HIST 551CPower and Sanctity in the Midd

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HIST 551C: Power and Sanctity in the Middle Ages Professor Elizabeth Casteen Fall 2026 Course description: This graduate seminar explores the relationship between power and sanctity in medieval Europe (c. 400-1500 CE). We will examine how ideas of holiness and the veneration of saints intersected with both ecclesiastical and secular conceptions of power. The course moves chronologically, analyzing shifting ideals of both power and sanctity over time, as European society grew rapidly, European politics evolved dramatically, and the Church became increasingly administratively complex. Readings will combine primary sources- including hagiographic texts, devotional images, sermons, and miracle collections- with key scholarly studies. Evaluation will be based on attendance and participation at seminar meetings, oral presentations, and a research paper tailored to individual students' interests that speaks to the larger themes of the course.