Barbarians!

Barbarians!

This is a one-semester course designed to broaden our understanding of the history that we frequently treat as a side note. We will learn about various groups that have been called "barbarians" and interrogate what that label actually means. We will move beyond the views held by others and explore how these groups understood themselves, by examining their art, their heroes and their gods. So-called “barbarians” count among some of the most recognizable historical cultures as well as being some of the most enigmatic. We will try to get to the true story, moving beyond images of violence and destruction to examining their accomplishments and contributions to the world we live in. We will also take the opportunity to look at how barbarians are portrayed in popular culture and to see what light this sheds on our own society and self-perception.