When and how did the modern world emerge? It is a question that has attracted generations of thinkers as they seek to illuminate the past and, with it, the present. The conventional answer has been to mark an imaginary line through the 14th century. On the far side lies the "darkness" of the Middle Ages. On the near side lies the "light" of the Renaissance — empirical science, the printing press, the growth of cities and trade, and the revival of classical models of thought, art and architecture. Scholars now challenge that view, however. They point out that the past is far too complex to fit such a simple pattern. And that has led them to explore the very ways in which history is told and recorded.
Medieval and Renaissance studies at Hamilton is a truly interdisciplinary program, combining coursework in art, literature, history and music. Interested students may choose to minor in this field of study. The minor consists of five courses taken in at least three departments. Within this broad framework, students in the program focus on one of the two epochs, but they are encouraged at every turn to explore the continuities between them as well.
The interdisciplinary nature and immense range of medieval and Renaissance studies — from antiquity to the late 17th century — makes the minor an attractive option for students across the humanities. It enables students to make connections among and across specialized fields and to develop historical perspectives on contemporary areas of interest such as women's studies, foreign languages, culture and sociology.
Courses in medieval and Renaissance studies at Hamilton are taught in small classes by faculty members who are distinguished scholars and know their students on an individual basis. That means one-on-one encouragement, personal direction and research opportunities suited to your needs and interests. In the best liberal arts tradition, courses stimulate analytical thinking, critical reading and the ability to write and speak with clarity, precision and authority.
Imagine a field of study in which you can read and discuss Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Molière and great, unheralded women writers from several centuries and cultures. You explore them not in isolation, but in the context of their times and cultures. The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program presents literary works as windows on a vibrant, fascinating past.
The interdisciplinary nature and immense range of medieval and Renaissance studies — from antiquity to the late 17th century — makes the minor an attractive option for students across the humanities. It enables students to make connections among and across specialized fields and to develop historical perspectives on contemporary areas of interest such as women's studies, foreign languages, culture and sociology.
Courses in medieval and Renaissance studies at Hamilton are taught in small classes by faculty members who are distinguished scholars and know their students on an individual basis. That means one-on-one encouragement, personal direction and research opportunities suited to your needs and interests. In the best liberal arts tradition, courses stimulate analytical thinking, critical reading and the ability to write and speak with clarity, precision and authority.
Imagine a field of study in which you can read and discuss Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Molière and great, unheralded women writers from several centuries and cultures. You explore them not in isolation, but in the context of their times and cultures. The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program presents literary works as windows on a vibrant, fascinating past.
The interdisciplinary nature and immense range of medieval and Renaissance studies — from antiquity to the late 17th century — makes the minor an attractive option for students across the humanities. It enables students to make connections among and across specialized fields and to develop historical perspectives on contemporary areas of interest such as women's studies, foreign languages, culture and sociology.
Courses in medieval and Renaissance studies at Hamilton are taught in small classes by faculty members who are distinguished scholars and know their students on an individual basis. That means one-on-one encouragement, personal direction and research opportunities suited to your needs and interests. In the best liberal arts tradition, courses stimulate analytical thinking, critical reading and the ability to write and speak with clarity, precision and authority.
Imagine a field of study in which you can read and discuss Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Molière and great, unheralded women writers from several centuries and cultures. You explore them not in isolation, but in the context of their times and cultures. The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program presents literary works as windows on a vibrant, fascinating past.
