How do we define 'gender'? And, how do we define a 'family'? Those are two questions that we will look at in this course. The course begins with the various definitions of gender and family in the late antique world of Greek and Rome. It will look at changes in those definitions throughout medieval and early modern Europe with sensitivity to places and cultures.

We will examine the roles of the different genders in society both high and low and take apart why those roles are what they are and why. We will look at the family unit in regard to the roles of male and female persons. We will also look at the role of children and the 'non-sexed' nature of children in early societies. The course will also analyze the ever-changing interference and interposition of culture, religion, and the state.

Because this is a summer course, we will go as far in time as we can. I intend this to be a course of exploration. As long as the class as a whole seems to genuinely be keeping up with the reading, there will be final exam. If however, I deem at any time that the class is falling behind, there will be a final exam, so be forewarned. You are responsible for what I call a 'research oral report'. You will research a subject much as you would a paper and then present it as an oral report. You will turn in a bibliography of sources and explain to the class the sources you found most helpful and why. Internet sources are NOT acceptable for this assignment. Books, scholarly articles both in print and in a library database are acceptable. You must have at least 5 sources. These sources will be in standard history format of Chicago Manual of Style.

You should decide on an oral report topic as soon as possible. We begin this course on a Wednesday and I will expect that by Friday, if not Monday, you will have chosen a topic. Tuesday of the first full week we should begin the reports. You will speak for approximately fifteen minutes and then answer questions.

Weekly I will give you handouts from primary sources in translation. Please have them read on time. They will cover such topics as church law and doctrine, civil law, literature, and medical texts from medieval and early modern England primarily, but also other areas of Europe. I wish I had known of one book in particular before the book orders had closed and some of your readings will come from this.

Books:
Love, Sex and Marriage in the Middle Ages: A Sourcebook, edited by Conor McCathy, London; Routledge, 2004.

Barbara Hanawalt, Growing Up in Medieval London, Oxford, 1995.

A one-page (and no more) summary/response will be due the day that we discuss each reading assignment. Please put your name and the course in the top left corner and use 10-12 point font and one-inch margins. There are eight readings worth 10% each; the oral report is worth 20%.

Dr. Turner's Homepage ASU History and AntholopologyAugusta State University