Magic in the Middle Ages from Coursera

Magical thought has always attracted human imagination. In this course we will introduce you to the Middle Ages through a wide conception of magic. Students will have an approach to medieval culture, beliefs and practices from the perspective of History and History of Science. Popular magic, as well as learned magic (alchemy, geomancy and necromancy) will be addressed. Moreover, we will also deal with how eastern practices and texts influenced western culture. In July 2016, the course will contain a brand-new module devoted to astrology. Magic in the Middle Ages offers a captivating overview of medieval society and promotes reflection about certain stereotypes associated with this period.

At the end of the course, the students:

a) will have overcome the usual prejudices about the Middle Ages,

b) will be able to analyze historical documentation from the Middle Ages and recognize the most common patterns of juridical documents regarding witchcraft, and

c) will be capable of distinguishing between popular magic and the magic of the learned people; will have a notion of which spiritual practices were allowed in medieval Europe and which ones were related to the devil, and will be aware of the link between a cultural product and the society that produced it.

This course is taught in English, although subtitles in English, Catalan and Spanish will also be provided.

COURSE SYLLABUS

Week 1. Introduction to medieval magic (Pau Castell).

Week 2. Magic & Heresy (Delfi I. Nieto-Isabel).

Week 3. From Magic to Witchcraft (Pau Castell).

Week 4. Magic in Islam (Godefroid de Callataÿ and Sébastien Moureau).

Week 5. Astrology & Geomancy (Theo Loinaz, Delfi I. Nieto-Isabel, Godefroid de Callataÿ and Blanca Villuendas).

Magic in the Middle Ages by Gemma Pellissa Prades (coord.), Delfi I. Nieto-Isabel and Joana Palau Mumany is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

What's inside

Syllabus

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL MAGIC

UNIT 2: MAGIC & HERESY

UNIT 3: FROM MAGIC TO WITCHCRAFT

UNIT 4: MAGIC IN ISLAM

UNIT 5: ASTROLOGY & GEOMANCY

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on medieval magic in Western Europe, which is uncommon

Course is backed by researchers from University of Louvain, which is recognized for its work in medieval history

Explores both popular magic and learned magic, such as alchemy and astrology

Provides subtitles in three languages, making it accessible to non-English speakers

Might be of limited interest to learners without a background in history or medieval studies

Does not cover all aspects of medieval magic, such as the role of magic in non-Western cultures

Reviews summary

Magic in medieval manuscripts

Learners say 'Magic in the Middle Ages' delves into the history of magic from a mostly European perspective. It covers the beliefs and practices around astrology, witchcraft, and alchemy from the early to the late middle ages. The course is highly rated, with learners largely focusing on the following aspects:

The course is described as engaging, informative, and well-structured. Learners especially enjoyed the visual resources used in certain lessons and appreciated the guest speakers who shared their expertise.

"It was a really enjoyable and interesting course on a subject I had not studied in much detail prior."

"It contained a lot of detail without being overwhelming, and the lecturers were personable and informative in their delivery."

"My only small criticism would be that I would perhaps have preferred more of the essay and analysis based assessments, as the quizzes only required reiteration of the videos and I think that it would be more helpful to future historians to practice forming opinions and arguments."

"The supplementary video with the cut-out figures of Arab scholars was (unintentionally?) quite funny."

Learners say the course does a great job portraying the complex Christian, Jewish, and Islamic stances on the role of magic during the medieval period.

"most comprehensive and succinct course"

"A great small course that gives a complex and unbiased view on the history of magick and occult in the Middle Ages"

"I have always been interested in magic and witchcraft, but have only read standalone books addressing specific periods so I did not have a clear view of its history and the timeline of its development."

"This course was really helpful and I have learned quite a bit."

"It was a great course that gives a general view of the magic, forms, and perception of it in the Medieval Times in the perspective of History."

Some learners found the assignment instructions or rubrics to be unclear, which led to frustration when completing the course. Additionally, there were reports of broken links in the course materials, which hindered the completion of certain assignments.

"For the first assignment the marking rubric doesn't match the instructions for the assignment."

"For the second assignment all of the links are broken."

"It is also annoying to have to beg for someone on the Discussion Forums to please review your essay in order to finish the course."

"The Week 4 videos are a complete horror show of name dropping authors or books."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Magic in the Middle Ages with these activities:

Review your notes and assignments from the course

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This activity will refresh your memory on the material covered in the course and help you identify any areas where you need additional review.

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Review your notes.
Review your assignments.
Identify any areas where you need additional review.

Attend a workshop on medieval magic

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This activity will give you the opportunity to learn from an expert on medieval magic and ask questions about the topic.

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Find a workshop on medieval magic.
Attend the workshop.
Take notes and ask questions.

Create a timeline of the major events in the Middle Ages

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This activity will help you to visualize the major events of the Middle Ages and understand how they relate to each other.

Browse courses on History

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Identify the major events in the Middle Ages.
Research the dates of these events.
Create a timeline of the events.

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

Start a project to research a historical figure or event

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This project will help you develop your research skills and learn more about the Middle Ages. It will also help you to organize your thoughts and write a clear and concise report.

Browse courses on History

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Choose a historical figure or event to research.
Gather information from primary and secondary sources.
Organize your information into an outline.
Write a report on your research.

Practice identifying different types of magic

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This activity will strengthen your understanding of the different types of magic that were practiced in the Middle Ages and help you to identify them in primary sources.

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Read about the different types of magic.
Practice identifying different types of magic in primary sources.

Read The Demon-Haunted World

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This book addresses the importance of critical thinking and the dangers of superstition, both of which are important themes in the course.

View The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Summarize the main arguments of the book.
Identify examples of critical thinking and superstition in the book.
Reflect on how the book's arguments apply to your own life.

Start a project to create a multimedia presentation on the history of magic

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This activity will help you develop your research and multimedia skills and learn more about the history of magic.

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Research the history of magic.
Create a multimedia presentation on the history of magic.
Present your multimedia presentation to your class or a group of friends.

Create a podcast episode on a topic related to medieval magic

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This activity will help you develop your research, writing, and speaking skills and learn more about a specific topic related to medieval magic.

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Research a topic related to medieval magic.
Write a script for your podcast episode.
Record your podcast episode.
Edit and publish your podcast episode.

Contribute to an existing project or volunteer with an organization that studies magic

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This activity will allow you to gain hands-on experience in the study of magic.

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Find an existing project or organization that studies magic.
Contact the project or organization and ask how you can contribute.
Contribute to the project or organization in a meaningful way.

Career center

Learners who complete Magic in the Middle Ages will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past. They use a variety of sources, including documents, artifacts, and oral histories, to reconstruct the past and understand how it has shaped the present. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be a valuable resource for historians who study the medieval period. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help historians better understand the cultural and historical context of the events they study.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Religious Studies Professor

Religious studies professors teach and research the history, beliefs, and practices of different religions. They may also study the relationship between religion and other aspects of culture, such as politics, economics, and art. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be a valuable resource for religious studies professors who study the medieval period. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help religious studies professors better understand the cultural and historical context of the religions they study.

See salaries and explore the career path for Religious Studies Professor

Theology Professor

Theology professors teach and research the beliefs and practices of a particular religion. They may also study the relationship between religion and other aspects of culture, such as philosophy, literature, and art. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be a valuable resource for theology professors who study the medieval period. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help theology professors better understand the cultural and historical context of the religion they study.

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Folklorist

Folklorists study the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community. They collect and analyze folklore, which can include anything from folktales and legends to music and dance. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can provide folklorists with valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of medieval people. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help folklorists better understand the cultural and historical context of the folklore they study.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans. They examine the cultures, languages, archaeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be a valuable resource for anthropologists who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the beliefs and practices of medieval people. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help anthropologists better understand the cultural and historical context of the people they study.

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Archaeologist

Archaeologists study past human cultures by excavating and examining material remains such as buildings, artifacts, and organic materials. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can provide archaeologists with valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of medieval people. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help archaeologists better understand the cultural and historical context of the sites they excavate.

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Curator

Curators are responsible for planning and managing environmental control over museum collections. They also conduct research on the objects in their care, interpret their significance, and prepare exhibits. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be beneficial for curators who work with medieval artifacts. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help curators better understand the cultural and historical context of the objects in their care.

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Museum Educator

Museum educators develop and deliver educational programs for museum visitors. They work with a variety of audiences, including children, adults, and families. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be beneficial for museum educators who work with medieval artifacts. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help museum educators better understand the cultural and historical context of the artifacts they teach about.

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Tour Guide

Tour guides lead groups of people on tours of historical sites, museums, and other attractions. They provide information about the history, architecture, and culture of the places they visit. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be beneficial for tour guides who work with medieval sites. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help tour guides better understand the cultural and historical context of the sites they visit.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be beneficial for librarians who work with medieval texts. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help librarians better understand the cultural and historical context of the texts they work with.

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Writer

Writers create written works, such as books, articles, and scripts. They may work in a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be beneficial for writers who want to write about the medieval period. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help writers better understand the cultural and historical context of the period they write about.

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Teacher

Teachers plan, prepare, and deliver lessons to students in a variety of settings. They may work with students of all ages, from preschool to high school. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” can be beneficial for teachers who teach history or social studies. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help teachers better understand the cultural and historical context of the period they teach.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters. They may specialize in a particular area of law, such as criminal law, corporate law, or family law. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” may be helpful for lawyers who work on cases involving medieval history or law. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help lawyers better understand the cultural and historical context of the cases they work on.

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Journalist

Journalists write and report on news and current events. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or television news programs. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” may be helpful for journalists who cover stories related to the medieval period. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help journalists better understand the cultural and historical context of the stories they cover.

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Doctor

Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They may specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as pediatrics, surgery, or psychiatry. The course “Magic in the Middle Ages” may be helpful for doctors who work with patients who have historical or cultural beliefs about illness and healing. The course explores the role of magic in medieval society, from popular magic to the magic of the learned people. This knowledge can help doctors better understand the cultural and historical context of their patients' beliefs.

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