DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (AGES)

Course Objectives: This course is aimed at challenging the widespread image of the Dark Ages, during which the cultural and scientific achievements of the classical period (of ancient Greece and Rome) disappeared for a period of around 1,000 years, before they were “re-born” during the renaissance. 

This course will suggest a different view of the middle ages, in which classical knowledge and cultural achievements not only continued to be present, but further developed and progressed. In addition, it will present new developments in science and technology (printing press and mechanical clock); new developments in geography and cartography and discuss the encounters between Latin Europe and other cultures and its influence in art, architecture, and written culture.

Course Content: This course will present a new approach to some questions related to the middle ages, in order to change the popular image of the “Dark Ages”. Among the issues which will be discussed during the course, one can find the following questions: What are the Middle Ages; Did the Roman Empire fall; did medieval people believe that the world is flat; was there a technological revolution in the middle ages; did Marco Polo go to China? And, when did the Middle Ages end?