Section Info: ARTH-321-01

Course Title: Objects of Exchange
Start Date: 01/27/2026 End Date: 05/12/2026
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Description: This seminar explores the interconnected medieval world, especially across the Mediterranean. Each week will examine a thematic group of "exchange objects" at the crossroads of cultural, linguistic, and religious connections. Some of these objects, such as coins, were literal objects of exchange, serving as the mode of transmission for material and visual exchange. In other cases, the materials or details of a work signify connections to the wider world through trade. Still others are hybrid objects, or objects combining features from multiple traditions. Over the course of the semester, students will gain a better understanding of the diversity of the medieval Mediterranean, as well as the extent of premodern mobility of peoples, objects, and ideas. The course will feature direct engagement with objects whenever possible.
Distribution(s): I - Humanities , SI - Speaking-Intensive , WI - Writing-Intensive
Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate     Credits:4.00    

Faculty         Phone         Email address        
Whitney Kite             wkite@mtholyoke.edu  

Meeting Dates         Method         Meeting days         Meeting times         Building name         Room     Frequency    
01/27/2026 - 05/12/2026   Seminar   Tuesday   01:30PM - 04:20PM   TBA   TBA   Weekly

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Requisite Courses        
Prereq: ARTH-102, ARTH-103, or ARTH-105. Take previously   Required  

Comments        
Additional Comments        
Course Tags        
ARTH0001   ARTH-1: Ancient and Medival area   Course counts towards the ARTH major in the Ancient and Medival area  

Cross-listed Sections        
None  

Course Availability
Section status: Open     Capacity: 18     Enrollment: 16     Available: 2     Waitlist: 0

BOOK INFORMATION

Book List         Required         Publisher Full Price        
To be determined.                    

Additional Book Comments        
This is NOT the complete book list for this class.