Welcome to Hist 4680: Early European Family. Students wanting to learn more about the course should consult the following links:
Syllabus
Announcements
Course Info (assignments)
E-Classroom (password required)
Email Prof. Berkhofer
Course Description
This course explores different aspects of the early European family from late imperial Rome to the fifteenth century. To explore such a vast topic over many centuries, it is necessary to focus on particular aspects of family life. This course will emphasize three themes: family consciousness, marriage, and love/sexuality. Possible topics will include: the development of marriage out of the combination of Roman law, Christian theology and daily experience in Europe; evolving notions of family structure; inheritance; princely dynasticism and its impact on everyday families; gender roles in the family; concepts of love, laws governing sexual behavior and patterns of licit and illicit sex. This course seeks to provide students with an understanding of how the family, gender, and human sexuality are studied by scholars and the historical context in which to understand these issues.
