Spring 2009

WGS 393 • Saints' Lives as History Sources

Course Description

Description. This graduate seminar covers 1.) some key primary sources for the study of premodern sanctity and 2.) a sampling of the range of methods that scholars have applied to those sources. The focus is on Christianity to 1700, but students working later are welcome and attention will also be given to precedents and analogies in Judaism and Islam. The two-track syllabus, addressing both primary and secondary sources, is designed to build students' confidence in interpreting evidence and in using hagiographic aides. Students will master technical, historical, and theoretical aspects of the field. Expect changes to the syllabus depending on student interests. Reading competence in at least one language other than English is encouraged. The course may be taken for reading or research credit.

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