Heirs to ancient empires and creators of complex cultures, the societies in northern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, East and South Asia, Africa, the North Atlantic, and Latin America each offer fascinating opportunities to watch communities and cultures coping with timeless problems of power, identity, meaning, belief, and value. Students explore these topics through written, archaeological, material, and visual evidence in pursuit of a rich, multi-dimensional understanding of other peoples and other worlds.
The minor is open to students in any major who wish to expand their knowledge of this fascinating period of human history and all of the cultures and connections that contributed.
MARS Events
Sun, Oct 18, 2026
- The MARS Radio Hour 2:00 pm
Info for First-Years
To begin their study of this period, interested students may enroll in introductory courses in several different departments, depending on the nature of their interests.
Past Activities, Exhibitions, & Programs
Medieval and Renaissance Studies faculty regularly incorporate projects that involve the visual and aural realms of human production and experience.
Digital Projects
From student-edited film, VR hardware, game engine software, to 3D modeling software, and more.
Boyd-Niles Travel Fellowship
Named after Carleton medievalists Catherine Boyd and Philip Niles, the fellowship allows students already studying abroad to pursue additional site visits or experiences that will enhance their understanding of the world between ca. 300 and ca. 1700.
Early Music on MARS
Music plays a fundamental role in societies and cultures around the world between ca. 300 – ca. 1700. MARS has a long history of supporting early music in collaboration with the Music Department
Study in Rome
Gain deep knowledge of the history and art of medieval Italy and its connections with the wider Mediterranean world.
Study in Oxford
This unique study abroad programme offers challenging courses within Literature, History, Art History, Philosophy, Religion and Politics.
