ARTH 3150 - Medieval Art: Europe and the Islamic world

This course introduces the visual and material culture of Byzantium, Western Europe, and the Islamic world, roughly covering the years between 500–1500. During this time, the rise and expansion of Christian and Islamic polities prompted discourse between diverse communities. How did medieval artists, patrons, and viewers negotiate issues of difference, plurality, power, and faith? How did they articulate their identity and place within global networks? Of special concern are dynamic histories of cross-cultural exchange, as made visible through commerce and diplomacy, the reuse of materials, and reinterpretation of forms. The course is organized into thematic modules and includes case studies in architecture as well as artistic media such as textiles, metalworks, precious gems and enamels, sculpture, and manuscripts.