The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind

Chaucer is arguably the most famous writer of the Middle English period. To give us a sense of his greatness, we’ll address the following questions: Since Chaucer was not the typical Medieval scholar, how did he gain access to the texts that made him such a great writer? How does Chaucer’s “The Pardoner’s Tale” challenge the offices of the Church during this time? What was Chaucer’s dynamic contribution to the development of literature? Recommended Reading: Lavinsky, David. The Material Text in Wycliffite Biblical Scholarship: Inscription and Sacred Truth. England: Boydell and Brewer, 2017.

Dante and Bocaccio did more to develop vernacular writing than perhaps any other writers of their era. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions: To what extent should Dante be considered an innovator with what he accomplished in the Divine Comedy? Why has Dante endured through the centuries? What makes him still relevant today? How can Boccaccio’s writings be considered spiritual?

Tales of knights, lords, and ladies have held a prominent position in the western imagination since they were first told. As we survey some of those tales, we’ll address the following questions: How does Sir Gawain and the Green Knight highlight the importance of personal promises? Why is the will of God notably prominent in Medieval epic tales? What role does honor play in the still-popular tale Robin Hood? Recommended Reading: Green, Roger Lancelyn. The Adventures of Robin Hood. Puffin Books, 2010.

Passion, love, and romance take center stage in Medieval chivalric literature. As we survey some of the greatest works of that genre, we’ll find answers to the following questions: How does Tristan and Iseult highlight the tension between marriage and love that was commonplace in the past? What light does Tristan and Iseult shed on the nature of love versus loyalty? Why is the chivalric idealization of woman such an important development in the context of Christendom and Western culture? Recommended Reading: The Romance of Tristan & Iseult. Retold by J. Bédier. Translated by H. Belloc, George Allen & Company, Ltd., 1913. de Troyes, Chrétien. Arthurian Romances. Translated William W. Kibler and Carleton W. Carroll, Penguin Classics, 2004. Early Fiction in England: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer. New York: Penguin Classics, 2015.

The tragic heroes of the classical era now give way to the new type of hero who will arise in Medieval literature. To help us explore this concept, we’ll unpack the following questions: What makes Beowulf so alluring that new generations of readers are regularly drawn to it? Why is The Song of Roland such an important part of the western tradition? How much does Medieval chivalry form the basis for romance? Recommended Reading: Early Fiction in England: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer. New York: Penguin Classics, 2015.

The worlds of legal structures and romantic entanglements take a huge step forward during this time period. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions: How did Charlemagne’s patronage of the liberal arts lead to the establishment of the university? Was the signing of the Magna Carta a legal development unique to England? How do the letters of Peter Abelard and Heloise illustrate the development of love, both between man and woman as well as between man and God?

The next great philosopher in the tradition of western thought was Thomas Aquinas. As we survey his intellectual developments, we’ll address the following questions: Within the broad tradition of Christian scholars, what makes Aquinas so unique? What was Aquinas’ goal in examining and writing about even the most seemingly insignificant theological disputes? How does Aquinas explain the nature of evil? Recommended Reading: Snell, RJ. Lost in the Chaos: Immanence, Despair, Hope. New York: Angelico Press, 2023.

Maimonides arguably was the greatest philosopher of the twelfth century. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will help us unpack his legacy and address the following questions: Why was Maimonides’ codification of Jewish law so monumental? How did his system of codification diverge from the Talmud? How did Maimonides’ Guide to the Perplexed help push western philosophy forward? Why was The Guide to the Perplexed banned by some Jewish rabbis? Why was the ban ultimately lifted?

The Medieval Islamic world was very advanced in its scholarship and studies, and in some instances surpassed the scholars of Europe. As we survey some of the greatest Islamic thinkers, we’ll address the following questions: When and how did the Islamic philosophical tradition begin? What made the world of Medieval Islam so conducive to the study of philosophy? Why is Averroes seen negatively within the Christian philosophical tradition?

Life as a Jew in the Middle Ages was difficult across both Christendom and Islamic lands. To help us unpack the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How much truth is there to the notion that life for the Jews under Medieval Christendom was bleak? Why did distinctions between Sephardic and Ashkenazic traditions begin developing in this time? What fueled the many Jewish migrations across Europe? How does the Spanish Inquisition fit into the larger picture of persecution?