The Program in Classical and Medieval Studies combines a uniquely interdisciplinary study of cultural history with an emphasis on empowering students to read and interrogate texts in ancient languages.
The program centers on questions about power, oppression, and the constructed nature of culture, identity, and the past itself. We offer courses on a variety of topics, from religion to politics to literature, and students who major in CMS take both language and culture courses before completing a senior capstone.
Matt Von Vogt, Academic Administrative Assistant
4 Andrews Rd
Pettengill Hall
Phone: 207-786-8296
mvonvogt@bates.edu
Classical and medieval studies students often pursue careers in library science, publishing, editing, education, museum curation, and conservation, among others. Some proceed to medical or law schools, where their foundation in ancient languages provides a distinct advantage.
of 2020-2024 humanities graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school
Assistant Professor of Classical and Medieval Studies Mark Tizzoni fishes up teaching on the steps between Pettengill and Lane halls on the morning of Sept. 7, 2023. His course is titled “CMS 291 – Colonization and Resistance in Late Antique North Africa” and it’s described this way: While treated by some scholars as peripheral, North Africa was and is a central arena in global history. This course examines the Maghreb in the dynamic period of transformation that saw the Roman Empire devolve into separate political and social entities, ca.200-700 C.E. In these critical centuries, North Africa and North Africans served both as anchors preserving Roman culture and society, and key agents in its transformation and devolution. Approaching the topic through primary and secondary sources, this course focuses on key themes: colonization and resistance, ethnicity and identity, and cultural and social cohesion. Recommended background: CM/HI 102.
Phyllis Graber Jensen Attachments Mon, Nov 26, 5:57 PM (4 days ago) to me “This is a great place to study.” . — Classical and medieval studies major Matthew Berdon ’19 of Hartsdale, N.Y., commenting on the peace and quiet he’s enjoying in Pettengill Hall’s second-floor classical and medieval studies lounge. . Borton was working on a reading response to 17th-century English poet John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost.” (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
Associate Professor of Classical and Medieval Studies Lisa Maurizio teaches CMRE 218 – Greek and Roman Myths during Back to Bates Weekend as a few parents sit in on the class.
They wanted hats and representation for their students, said @bates.classical.and.medieval studies professors Liana Brent and Mark Tizzoni, speaking outside of their second-floor Pettengill Hall offices. “We’re a small program in Classical and Medieval Studies, and we have really enthusiastic students and faculty, Brent said, seen here checking out her new head gear in her office mirror. In thinking of a design, she and her colleagues considered columns or something that dealt with the classical past, “but we are classical AND medieval studies,” she pointed out, so their choice for a griffin — a little mythological creature or symbol with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle — “spans the classical and medieval world. And it’s one that is not associated with the whiteness of the past the way a column or a temple might be, so it really hints at some of our values and ideals in this program,” Brent said.
Classical & Medieval Studies professor Liana Brent watches as Julia Neumann ’25 presents on enslaved Roman gladiators as part of a panel on Roman slavery by students of Brent’s Fall 2024 course, Slavery in Ancient Rome.
We foster the development of a historical imagination, giving students a new lens through which to view the classical and medieval periods. By studying past cultures, students gain valuable insights for today’s debates, enriching their understanding of the world and the way we live. Students are encouraged to study abroad, providing on-the-ground opportunities to deepen their understanding of diverse cultures, and to apply their knowledge in real-world settings within the local community.
The department’s faculty teaches courses on a wide range of subjects, exploring a myriad of topics based on their individual areas of study. Among the faculty, there are experts on early Christian studies, the medieval Mediterranean, Roman burial practices, and race and colonialism. Professors teaching in the CMS program have been published widely in prestigious journals, organized international conferences, and studied all over the world.
In the Student Center for Belonging and Community, first-generation Bates students mentor their younger peers, providing guidance on everything from academics to internships to social life.
Bates is embarking on a $45 million project to update two key athletic facilities and construct a new fitness and well-being center. A gift of $10 million from Jon W. Brayshaw ’90, P’25 and Jocelyn Stoddard Brayshaw ’88, P’25 has brought the college a vital step closer to construction. The new facility will be named the Stoddard Fitness and Well-Being Center.
February on campus saw sports successes, several large snowfalls, and our annual Winter Carnival — a week of events celebrating the joys of the chilly season.
