Medieval Portuguese Culture

Code

711091007

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas

Department

Estudos Portugueses

Credits

6

Teacher in charge

António Martins Gomes

Weekly hours

4

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

a) To acquire fundamental knowledge of portuguese medieval culture in the european social, historical and cultural context
b) To develop critical and interpretive abilities in the approach to document analysis
c) To reflect on this époque’s cultural practices’ influence on the occidental culture´s development.

Prerequisites

None.

Subject matter

1. From the origins of Portugal to the monastic and courteous cultural influences: weapons, love devotion and knowledge (monkish schools and the works of “scriptoria”; troubadour’s courtesy and culture: from the cult of love to the “arte de trovar”; daily life and places of creation: castles, fairs, convents and cathedrals; University education).
2. The 14th and 15th centuries: Period of crisis and identity affirmation (D. Duarte’s regal pedagogy. The identity values in the “cronística” development).
3. The dawn of the 16th century: Heroic imaginaries of faith, adventure and Nation’s glorification (fiction and reality in João de Barros’ novel of chivalry “Clarimundo”).
4. Medieval heroes and myths during the 19th and 20th century’s Portuguese culture- (“Persifal” and “Tristan and Isolde” (R. Wagner): two mythical references in the romantic music culture; “Dinis and Isabel” and “Pedro and Inês” (António Patrício): The shadow of Tristan and Isolde and the themes of love/death in the Portuguese renaissance dramaturgy of medieval inspiration.

Bibliography

LE GOFF, Jacques, “Os Intelectuais da Idade Média”, 2ª. ed., Lisboa, Gradiva, 1988.
MATTOSO, José (Direcção), “História da Vida Privada em Portugal, A Idade Média” (coord. Bernardo Vasconcelos e Sousa), Lisboa, Circulo de Leitores, 2011.
MATTOSO, José, “Religião e Cultura na Idade Média Portuguesa”, Lisboa, IN-CM, 1982;
MARTINS, Mário, “Estudos de Cultura Medieval”, vols. I-III, Lisboa, Verbo, 1969-1983;
ROUGEMONT, Denis de, “O Amor e o Ocidente”, Trad. Ana Hatherly, Lisboa, Moraes ed., 1982.

Teaching method

30% theoretical classes, 70% practical classes, reading and analysing the texts, visualization of images, among others

Evaluation method

Attendance: 10%
Participation in class work: 10%
Two tests or a test and a paper (40% each)

Courses

• Portuguese Studies