HTST 220 – Medieval Worlds

The Department of History is pleased to announce a new undergraduate course making its debut in Winter 2025. This introductory survey course is about the medieval world, but it’s more than just a history survey. All of the learning and assignments in this course build towards an exhibition of medieval artefacts that will take place in the Taylor Family Digital Library in April, curated entirely by students. 

This experiential learning course will introduce students to different medieval disciplines, ways of knowing and studying material culture and written sources, and to different skills required by modern historical scholars. Under the guidance of Dr. Courtnay Konshuh, students will have the opportunity to explore archives, manuscripts, digital information systems and metadata, and reading artefacts as cultural sources. Students will research and 3D print medieval artefacts or use artefacts from university collections (including archives, manuscripts and rare books and the Nickle Gallery collection). Funded by a Teaching and Learning grant, this course will have great support from History graduate students, who will help undergraduates create a successful exhibition that is open to the public.

This course is an introduction to the medieval world and all the beauty it offers. Learning components feature weekly low-stakes assignments that build up to the student exhibition; workshops working with real medieval manuscripts and coins, the original UCalgary coat of arms, and a crusader grenade! This is hands-on experience that students can put on their CVs. 

For more information about HTST 220, please contact the instructor, Dr. Courtnay Konshuh (courtnay.konshuh@ucalgary.ca).