Magic in the Middle Ages

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Level Foundation
Duration 9 hours
Course by Universitat de Barcelona
Offered by

About

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). © Gemma Pellissa Prades (coord.), Delfi I. Nieto-Isabel and Joana Palau Mumany 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.

Modules

Introduction to Medieval Magic

6 Videos

1 Quiz

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6 Videos

Introduction
The Idea of Magic
The Ancient Precedents
Magic and Superstition in Christian Europe
The Decline of Magic
Weekly Video 1 (2015)

1 Quiz

Unit 1 Quiz

Magic and Heresy

8 Videos

1 Quiz

Show info about module content

8 Videos

Church versus Magic: The Early Middle Ages (8:04)
The Rise and Fall of Natural Magic (5:56)
Persecution Unleashed (6:23)
The Tale of the Not-So-Evil Inquisitor (7:18)
Necromancy: When Demons Spoke Latin (7:11)
Optional video I: Eastern Jewish Communities: A Bit of Context (7:45)
Optional video II: The Jewish Idea of Magic (6:38)
Weekly Video 2 (2015)

1 Quiz

Unit 2 Quiz

From Magic to Witchcraft

8 Videos

1 Quiz

1 PeerReview

Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

Studying and inquisitorial manual

8 Videos

The Medieval Origin of the Crime of Witchcraft (3:46)
Witchcraft and Maleficent Magic (7:18)
The Mythology of Witchcraft (8:04)
Medieval Witchcraft Trials (I) (5:58)
Medieval Witchcraft Trials (II) (6:34)
Optional video: Medieval Sources on Witchcraft (I) (6:19)
Optional video: Medieval Sources on Witchcraft (II) (5:53)
Weekly Video 3 (2015)

1 Quiz

Unit 3 Quiz

Magic in Islam

7 Videos

1 Quiz

Show info about module content

7 Videos

The Varieties of Magic in Islam
How Was Magic Received in Islam?(8:51)
The Ikhwān al- Ṣafā’ on Magic and the Occult (8:29)
The Science of the Letters (10:01)
Alchemy I: Arabic Alchemy
Alchemy II: Arabo-Latin Alchemy (9:55)
Weekly Video 4 (2015)

1 Quiz

Unit 4 Quiz

Astrology & Geomancy

9 Videos

1 Quiz

1 PeerReview

Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

Analysing astrological images

9 Videos

Medieval Astrology: Between Science and Magic
The Melting Pot of Medieval Astrology
Early Medieval Astronomy: the Moon, the Zodiac, Thunders and Dreams
Horoscopes and World Events: the Doings of High-End Astrology
Geomancy
Optional video-On World Cycles 1: The Great Year Doctrine in Antiquity (1)
Optional video-On World Cycles 1: The Great Year Doctrine in Antiquity (2)
Optional video-On World Cycles 2: The Great Year Doctrine in the Middle Ages (1)
Optional video-On World Cycles 2: The Great Year Doctrine in the Middle Ages (2)

1 Quiz

Unit 5 Quiz

Auto Summary

Discover the enchanting world of "Magic in the Middle Ages," an immersive course that delves into medieval culture, beliefs, and practices through the lens of magic. Guided by expert instructors, including Gemma Pellissa Prades, Delfi I. Nieto-Isabel, and Joana Palau Mumany, learners will explore popular and learned magic, as well as the influence of Eastern practices on Western culture. The course spans five weeks, featuring topics like heresy, witchcraft, and astrology. Available in English with subtitles, this foundational Coursera course offers both Starter and Professional subscription options, making it ideal for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike.