example of the interpreted occurrence, they will indicate the continuity or differences between Mediaeval culture and today’s culture
d) they will make a judgment of the occurrence based on proper argumentation.
[K_W06, K_W08, K_W09, K_W10, K_W13, K_W14, K_W15, K_U01, K_U02, K_U05, K_U06, K_U07, K_U08, K_U13, K_K04, K_K07, K_K08]
Assessment criteria
1. Credits for the lecture series will be based on attendance, the final mark will be based on the results of the oral exam.
Two absences are allowed per semester, any further absences must be made up for during the teacher’s consulting hours, during a discussion on a piece of required and supplementary reading chosen by the teacher.
2. Exam requirements:
- knowledge of the issues presented during the lectures (20% of the final mark)
- familiarity with the required reading (20% of the final mark)
- preparing an oral statement on Mediaeval culture. The topic and the references will be agreed upon in advance with the teacher/examiner (60% of the final mark)
3. Assessment criteria:
- the statement’s relevance for the topic
- an independent, insightful, and cultural interpretation
- making use of existing research (references)
- composition of the statement (functionality, logic, clarity)