Capstone: Medieval Trials & Ordeals

Using a case study approach, students in this class will examine the history and records of three famous medieval trials: a trial in ninth-century Italy when a pope put his dead predecessor's corpse on the stand; the legendary trial by combat between Sir Lancelot and Gawain to prove the innocence of Queen Guinevere; and the inquisition trial of Joan of Arc. These episodes provide insights into the fundamentals of medieval culture: ideas about truth, honor, fairness, gender roles, the permeable boundaries between the living and the dead - and of course the evolution of law and government in Europe. Students read trial transcripts as primary sources while also learning about the worlds that produced them.