Courts of the Medieval World

3 units

Medieval kings, caliphs, and courtiers often buttressed their power through cultural production. By sponsoring the creation of regalia, the construction of palaces, and the illumination of manuscripts these patrons shaped the way audiences perceived them. In this class we will compare the varied courts from the seventh to the fourteenth centuries in places such as Córdoba, Paris, Constantinople, Damascus, and Jerusalem. A primary focus will be on the ways that objects, ideas, and styles spread across Europe and the Mediterranean via these influential court cultures. Prerequisites: Intro to Western Art (L01 113) or permission of instructor.