How to Sit On an Iron Throne: Reading (Early Modern) Politics and Violence Through Game of Thrones

3 units

This class will attempt to enthusiastically pillage Game of Thrones and investigate what possible storylines were supplied by the history of 15th-17th century Europe. These storylines are heavily politicized in Game of Thrones and thus offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate how early modern men and women thought about power, fought with words and gift, built loyalties, betrayed one another, killed one another, married one another, and fielded armies of soldiers and cronies. Through the characters of Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister, students will study the historical stain of bastardy, and with the help of Cersei Lannister, Catelyn Tully and Arya Stark, the place of women in webs of power will also be examined.