From the End of Roman Authority to the Fall of Constantinople
There has never been an uneventful century in human history. Nevertheless, certain centuries stand out as especially turbulent and vibrant, especially given the benefit of the perspective of a later age. There is so much we do not know about Europe from the end of the hegemony of Rome to the dawning of the 11th century, a time that has come to be known as the early Medieval period. But one thing we do know is that these centuries were the crucible that shaped modern Europe and the entire western world.
In the first half of this course, we will examine these crucial centuries, highlighting major social, intellectual, and spiritual movements that we are still feeling the ramifications of today. Using the source book The Early Middle Ages that I developed for Classical Academic Press, we will study this period through primary sources, allowing the people of this time to speak for themselves.
In the second half of the course, we find a world reshaped by the migrations and conquests of the Viking Age. The Normans have claimed England, France and the Holy Roman Empire are now clearly distinct, and a (somewhat) unified West turns its eyes eastward towards the Holy Land. This is the era that saw the rise of chivalry, the founding of the university, the rediscovery of Aristotle, and the flowering of mysticism. It is one of the richest times in human history, and we will once again explore it through primary sources, using the High and Late Middle Ages volumes of Humanitas.
Schedule
Early Middle Ages
• Lesson 1: Odoacer, Theodoric, and Justinian
• Lesson 2: Fall of the Britons, the Christianization of Ireland and Scotland
• Lesson 3: The Rise of the Franks and Lombards
• Lesson 4: The Islamic Caliphate
• Lesson 5: The Rise and Fall of the Carolingian Dynasty
• Lesson 6: The Battle for England
High and Late Middle Ages
- Lesson 7: Norman England, Investiture Controversy, Great Schism
- Lesson 8: The Crusades
- Lesson 9: Scholasticism and Lay Piety
- Lesson 10: Mysticism and Courtly Love
- Lesson 11: The Black Death and the Hundred Years' War
- Lesson 12: Travel and Cultural Encounters, the Fall of Constantinople
January 7 - April 1, 2027
Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm CT
Early Medieval April 1: February 11, 2027
High and Late Medieval: February 18 - April 1, 2027
No class February 25
$600 / student
Early Medieval only: $300
High & Late Medieval only: $300
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Junius Johnson's "Here Be Dragons" course is a wealth of beauty, wonder, and wisdom. It's not so much the wealth of a dragon's hoard, which (as we learned) is embedded with deadly greed and selfishness, but the wealth of the feast of Aslan's table or Galadriel's gift of seed and soil, a fruitful and life-giving abundance. Our discussions involved reflections on the meaning of "twilight" or forgotten spaces; the mystery of communion; the spiritual aspects of smell; the relationship between common sense and courage; the truths embedded in ancient songs; and other fascinating topics. This summer's study deepened my joy and curiosity as a reader and believer.
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In working with and thinking about words as a full-time vocation, I found myself slightly stuck in a here and nowness that lacked imagination. Like the blind man that Jesus touched, who then saw “men as trees” — I was groping for clarity. Dr. Johnson’s course was the condition upon which I received a second touch from Christ that gave me fuller sight.
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Participating in a course led by Dr. Junius Johnson is a wonderful journey of exploration, seeking hidden gems in unexpected places. It is an opportunity to learn to look deeper than the surface, both in reading and in the mundane of life. A delightful feast for the mind that lasts far beyond the actual banquet.
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Dr. Johnson’s knowledge of theology, philosophy, and literature, combined with his engaging style of communication, make him an excellent intellectual guide. If you see fantasy as somewhat pointless or as something reserved for children, Dr. Johnson will correct your thinking. His class on dragons [...] deepened my appreciation for fantasy as a vehicle of truth and better equipped me with the perspective and hope that enable a person to face and bear hardship well.