NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Department of History
Colloquium
THE WORLD OF MEDIEVAL MAGIC
Fall 2012
Please note that this is a draft of the syllabus, which will be updated for the Fall of 2012
Professor Brigitte M. Bedos-Rezak
Office: King Juan Carlos Center (KJCC), Rm. # 610
Office Phone: 212 998-8608
e-mail: bbr2@nyu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment

The chief purpose of this colloquium is to consider the manifold aspects of medieval
magic. Spanning the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim western world, we will consider tales and
legends of the supernatural and the ways that the medieval mind accepted the power of the
supernatural in everyday life as expressed through belief in fairies and miracles; in the cults of
saints; astrology and fortune-telling; alchemy; folk medicine, including remedies and healing
spells; death, burial customs, and vampires; ordeals and judicial processes; shivarees and urban
carnivals; the devils fields of action, such as the imagination, sorcery, and witchcraft. Both
learned and popular medieval cultures reserved a place for the practice of magical arts. There
was, however, a differentiated sociology of magic, for rural folk, urbanites, aristocrats, women,
and clerics, all engaged with their own brands of practice and belief which were, in turn,
variously accepted or rejected by official authorities. The history of medieval magic intersects
that of repression and persecution.
On those weeks when readings are assigned, students will be expected to write a onepage report, and to circulate their reports in WORD via Blackboard (Discussion Board) to all
seminar members by Noon on the Sunday preceding the relevant class meeting. These
reports should conclude with a set of three questions raised by the readings. In preparing these
reports, students must distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
In discussing medieval texts, that is, primary sources, students should offer an analysis
of content (what does the text say?), while assessing genres, narrative formats, authorial voices,
tropes, metaphors (how does the text says what it says?).
With respect to modern studies, that is, secondary sources, students will give a precis of
the book or article, seek to identify the issues raised by authors, define the nature of their sources,
assess their methodology and approaches, evaluate the clarity and organization of the particular
study, and consider the validity of the theses presented. Diverse interpretations have come to
shape our understanding of the medieval past which makes necessary a critical approach to the
reading of all secondary materials.

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Class discussion will build upon these reports, with students responding both to the
readings themselves and to each others take on their arguments advanced, and answering the
questions specifically raised in the reports by and about the readings.
On those weeks when preliminary parts of the paper are due in writing, students will also
circulate their texts in WORD via Blackboard (Discussion Board) to all seminar members by
Noon on the Sunday preceding the relevant class meeting.
Half of the final grade (50%) will be based on the final version of the paper.
Weekly attendance, which is mandatory, oral participation in class, the final lecture,
and the timely submission and merit of the various written requirements will make the other
half of the final grade (50%).
Assignments handed in or circulated late will receive a grade below A.
The paper is due in final form on Thursday, December 9th. Papers received after that
date will disqualify students from earning an A as a final grade.
All readings are available in the following fashion: Books have been put on Reserve at
the Bobst Library, where they can be read in the Reserve Room; articles available on line have
been put on Electronic Reserve and can be accessed via Blackboard, Library Research, Course
Reserves; scanned articles and book chapters can be accessed via Blackboard, Course
Documents.
The following books are also available for purchase from the University Bookstore:
Bent Ankarloo and Stuart Clark, eds, Witchcraft and Magic in Europe. The Middle Ages
(Philadelphia, 2001)
Norman Cohn, Europes Inner Demons. The Demonization of Christians in Medieval
Christendom, rev. ed. (Chicago, 1993)
Valerie Flint, The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe (Princeton, 1994)
R. Kieckhefer, Forbidden Rites. A Necromancers Manual of the Fifteenth Century
(University Park, 1997)
Richard Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages (Cambridge, UK, 1990)
Alan Charles Kors and Edward Peters, eds., Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700
(Philadelphia, 2001)
Robert Muchembled, A History of the Devil (Cambridge, UK, 2003)
Sophie Page, Magic in Medieval Manuscripts (Toronto, 2004)
Edward Peters, The Magician, the Witch, and the Law (Philadelphia, 1978)
Catherine Rider, Magic and Impotence in the Middle Ages (Oxford, 2006)
Jeffrey Burton Russel, Witchcraft in the Middle Ages (Cornell, NJ, 1972)
Jean-Claude Schmitt, The Holy Greyhound. Guinefort, Healer of Children (Cambridge,
UK, re-issue edition 2009)

1.

Introduction - Magic and Medieval, and Marginal? 7 September

We will read and analyze:

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William of Malmesbury, The Sorceress of Berkeley (ca. 1140), in Alan Charles Kors
and Edward Peters, eds., Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700 , no 8, p. 70-72 (Book Reserves
and Blackboard, Course documents)
Jacobus de Voragine, The Life of St. Justina, from the Golden Legend (1270), in A.
Kors and E. Peters, Witchcraft in Europe, no 12, p. 81-86 (Book Reserves and
Blackboard, Course documents)

I. CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

2.

Mapping Magic 14 September

Augustine, On Christian Teaching (395-98, 426), in A. Kors and E. Peters, Witchcraft

in Europe, no 1, p. 43-47 (Book Reserves)
Valrie Flint, The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe, chapters 1-3 (Book
Reserves)
Karen Jolly, Medieval Magic: Definitions, Beliefs, Practices, in Witchcraft and Magic
in Europe. The Middle Ages, ed. B. Ankarloo and Stuart Clark, p. 1-71 (Book Reserves)
Richard Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages, chapters 1-3 (Book Reserves)
3.

Mapping Witchcraft 21 September

Burchard of Worms, The Corrector, sive Medicus (ca. 1008-1012, in A. Kors and E.
Peters, Witchcraft in Europe, no 6, p. 63-67 (Book Reserves)
Hugh of St Victor, The Didascalion (ca. 1120), in A. Kors and E. Peters, Witchcraft in
Europe, no 7, p. 67-70 (Book Reserves)
Jeffrey B. Russell, Witchcraft in the Middle Ages (Book Reserves)
4.

Permeable Boundaries -- 28 September

Richard Kieckhefer, The Holy And The Unholy: Sainthood, Witchcraft And Magic In
Late Medieval Europe, The Journal Of Medieval And Renaissance Studies, 24 (1994),
pp. 355-385 (Blackboard, Course Documents)
Richard Kieckhefer, The Specific Rationality of Medieval Magic, The American
Historical Review, 99 (1994), pp. 813-836 (Electronic Reserves)

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Edward Peters, The Magician, the Witch, and the Law (Book Reserves)
5.

Magic Texts and Images -- 5 October

Michael Camille, Visual Art in Two Manuscripts of the Ars Notaria, in Conjuring
Spirits. Texts and Traditions of Medieval Ritual Magic, ed. Claire Fanger (University
Park, 1998), pp. 110-139 (Book Reserves and Blackboard, Course documents)
Richard Kieckhefer, The Devils Contemplatives: The Liber Iuratus, the Liber Visionum
and Christian Appropriation of Jewish Occultism, in Conjuring Spirits, pp. 250-265
(Book Reserves and Blackboard, Course documents)
Sophie Page, Magic in Medieval Manuscripts (Book Reserves)

II. THE MAGIC OF THE HEAVENS

6.

Satan 12 October

Norman Cohn, Europes Inner Demons. An Enquiry Inspired by the Great Witch-Hunt,
chapters 2-3, pp. 16-74 (Book Reserves)
Robert Muchembled, A History of the Devil, Introduction and chapters 1-3 (Book
Reserves)
Focus on the Paper: Topic

Students will come to class ready to discuss potential topics and titles for their
research papers
7.

Astrology 19 October

Valrie Flint, The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe, chapters 5-7 (Book Reserves)
Richard Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages, chapter 6 (Book Reserves)
Focus on the Paper: Purpose

A one half-page written report is due which will present the purpose of the
students proposed paper in terms of themes, space, and time. Report must be posted on
Blackboard, Discussion Board, no later than Sunday, October 17th, Noon.

All students will have read each others reports; they must be prepared to discuss
their own as well as each others proposals.

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III. THE MAGIC OF THE EARTH

8.

Practitioners: Objects of Esteem, Subjects of Repression 26 October

Gregory IX, Pope, Vox in Rama, in A. Kors and E. Peters, Witchcraft in Europe, no 18,
p. 114-116 (Book Reserves)
William, cardinal of Santa Sabina, ASorcery and the Inquisitors (1320),@ in A. Kors and
E. Peters, Witchcraft in Europe, no 20, p. 118-119 (Book Reserves)
Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, The Malleus Maleficarum (1487), in A. Kors and
E. Peters, Witchcraft in Europe, no 34, pp. 180-204 (Book Reserves)
Norman Cohn, Europes Inner Demons, chapters 6-12, pp. 99-263 (Book Reserves)
Richard Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages, chapter 8 (Book Reserves)
Focus on the Paper: Bibliography I

Students will have begun gathering primary and secondary sources. We will
review the process of bibliographical research
9.

Healers 2 November

Richard Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages, chapter 4 (Book Reserves)

Jean-Claude Schmitt, The Holy Greyhound. Guinefort, Healer of Children (Book
Reserves)
Focus on the Paper: Bibliography II

Bibliography due in written form, following the Chicago Manual of Style.

Bibliographies must be posted on Blackboard, Discussion Board no later than Sunday,
October 31st, Noon

Students will discuss their methods for gathering relevant sources, and will
explain their sources pertinence for their topics
10.

Love and All That

9 November

Valerie Flint, The Rise of Magic, chapters 8-9 (Book Reserves)

Richard Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages, chapter 5 (Book Reserves)
Catherine Rider, Magic and Impotence in the Middle Ages (Book Reserves)

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Focus on the Paper: Thesis and Outline

Students will post on Blackboard, Discussion Board by Sunday, November 7th,

Noon their papers outlines, preceded by 1) the papers title; 2) the revised versions of the
papers purposes and 3) statements of the theses to be argued in the papers

Students will discuss their own outlines rationale and show how, in their opinion,
their outline articulates and builds toward their thesis. Students will also have read each
others outlines on Blackboard, and will share critical and helpful comments.
11.

Necromancy

16 November

R. Kieckhefer, Forbidden Rites. A Necromancers Manual of the Fifteenth Century

(Book Reserves)
R. Kieckhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages, chapter 7 (Book Reserves)
Early Drafts: Focus on Footnotes

Students will post on Blackboard, Discussion Board by Sunday, November 14th,

Noon a partial draft of their papers (corresponding to a section of their outlines), and
discuss its preparation with particular mention to footnotes. Students will have read each
others outlines on Blackboard, and will share critical and helpful comments.

IV. WRITING AND LECTURING ABOUT MAGIC

12.
Advanced Drafts: Focus on the Argument -- 23 November

Students will post on Blackboard, Discussion Board by Sunday, November 21st,

Noon a first draft of their papers, in which they should concentrate on fleshing out the
main points of their papers argument.

Students will have read each other=s drafts on Blackboard; suggestions for
changes will be exchanged, considered, and debated.
13.

Lectures I -- 30 November

From this date on, the seminar becomes a conference during which students will give
lectures about their research and its results, and then entertain questions from other
students.
A panel of three to five students will be organized. Lecturing students should prepare a
five-page long talk, outlining their papers purpose and main arguments.

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14.

Lectures II 7 December

A panel of three to five students will be organized. Lecturing students should prepare a
five-page long talk, outlining their papers purpose and main arguments.
Papers are due in Final Form

Final versions of papers must be posted on Blackboard in WORD, on December

9th.

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