History, Anthropology, Religions

The course aims to analyze Western Christian mystical traditions from the 9th to the 13th centuries. It will start with the fusion of Origenist and Dionysian mysticism with Augustinian mysticism as seen in the works of John Scotus Eriugena. The course will also cover German, French, and Brabant mysticism during the 12th and 13th centuries, with a particular focus on the Cistercians and the School of Saint Victor. A special focus will be given to the Italian experience marked by the rise of Franciscanism. Throughout the course, we will distinguish the various mystical experiences, particularly emphasizing the following themes: speculative mysticism and the role of intellect; the significance of asceticism and mortification; the female experience, including its representation and voice; and the mystical body and its connection to power.