HIST 206 - Women Warriors of the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

It is often assumed that stories and images of women soldiers and commanders in the Middle Ages were either mythical or too rare to merit serious examination. Yet, the historical record contains many intriguing examples of women who fought in battles, defended cities on the brink of falling and even led or directed armies. This course invites students to research this topic both within and beyond Europe in the medieval and Renaissance periods. We begin the semester with shared reading of historical and literary sources, art and archaeology, and scholarship in gender studies and other areas. Students help compile a shared reading list and lead class discussions as they choose areas for their own research and work on supervised projects. The semester ends with presentations of student work. Nancy Bisaha.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: INT