Today the terms "knighthood" and "chivalry" evoke romantic images of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Throughout the Middle Ages, however, knighthood and chivalry described the warlike and violent world of the European ruling class: the nobility. A knight was an armored warrior on horseback, and chivalry described his bellicose aristocratic culture. This course seeks to understand the origins, nature, and transformations of knighthood and chivalry during the Middle Ages. We will explore such topics as the formation of the European nobility, the emergence of the ethos of knighthood, Christian lay piety family structure and inheritance patterns, the changing status of women, warfare and crusades, life in castles, relations with peasants, jousting and tournaments, courtly love, chivalric literature, and the emergence of "civilized" courtly manners. Format: seminar/lecture, with audio-visual presentation. Evaluation will be based on several papers and assignments, a final exam, and class participation. No prerequisites. No enrollment limit (expected: 25). Groups B and D