Castles, Cathedrals

and Courtship in the Middle Ages

An Exploration of Everyday Life and Culture in Medieval Europe

This course offers a unique learning experience concerning the European Middle Ages. While traveling through six to eight European countries, staying in particular urban centers with many important remainders of the Middle Ages, students will study that time period from many different perspectives. On the basis of one or two textbook we will explore the historical framework from the early to the late Middle Ages, then turn to a wide selection of literary texts, then study medieval art history, including architecture, subsequently focus on medieval philosophy and theology, and conclude with investigations of people’s lives in the Middle Ages. Traveling to medieval cities and spending time there will provide the unique opportunity to apply theoretical studies with practical experiences by studying medieval cathedrals, castles, city halls, city walls, by visiting museums and libraries.

In Summer 2007, we traveled through France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Austria!

In 2008, we'll begin in Germany, then go to Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Spain, back to France, Italy, and Switzerland.

The 2006 route included:

Phoenix

Brussels (Belgium), Bruges, and Ghent

Strasbourg (France) and Colmar

Bellinzona, Switzerland

Padua (Arena Chapel) and Venice (Italy)

Salzburg (Austria) (location in Werfen - Hohenwerfen

Bamberg and Nuremberg (Germany)

Prague (Czech Republic)

Wroclaw (Poland)

Gdansk (Poland)

Warsaw (Poland): return home

Phoenix

Hildesheim

Includes roundtrip air transportation from

Phoenix Sky Harbor, train pass, hotel,

daily breakfast and farewell banquet.

UA Credit: 6 units of Directed Research (Ger 392), or other course number.

To be accepted in this Summer I course, you need to sign up with Professor Classen and have a short interview with him.  Please encourage your parents or whoever will support you financially to talk with him on the phone, via e-mail, or in person.