Getting Medieval: Uses and Abuses of the Deep European Past

From Dungeons and Dragons to Monty Python and Game of Thrones, the Middle Ages are a vibrant part of our popular imagination. And from the cosplayers in Charlottesville to Pete Hegseth's tattoos, they inform darker visions of both our past and our future. In this Discourse, we'll explore some of these many uses and abuses of the deep European past, and reflect on how the work of modern scholars might help us sort it all out.

Dr. James D. Mixson is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Alabama, a former Fullbright Scholar, and winner of the University’s Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. An expert on Medieval Europe, he has taught and published extensively on the Crusades, Medieval Religious & Cultural History, and the Renaissance. He received his PhD from Notre Dame.