24
Lectures
30
minutes/lecture
1.
Why the Middle Ages?
Europeans living between 1000 and 1300 would have been shocked to hear that they were living in the "Middle" Ages. So where does the term come from? What does it tell us about the topic of this course?
1.
Why the Middle Ages?
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13.
Jews and Christians
Jews were the largest religious minority in high medieval Europe. Curiously, despite the relative prosperity of the times, the treatment of Jews became noticeably harsher. Why?
13.
Jews and Christians
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2.
Demography and the Commercial Revolution
One of history's most potent forces is demography. In the Middle Ages, when the line between sufficiency and dearth was so thin, small innovations and events could and did have huge effects.
2.
Demography and the Commercial Revolution
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14.
The Origins of Scholasticism
Explore the bold and innovative intellectual methods of the Scholastics, and meet a key early figure in this pioneering movement in European thought.
14.
The Origins of Scholasticism
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3.
Those Who Fought—The Nobles
Perched atop the society of high medieval Europe was a group of mounted, armored warriors who came to form a hereditary aristocracy with unique legal privileges.
3.
Those Who Fought—The Nobles
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15.
Aquinas and the Problem of Aristotle
What was the project of Aquinas and his fellow Scholastics, and what made their work a focus of controversy amid their contemporaries?
15.
Aquinas and the Problem of Aristotle
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4.
The Chivalric Code
When clerics sought to refine rough-hewn knights with literature, the result was the emergence of new genres such as the chivalric romance. How far did such books go to change actual behavior?
4.
The Chivalric Code
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16.
The First Universities
The High Middle Ages gave birth to a new educational institution: the university. Of all the institutions to which high medieval Europe gave rise, the university is the most vibrant today.
16.
The First Universities
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5.
Feudalism
Few words are so closely associated with the Middle Ages as "feudalism." Yet historians have argued ceaselessly over its meaning. So what is "feudalism," and how can we use the term to further our understanding?
5.
Feudalism
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17.
The People's Crusade
The First Crusade, which ended with the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, demonstrated the rising power of Europe. How did this combination of holy war and pilgrimage begin?
17.
The People's Crusade
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6.
Those Who Worked—The Peasants
Although most medieval people were peasants, a lack of written records makes them hard to study. It seems clear that the rights of lords weighed upon peasants, though less so in 1300 than in 1000.
6.
Those Who Worked—The Peasants
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18.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
Despite internecine quarrels, crusading barons took Jerusalem in 1099 and carved out "crusader states" in Syria and Palestine that would last for nearly 200 years.
18.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
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7.
Those Who Worked—The Townspeople
Revived urban life made townspeople a prominent part of medieval society. But was their outlook "bourgeois," or still characteristically "feudal"?
7.
Those Who Worked—The Townspeople
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19.
The Norman Conquest
Broad, impersonal forces may shape history, but contingencies play a role as well. The conquest of Saxon England by Gallicized Norsemen on 1066 offers an excellent example.
19.
The Norman Conquest
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8.
Women in Medieval Society
Long marginalized by political and military history, women's history and gender history have become two of the fastest growing fields in medieval studies.
8.
Women in Medieval Society
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20.
Philip II of France
The French monarchy is one of the era's great comeback stories. The king most responsible for this turnaround was Philip II Augustus (1180-1223). A combat-averse hypochondriac, he outwitted rivals and laid the basis for French greatness.
20.
Philip II of France
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9.
Those Who Prayed—The Monks
Monks formed a spiritual elite, living lives of work, study, and prayer under the Rule of Saint Benedict. The High Middle Ages saw a number of monastic reform movements, including the Cluniac and the Cistercian.
9.
Those Who Prayed—The Monks
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21.
Magna Carta
Having early developed a powerful monarchy, the English also early developed instruments for restraining it. The Great Charter was such a tool, and its long-range consequences would be considerable indeed.
21.
Magna Carta
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10.
Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan Movement
How did this Italian merchant's son create a new religious order that mixed monastic elements with his own ministry of itinerant preaching, evangelical poverty, and a mixed critique and affirmation of urban spirituality?
10.
Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan Movement
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22.
Empire versus Papacy
The conflict between the Holy Roman Empire and the Church that is known as the Investiture Controversy would last two generations and leave imperial authority weakened for good.
22.
Empire versus Papacy
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11.
Heretics and Heresy
During the High Middle Ages, heresy and heretical movements spread across much of Europe. Why did this happen? How did authorities respond?
11.
Heretics and Heresy
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23.
Emperor Frederick II
Nicknamed stupor mundi, or "the wonder of the world," Frederick II Hohenstaufen (1211-50) was one of the most controversial figures of his age. Yet even he could not reverse the fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire.
23.
Emperor Frederick II
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12.
The Medieval Inquisitions
What were the various "Inquisitions" that existed in medieval and early modern Europe? What did they actually do? This lecture separates legend from documented historical fact.
12.
The Medieval Inquisitions
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24.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
By 1300, Europe had assumed an economic and political importance that would have been unimaginable in 1000. Although much of the world was as yet untouched, the European hand had begun to stretch forth.
24.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
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24
Lectures
30
minutes/lecture
1.
What Is a Cathedral?
Start your tour of great Gothic cathedrals with this introductory lecture. Discover the important role these buildings play in both spirituality and society, and learn how their origins lie in the 1st century A.D. with the emergence of the office of the bishop, whose throne is known as a "cathedra."
1.
What Is a Cathedral?
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13.
Amiens—The Limits of Height
Enormous. Soaring. Awe-inspiring. Find out why the Cathedral of Amiens—Professor Cook's favorite cathedral—deserves these and other titles by surveying the structure of the building and its dizzying heights. It's a chance to find out why Amiens takes visitors to the limits of what a Gothic building can do.
13.
Amiens—The Limits of Height
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2.
Early Christian Architecture
Go back to the 4th century A.D, when Christians first began to erect large buildings for public worship. Taking you to the dawn of the 11th century, Professor Cook leads you through the most important examples of surviving ecclesiastical buildings from this period, including Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and the Hagia Sophia in modern-day Istanbul.
2.
Early Christian Architecture
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14.
Amiens—The Facade
The front of the Cathedral of Amiens is the single greatest sculptural display in all of Gothic decoration. Here, make sense of the complexities and details of the cathedral's facade by approaching its larger-than-life sculptures from the point of view of the 13th-century people for whom they were built.
14.
Amiens—The Facade
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3.
Romanesque—A New Monumental Style
By 1100, many churches in western Europe were built using a range of local styles, all of which in some manner hearkened back to classical Roman forms. Here, explore the development of the Romanesque style and survey impressive examples of Romanesque cathedrals in France, Germany, Italy, and England.
3.
Romanesque—A New Monumental Style
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15.
Reims—The Royal Cathedral
Another of France's most beautiful—and important—cathedrals is located in the city of Reims. Survey the building's long and dramatic history, from the time of Joan of Arc to the bombardments of World War I, and look closely at examples from its statues, spires, and stained glass windows.
15.
Reims—The Royal Cathedral
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4.
Vaulting—A Look at Roofs
What's the best way to build a church's ceiling? This lecture takes you through the evolution of church roofs—from flat wood ceilings to stone barrel vaults to magnificent ribbed vaulting. Without these developments, you'll discover, there could have been no Gothic cathedrals.
4.
Vaulting—A Look at Roofs
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16.
Cathedrals—Who Builds? Who Pays? How Long?
You've witnessed the majesty of some of Europe's great cathedrals. But how on earth were they actually built? This lecture separates myth from reality, using models, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows, and other sources to reveal the technical process of creating impressive buildings that would inspire millions.
16.
Cathedrals—Who Builds? Who Pays? How Long?
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5.
Romanesque at Its Best
Sainte Foy in Conques. Saint Mary Magdalene in Vézelay. Saint-Lazare at Autun. Focus on these three French churches as definitive examples of Romanesque style and decoration. In particular, investigate how sculptural masterpieces on columns and over entrances rendered biblical stories into simple, visually arresting messages to instruct the faithful.
5.
Romanesque at Its Best
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17.
New Developments in Gothic France
Using the abbey of Saint—Denis; the cathedrals at Bourges, Troyes, and Beauvais; and the chapel of Saint Chapelle as case studies, examine the progression in the Gothic style that took place during the late 13th century. Among these are advanced buttressing systems, even higher vaults, and the addition of still more windows.
17.
New Developments in Gothic France
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6.
Saint-Denis and the Beginning of Gothic Style
Scholars agree that the first Gothic building in history is the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis, located outside of Paris. After learning about this building's role in French history, tour the building's facade and interior, noting in particular the ribbed and pointed vaults, large stained glass windows, and extraordinary infusion of sunlight.
6.
Saint-Denis and the Beginning of Gothic Style
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18.
Late Gothic Churches in France
Witness the evolution of Gothic architecture in the 14th, 15th, and early 16th centuries. Looking closely at a series of French cathedrals, abbeys, and churches, you'll find powerful examples of the flamboyant style, including more elegant stone tracery and glass windows that are more painted than stained.
18.
Late Gothic Churches in France
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7.
The Urban Context of Cathedrals
Place the power of cathedrals in a more urban context as you explore the factors that led to the widespread reemergence of cities as the religious centers of Europe. Then, take a brief look at three "experimental" Gothic cathedrals in northern France: Sens, Senlis, and Noyon.
7.
The Urban Context of Cathedrals
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19.
Early Gothic Architecture in England
Cross the English Channel into England, where you tour four classic examples of the country's Gothic style: the cathedrals at Canterbury, Salisbury, Wells, and Lincoln. In addition, investigate the major and subtle differences between these and the French cathedrals you looked at in earlier lectures.
19.
Early Gothic Architecture in England
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8.
Notre Dame in Paris
In the first of two lectures on early Gothic cathedrals, focus on perhaps the most famous cathedral in the world: Notre Dame in Paris. Gain new insights into how this magnificent building was created and learn the importance of features from its justly famous facade to its dramatic flying buttresses.
8.
Notre Dame in Paris
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20.
Decorated and Perpendicular English Gothic
Continue your virtual travels through England, this time paying particular attention to specific cathedrals, abbeys, and chapels that feature developments unique to the English Gothic style. Highlights of this lecture include Westminster Abbey, Kings College Chapel in Cambridge, and Ely Cathedral.
20.
Decorated and Perpendicular English Gothic
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9.
Early Gothic Style—Laon
Located in a much smaller town, the Cathedral of Laon is a quite different Gothic experiment than Notre Dame—but just as fascinating. Learn what's so unusual about the style, substance, and placement of the three arches on its facade, the statues of oxen on top of its towers, and more.
9.
Early Gothic Style—Laon
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21.
Gothic Churches in the Holy Roman Empire
Venture into the former territory of the Holy Roman Empire in this highlight of the most famous Gothic cathedrals from this part of Europe. Here, study the Gothic cathedrals of Strasbourg, Cologne, and Prague, as well as the exuberance of Kutná Hora's cathedral in the Czech Republic.
21.
Gothic Churches in the Holy Roman Empire
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10.
Chartres—The Building
Notre Dame de Chartres is perhaps the most influential Gothic cathedral—so influential that Professor Cook devotes three lectures to exploring it. In the first, focus on the building itself, including its systematic use of flying buttresses, groundbreaking three-layered elevation, and rich interplay between verticals and horizontals.
10.
Chartres—The Building
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22.
Gothic Churches in Italy
While the term "Gothic" is rarely used in an Italian context, Professor Cook pinpoints both traditional and unique Gothic elements present in the cathedrals of Siena and Orvieto, as well as in the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. He also guides you through other buildings, including the most Gothic cathedral in Italy, Milan Cathedral.
22.
Gothic Churches in Italy
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11.
Chartres—The Sculpture
Continue your virtual tour of Notre Dame de Chartres with a closer look at the cathedral's three porches, whose sculpted portals contain the largest collection of statuary of any Gothic cathedral. With their precise details, hidden narratives, and coordinating themes, these sculptures teach, inspire, and even evoke fear.
11.
Chartres—The Sculpture
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23.
Gothic Styles in Iberia and the New World
Turn west to the Gothic cathedrals of Spain, many of which exhibit a unique mixture of Roman, Muslim, French, and German influences. Then, go across the ocean to see how Spanish churches developed in the New World, including a visit to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, the oldest cathedral in the Americas.
23.
Gothic Styles in Iberia and the New World
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12.
Chartres—The Windows
Professor Cook concludes his in-depth look at Chartres with a handsomely illustrated lecture on its famous stained glass windows, as well as a description of how these brilliant works of art are created. Of the 175 glass windows in the cathedral, about 150 of them contain their original medieval glass.
12.
Chartres—The Windows
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24.
Gothic Architecture in Today's World
With the spread of Renaissance ideas and styles, Gothic architecture eventually subsided, only to experience a vibrant revival in the 19th and 20th centuries. In this concluding lecture, sample neo-Gothic churches in countries like Ecuador, China, South Africa, and the United States.
24.
Gothic Architecture in Today's World
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