St. Michael’s College maps out April 11 as a day to better understand the Medieval world.

The Middle Ages are also called The Age of Faith. Most of us think of them as a time deep in the past. And they were, comprising roughly the years 500-1500. 

Yet the Middle Ages are all around us: In our system of parliamentary democracy, in Gothic and neo-gothic architecture and, of course, in the life of Church. They were the time when fundamental theology and beliefs were developed, the holy sacraments, and the liturgy. 

Toronto is a global powerhouse for Mediaeval Studies. At St Michael’s College, the Mediaeval Studies Program provides a strong undergraduate education that prepares students for a variety of paths in life: graduate studies, teaching or librarianship, even pastoral ministry. 

The Centre for Medieval Studies has world famous faculty and educates world class MA or PhD students. Supporting it all are the astonishing library and faculty of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. 

How to access all this wealth of knowledge about the culture, society and religion at our doorstep? The Mediaeval Saturday Symposia are just right for anyone interested in the Middle Ages. The series originated in 1984 and brought together hundreds of people curious about the era. For19 years, interested members of the public explored topics including Charlemagne, the Vikings, Monasticism, Pilgrimage, the Glory of Byzantium, and the Great Cathedrals. 

After a 20-year hiatus, the Symposia are back! Last year, we explored aspects of the lives of Christian and Jewish women from Scotland to Spain, nuns and nurses, merchants and servants. Everyone enjoyed a mediaeval luncheon where they could chat with the speakers.

April 11 will mark the 21st Symposium, which will feature Mappa Mundi: Mapping the Mediaeval World. The registration deadline is Friday, March 27, 2026.

We will look at maps very different from those we are used to. Mapping will help find new ways to think about the Middle Ages. How far did trade routes extend in early England? (You’ll likely be surprised.) And how did mediaeval people find their way across long distances without GPS?

Mapping can also tell us about how neighbourhoods were organized and who lived where, or how climate change could devastate supply chains, leaving even large cities pressed. Leading scholars of the mediaeval world will introduce the way people perceived their world and how they navigated it. 

This series is open to the general public. No expertise needed, just curiosity and desire for great discussion. If you say, “Oh, the Middle Ages. I’ve always been so interested” then this Symposium is just right for you to share with like-minded people. Maps will amaze. Speakers will encourage new ways of mapping our mediaeval past and our own world. The registration fee is the same as in 2006. For more information: uoft.me/mediaeval-symposium.