Late Antique-Medieval Studies (LAMS) puts you in the heart of the fascinating post-Classics period when cultures collided in the Mediterranean and Near East.
LAMS majors explore the historic bridge that connects the classic world and medieval world. This period witnessed the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the rise of the “barbarian kingdoms” in the west, and the emergence of Islam in the east and south, offering LAMS students a rich tapestry of cultural, political, economic and religious encounters to discover.
An unusual major/minor to be offered at a small college, the community of scholars at The Claremont Colleges enables a rich and inventive curriculum with classes in history, religious studies, art history, archaeology, philosophy, literatures.
What You’ll Study
- Three semesters of Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic
- Three courses from the Ancient offerings in Classics, including Ancient History
- Five courses from LAMS multidisciplinary choices
- A senior seminar and senior thesis
Learning at Pomona
Studying Al-Kindi’s Apology (c.820 CE)
Glen Williams ’21 is investigating the usage of miracles in al-Kindi’s arguments in his Apology (c.820 CE) for the class Early Christian Views of Islam taught by Professor Ken Wolf.
LAMS provides me with a more competitive grad school application because of LAMS’ focus on language: all LAMS majors have to do three semesters of Latin, Greek, or Arabic. For medieval history, competency with relevant languages is essential. Concerning my interests in the material itself, I find the medieval mindset fascinating, especially in regard to religious practices and beliefs, and how the different Abrahamic traditions interacted with each other.