https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/W_BA_MEDStudents who complete this course will acquire fundamental knowledge of the main philosophical theories advocated by the European, Islamicate, and Asian philosophical traditions, during the Global Middle Ages (between ca. 500-1500 AD). This course is a sequel to Ancient Philosophy, in which Greco-Romain, Sanskrit, and Chinese philosophy were introduced. After successfully completing Medieval Philosophy,you will be able to describe the central concepts, theories and debates that dominated in the different traditions, as well as their philosophical significance;you will be able to engage with historical material philosophically by practicing close reading, argument analysis and conceptual analysis;you will be able to evaluate critically the significance of various ideas both in their own historical context and in relation to earlier philosophical debates;you will be able to prepare a scholarly bibliography and references.This introductory course presents a history of the second millennium of philosophical traditions, and is in that sense a sequel to Ancient Philosophy. As in Ancient Philosophy, this course has two parallel tracks, covering synchronous developments of traditions such as Neoconfucianism in China and Indian aesthetics, and the transformation of ancient Greco-Roman philosophy in the Islamicate world and the Latin West. Students also learn how to distinguish different types of sources and how to assess their usefulness. Next to this they will be able to prepare a reasoned bibliography for an article/essay.Interactive lectures, discussion, reading of primary texts. Attendance is mandatory.Summative assessment for this course consists in preparatory text reading assignments during the first two weeks (learning objectives 2 and 3), a preparatory bibliographical skills assignment (learning objective 4). a written exam testing knowledge (learning objective 1), as well as text analysis and referencing skills (learning objectives 2-4). The final grade is determined by the exam. The assignments are graded on a pass/fail basis. If a week before the exam the text reading assignments and bibliographical assignment have not been passed, an extra assignment will have to be made in order to gain access to the exam.All texts will be provided via CanvasMain target audience: BA1-students Philosophy. Students with an interest in the philosophy of the period may also join, but see recommended background knowledge.General knowledge of the history of ancient philosophy (Chinese, Indian, Greek/Roman) will be presupposed during this course. Therefore, it is suggested that students attend Medieval Philosophy after attending a course on Ancient Philosophy.