Medieval Europe 870 - 1300
Explore a panoramic overview of European history from the ninth to the thirteenth century covering themes including politics, economics, gender, technology, war, society, and relations with neighboring powers.
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Course begins January 15, 2026
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This 10-week survey includes live sessions with the instructor each week
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Sessions 3:30 - 5:30pm Eastern U.S. time
Week 1
Introducing the Medieval Era
This week covers some of Medieval Europe’s fundamental characteristics including: the centrality of religion to everyday life, the importance of agriculture in society, life expectancy and population, travel, communications and knowledge of the wider world, the memory of Ancient Rome, and wealth and purchasing power.
Week 2
Political History 870-1100
This week provides an overview of Medieval Europe’s political history including developments such as the Legacy of Charlemagne’s Empire, the struggle for Iberia (Spain/Portugal), the Vikings and the conversion of Scandinavia, the expansion of the German Empire, the Norman Conquest of England, the reform of the Catholic Church, and the rise of the Italian merchant cities.
Week 3
Political History 1100-1300
This week concludes the political history section with discussion on the ongoing disputes between papacy and empire, the German emperors’ ambitions in northern Italy, developments and expansion in Eastern Europe, the continued rise the Italian cities, the Almohads and the Iberian wars, relations between England and France, and the threat of Mongol invasion.
Week 4
The Crusades and Byzantium
For much of the period covered by this course, Western Christendom waged a series of religious wars (Crusades) against both heretics and political opponents within Christendom and against neighboring non-Christian powers. This week provides an overview of the history of the Crusades whilst exploring the wider question of Christendom’s troubled relations with its powerful neighbour, the Byzantine Empire (essentially the Eastern Roman Empire).
Week 5
Religion and Spirituality
Western Christendom was a deeply pious society with religious beliefs shaping many aspects of everyday life. This week we will cover faith and belief at a local level, monasticism (monks and friars), the treatment of Christendom’s Jewish communities and other minorities, the concept of heresy and its evolution, pilgrimage, relics and acts of piety, religious architecture (cathedrals and monasteries), and the friars and religious conversion.
Week 6
Families: gender, collective purpose, and the concept of the individual
In this week’s session we will discuss gender roles within Western Christendom, looking at how these developed over time and the pressures and influences that shaped them. We shall explore aspects of gender history at different social levels, ranging from royal or monarchical dynasties, through to mercantile or peasant families.
Week 7
Technology, Knowledge, and Economic Development
The medieval period saw a rapid growth in Christendom’s economic and technological power. But how did this come about? This week we shall examine a range of different developments, from gunpowder to water power, which helped shape Medieval Europe’s broader economic fortunes and technological evolution.
Week 8
War and Chivalry
Medieval Europe was an extremely warlike society and armies fought campaigns both within its borders and along its external frontiers. This week’s session explains how Christendom’s communities raised their armies and how continual military demands shaped society. It will also explore the network of ethical and courtly behavior that emerged around the warrior cadre, a concept commonly known as ‘chivalry’.
Week 9
Having Fun: Food, Health and Recreation
Yes, people in the Medieval period did like to enjoy themselves, but what did they consider to be fun? This week we will discuss the stories they liked to hear and the games they liked to play.
It will also examine ideas of medicine and charity as well as contemporary attitudes towards food, drink and a healthy diet.
Week 10
Horizons and the global context: What changed during the Medieval period?
Our final session steps back and considers Medieval Europe as simply one civilization among many across the globe at this time. It considers what changed during the period and how Christendom’s development laid the foundations for its later history. It also considers how Europe was perceived by its neighbours and how the many interactions taking place among Eurasia’s powerful empires, kingdoms, and sultanates shaped its development and course.
Meet your Instructor
Nicholas Morton
Dr. Nicholas Morton is an Associate Professor in History at Nottingham Trent University (UK). He is the author or editor of many works on Medieval Middle Eastern history. His most recent book is: The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East (Basic Books, 2022). Other books include: The Crusader States and their Neighbours: A Military History, 1099-1187 (Oxford University Press, 2020) and The Field of Blood: The Battle for Aleppo and the Remaking of the Medieval Middle East (Basic Books, 2018). He also runs a You Tube channel with videos covering the history of the Medieval Middle East (handle: @MedievalNearEast).
NOTE: This course is not accredited by Dr. Morton's employer, Nottingham Trent University. It is for personal educational purposes only and does not result in any qualification.