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 contri...

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...

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 idealizati...

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 fo...

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 il...

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 e...

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...

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 withi...

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 migrat...

When it came to establishing the doctrine of the Catholic Church, there are few quite as important and influential as Augustine. To explore the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why are Augustine's reflections on his childhood considered monumental? According to Augustine, what is the best way for a Christian to protect his soul? How can the Christian achieve immortality?...

The disasters of the fourteenth century triggered reactions that involved and impacted the highest levels of the Roman Catholic Church. As we work through the topic, we'll explore the following questions: How did the populace of Europe respond to the disasters of the fourteenth century? Why did religious reformers begin springing up around this time? How did the Church react to them? What were the...

The greatness of the thirteenth century will collapse into the disasters of the fourteenth. To explain the how and why of it, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions: Why did the price and wage controls not help the economic chaos following the Black Death? Why were the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries known as the Age of Parliament? What sparked the Hundred Years' War?

The Middle Ages were marked by a contradiction between the stability of settling down and a dynamic spirit that inspired greatness. On today's episode, we'll uncover answers to the following questions: How did the Creation Mandate inspire Christians to start thinking beyond their horizons? Why does Medieval art depict figures who are clearly disproportionate? What was Gothic architecture trying to...

The tension between intellectual reason and divine revelation stands at the heart of the Medieval spirit of inquiry. As we explore that tension, we'll unpack the following questions: Why did universities develop at this time? How were they different than the ancient academies? How did Christian thinkers begin employing philosophy to develop Christian doctrine? Why was scholasticism important towar...

The Middle Ages will see the continued development of the relationship between God and man. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will discuss the following questions: What role did church and religion play in the day-to-day life of the layman of the Middle Ages? Why was religion as important for Jews as it was for Christians? Why was medieval Christian scholarship so focused on theology, and why did...

The structures of government in the Middle Ages are quite different from what we have today. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: What were the various obligations of the different ranks of people in the Middle Ages? How were they obligated to each other? What role did the king play in Medieval times?  Was it really all bad for Jews in the Middle Ages?

The next chapter in the story of the west is the Middle Ages, centered around Catholic Europe. As we begin to explore this era, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why did the Catholic Church center itself in Rome if it did not begin there? How were political and military leaders essential to the spread of Christianity?  Why was serfdom the Christian solution to slavery?

As the sun set on the Greco-Roman era, a new dawn will break over Christian Europe. To help introduce us to the Middle Ages, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: The Middle Ages are often referred to as the Dark Ages, but how dark were they really? How did the chaos that followed the fall of the Roman empire influence the institutions of the Middle Ages? How does the tension between...

The Jewish population of Spain thrived under Muslim rule. As we explore that time period, we'll take a look at the following questions: How do different cultural hubs develop in the region of Spain? How do the Jews develop their own genre of poetry in this region and what makes it uniquely beautiful? How do political turmoil and religious wars affect the Jews of Spain Recommended Reading: Lewis, B...

Islam has been making headlines since it was founded in the seventh century CE. To help us unpack the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Does Islam really belong in the story of the west? How did Islam actually start and what are the basic tenets of the faith? How does Islam diverge from Christianity and Judaism regarding the covenant? Or does it?

The codifying of the Talmud marked a major turning point for Jewish life and law. As we dive into the topic, we'll explore the following questions: What exactly is the Talmud? How is the Talmud structured? Is the structure itself important to the content? What drove Jewish passion for and attachment to the Talmud over the centuries? Recommended Reading: Saiman, Chaim. Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea o...

As the western half of the Roman Empire fell apart, the eastern half remained a dominant force. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will help us address the following questions: How did the western half of the Roman Empire weaken to the point of collapse? Was Christianity really to blame? What shifted to make Christianity become the dominant religion within the empire? Why does the Western Roman Emp...

The instability that became the hallmark of the late Roman Republic rears its head again in the late days of the Empire. Today, we'll explore the following questions: How did Rome's military manage to hold together the empire in the face of economic challenges? What was happening in the Sassanian Empire at this time? Why did Diocletian split the Roman Empire?

There are many ways to explain a text, yet Midrash remains one of the most important. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions: What exactly is Midrash, and why is it important to Judaism? Why are the midrashic texts of the fourth and fifth centuries considered the most authoritative? How do we reconcile midrashic interpretations of the text with the simple understanding o...