Reading in the Middle Ages: A Study of Hugh of St. Victor's Didascalicon - Detailseite

We are currently living through a media revolution. Much as happened during the last one, initiated by the invention of moveable type over half a millennium ago, the Digital Revolution is fundamentally changing our relationship to books and reading. How is reading practiced? What is its value? How do we learn, and what does it mean to be educated? To fully address these questions and their import in our swiftly changing modern world, one of the most helpful things we can do is turn to the past. For these very questions were raised by some of the greatest minds of the Middle Ages.

This course will explore one particularly profound and beautiful set of answers, found in the Didascalicon, a treatise written by Hugh of Saint Victor in the early 12^th century in Paris. In addition to introducing students to medieval views on reading and knowledge, the course is meant to familiarize them with the broader cultural movement known as the Renaissance of the 12^th Century.

The language of instruction for the course is English. Knowledge of Latin would be helpful but is not necessary. All students will be required to deliver a presentation. Those wishing to earn an extra credit point may write an essay of 5-7 pages to be handed in no later than September 1, 2020.

**Please note that the class will not meet the first week of the semester. The first meeting will take place on April 21, 2020.

Ausgleichsberechtigte Studierende wenden sich zur bevorzugten Platzvergabe per E-Mail mit einem Nachweis der Ausgleichsberechtigung an die Studienkoordinationsstelle Geschichte. Ausschlussfrist für die Geltendmachung von Ausgleichsberechtigungen ist der letzte Tag der zentralen Frist, 16 Uhr. Textnachrichten in AGNES werden hingegen nicht gelesen!