Medieval studies looks at ideas and events from the fall of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the modern era (i.e., between about 500 and 1500 CE). This interdisciplinary field of study seeks to unite knowledge from different disciplines, explore new areas of study, and revisit neglected topics.
The rationale for Medieval Studies at Waterloo was expressed in 1967 by Larry Cummings, one of the program's founders: "The value of the knowledge of another civilization to order one's reaction to contemporary civilization is recommended by all modern language departments, all classics departments, by religious studies departments, and by [...] the social sciences. In addition, medieval Europe is the mother of our civilization, not merely an alien civilization, so that its liberal, cultural value is double."
The Medieval Studies program is co-sponsored by St. Jerome's University and the University of Waterloo. It allows students to explore many aspects of the Middle Ages and to construct a program of study most appropriate to their interests.
For more information, visit the Medieval Studies website.