Last updated: January 8, 2014 @ 01:30PM

Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Director
Mathew Martin

Adjunct Professor
André Basson (Campus Ministries)

Participating Faculty
Lynn Arner (Women's Studies), Michael J. Carter (Classics), Fanny Dolansky (Classics), Corrado Federici (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures) Rosemary Hale (History), Mathew Martin (English Language and Literature), R. Andrew McDonald (History), Carol Merriam (Classics), Behnaz Mirzai (History), Catherine Parayre (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures), Brian Power (Music), Virginia Reh (Dramatic Arts), Felipe Ruan (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures), Elizabeth Sauer (English Language and Literature), David Schimmelpenninck (History), Angus Somerville (English Language and Literature), Ernesto Virgulti (Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures)

Academic Adviser
Liz Kaethler

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Cathy Bouwers

905-688-5550, extension 5325
573 Glenridge 248

The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies offers an interdisciplinary program focused on the period from Late Antiquity to the 17th century. Faculty and courses are drawn from many different disciplines within the University emphasizing the interrelations among art, architecture, history, music and literature. The program encourages the study of Medieval and Renaissance culture(s) across disciplinary boundaries.

Course offerings and faculty interests range from the last centuries of the Roman world to Renaissance Italy, from Byzantium to Iceland, and from the reading of Latin literature to the analysis of Chaucer, Dante and Shakespeare among many others, as well as the music and art of the period.

The Middle Ages and Renaissance are instrumental in shaping the cultures in which we live. The interdisciplinary understanding of how Medieval and Renaissance cultures worked will illustrate their legacy to us, and their importance in shaping who and what we are. The program seeks to develop the skills and habits of critical inquiry, analysis, argument and expression needed for the rigorous treatment of these questions.

The Centre advises students to have their programs reviewed each year by the Faculty of Humanities Undergraduate Adviser and/or the Director. Students planning to enter fourth year are required to have their programs approved by the Faculty of Humanities Undergraduate Adviser as well as the Director.

Students considering graduate work in Medieval and/or Renaissance Studies should note that graduate programs normally require competence in Latin and other languages depending on the specific area of study.

Language Requirement for Humanities Majors

Students in the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies are required to complete one credit in a language other than English. Where half-credit courses are used to satisfy the requirements, both half-credits must be in the same language. It is recommended that students satisfy this requirement by year 2. Latin is strongly recommended.

Program Notes
  1. Honours students must complete 5.0 credits from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses. Pass students must complete 4.0 credits from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses.
  2. Students may take 1.0 credit from ENGL 4V00-4V09 as an approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies credit requirement. Students must contact the Director or Academic Adviser before registering for these courses, to ensure they meet the MARS program criteria.
  3. Students intending to participate in MARS 3F50 must complete an application package that will be available through the MARS office. Application deadlines will be determined on an annual basis.
  4. In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.

Honours Program

Year 1
·   MARS 1F90
·   one language credit other than English (see language requirement)
·   one Sciences context credit
·   one Social Sciences context credit
·   one elective credit
Year 2
·   MARS 2P90 and 2P91
·   two credits from MARS 3P51, 3P52, 3P55, 3P56, the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses (see program notes 1, 2 and 3)
·   two elective credits
Year 3
·   MARS 2P92 and 3P90
·   two credits from MARS 3P51, 3P52, 3P55, 3P56, the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses (see program notes 1, 2 and 3)
·   two elective credits (see program note 2)
Year 4
Thesis option:
·   MARS 4P80, 4P81, 4P98 and 4P99
·   one credit from MARS 3P51, 3P52, 3P55, 3P56, the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses or MARS 3V90-99
·   two elective credits (see program note 2)
Course Work option:
·   MARS 4P80 and 4P81
·   one credit from MARS 3V90-99
·   one credit from the list of approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses (see program notes 1, 2 and 3)
·   two elective credits (see program note 2)

Pass Program

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles students to apply for a Pass degree.

Approved Medieval and Renaissance Studies Courses Offered by Other Departments/Centres

Note: As many of the courses listed below have prerequisites, students should plan their programs in advance

CLAS 1P92
Roman Civilization

CLAS 1P93
Culture and Civilization of Central Europe: From the Prehistoric to the Carolingian Period
(also offered as GERM 1P93)

CLAS 3P10
History of the Early Roman Empire

CLAS 3P23
Art and Architecture of Rome in the Imperial Age
(also offered as VISA 3P23)

CLAS 3M20-3M29
Study in Mediterranean Lands
(also offered as VISA 3M20-3M29)

DART 3P91
Shakespeare in Performance

ENGL 2P19
Chaucer: The Poetry

ENGL 2P21
Sixteenth Century Literature

ENGL 2P24
Early 17th Century Literature

ENGL 2P80
Shakespeare 1590-1603

ENGL 2P81
Shakespeare 1603-1614
(also offered as LART 2P81)

ENGL 2P82
Shakespeare's Comedies
(also offered as LART 2P82)

ENGL 2P83
Shakespeare's Tragedies
(also offered as LART 2P83)

ENGL 2P84
Non-Shakespearean Drama in England, 1576-1642

ENGL 2V22
Women Writers of Medieval England
(also offered as WISE 2V22)

ENGL 3P20
Spenser and the Age of Elizabeth

ENGL 3P22
The Literature of Milton's Time

ENGL 3P91
Introduction to Anglo-Saxon

ENGL 3P92
Anglo-Saxon Poetry

ENGL 3P95
Romance and Visionary Literature of the late Middle Ages

ENGL 3P96
Old Norse: Language and Literature I

ENGL 3P97
Old Norse: Language and Literature II

HIST 2F80
History of Science

HIST 2P03
Early Medieval Britain 400-1000: Celts, Saxons and Vikings
(also offered as IASC 2P03)

HIST 2P04
Medieval Britain 1000-1485: The Four Nations
(also offered as IASC 2P04)

HIST 2P25
Revolutions in Communication
(also offered as IASC 2P25)

HIST 2P70
The Middle East, 600-1800

HIST 2P91
Europe's Reformations, 1450-1650

HIST 2P96
Early Russia

HIST 3P30
The Viking Age

HIST 3P60
The World of Genghis Khan: Inner Asia since 500 BC
(also offered as INTC 3P60)

HIST 3Q93
The Crusades

HIST 4V29
Wallace, Bruce and the Wars of Scotland 1286-1346

LATI 1F00
Language (Introductory)

LATI 2F00
Language and Literature

MUSI 4P50
History of Music in the Middle Ages

MUSI 4P51
History of Music in the Renaissance

MUSI 4P55
History of Music and Liturgy to 1600

MUSI 4P96
Topics in the History of Theory: Renaissance and Baroque

Description of Courses

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.

# Indicates a cross listed course
* Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.
MARS 1F90
Medieval and Renaissance Civilizations
Key themes, problems and topics in Medieval and Renaissance civilizations, including: the development of concepts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; notions of decline, renewal, rebirth and reformation in the West; sources and methods of inquiry.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

MARS 2P90
Beowulf to Boccaccio: Great Books and Writers of the Middle Ages
(also offered as LART 2P90)
Major medieval writers and selections from their works. Writers include the Beowulf poet, Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Chaucer and Christine de Pisan.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to MARS, GBLS and LART majors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite(s): one of MARS 1F90, LART 1F90, (GBLS) 1F93, one Humanities context credit or permission of the Director.

MARS 2P91
Castle, Cathedral and Manor: Medieval Architecture and Society
Relationship of trends in military, religious, domestic, urban and monumental architecture of the Middle Ages to changes in medieval society; the relationship of medieval architecture and art to thought.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to MARS majors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite(s): MARS 1F90, one Humanities context credit or permission of the Director.

MARS 2P92
Early to High Renaissance Art and Architecture
(also offered as ITAL 2P92 and VISA 2P92)
Major monuments, buildings and art works of the period from several critical perspectives including the humanist influence on the arts in Florence and Rome, the issue of patronage and the question of the artist's cultural status.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): one of MARS 1F90, ITAL 1F90, VISA 1Q98 and 1Q99 or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in VISA (ITAL) 2P40.

MARS 3F50
Heritage of Viking and Medieval Iceland
Heritage, literary culture, manuscripts and environment of the Viking age and medieval Iceland, c. 870-1300. Visits to historic, heritage and saga sites.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 10.0 overall credits or permission of the Director.
Note: offered in Iceland. Students must apply prior to registering through the Centre. Application deadlines will be determined on an annual basis. Students are expected to pay their own expenses.

MARS 3P51
International Field Course I
Intensive field course of relevance to Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Restriction: Permission of the Director.
Prerequisite(s): MARS 1F90
Note: Consult the Centre prior to registration. Students are expected to cover all their own expenses.

MARS 3P52
International Field Course II
Intensive field course of relevance to Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Restriction: Permission of the Director.
Prerequisite(s): MARS 1F90
Note: Consult the Centre prior to registration. Students are expected to cover all their own expenses.

MARS 3P55
Directed Studies I
Topics and readings to be chosen in consultation with a faculty member who is willing to supervise the student.
Restriction: open to MARS majors who hold a minimum 75 percent major average, permission of the Director and instructor.
Prerequisite(s): four MARS credits.

MARS 3P56
Directed Studies II
Topics and readings to be chosen in consultation with a faculty member who is willing to supervise the student.
Restriction: open to MARS majors who hold a minimum 75 percent major average, permission of the Director and instructor.
Prerequisite(s): four MARS credits.

MARS 3P90
Prose and Poetry of the Renaissance
(also offered as LART 3P90)
Themes and style in the works of 15th- and 16th-century continental writers; humanism and philosophical treatises; realism and classicism; Petrarchan ideal in lyric poetry; quérelle des anciens et des modernes; imitation and originality; the status of the vernacular. Authors may include Machiavelli, Castiglione, Ariosto, Pico, Valla, Ficino, Erasmus, the Plaeiade poets, Rabelais, and Montaigne.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to MARS, GBLS and LART majors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite(s): one of MARS 1F90, LART 1F90, (GBLS) 1F93 or permission of the Director.

MARS 3V90-3V95
Themes in Medieval-Renaissance Civilizations
Seminar, 3 hours per week.

MARS 3V91
2009-2010: Ideas, Artistic Traditions and the Formation of Late Medieval European Societies (1200-1550)
The articulation of cultural values and ideas in theatre, visual arts, rhetoric, architecture and music, and their dissemination through formal and informal networks of social, religious, political and professional interaction.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to MARS majors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite(s): two MARS credits or permission of the Director.

MARS 3V96-3V99
Problems in Medieval-Renaissance Civilizations
Seminar, 3 hours per week.

MARS 4P80
End of the Ancient World and the Making of the Middle Ages
Transformation of the Roman world between the third and ninth centuries from a variety of critical perspectives, emphasizing recent historical and archaeological work.
Restriction: students must have a minimum 70 percent major average and approval to year 4 (honours).

MARS 4P81
The Cross Goes North
Conversion of Europe to Christianity as a significant theme in the history of the first millennium and the development of Medieval European culture. Processes in the conversion of the so-called barbarian peoples of northern Europe between about 500 and 1000.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum 70 percent major average and approval to year 4 (honours).

MARS 4P98
Honours Seminar in Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Critical approaches to Medieval and Renaissance studies from a variety of disciplines and perspectives.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum 75 percent major average and approval to year 4 (honours).

MARS 4P99
Honours Thesis
Major project in Medieval and Renaissance Studies on a topic of mutual interest to the student and instructor.
Restriction: students must have a minimum 75 percent major average and approval to year 4 (honours).