CHC130H1

Playing with Fire: Alchemy, Astrology, and Magic

This course offers an historical introduction to alchemy, astrology, and magic, with a focus on the development, defence, condemnation, and progressive marginalization of these controversial pursuits in and around the Christian world(s). Students will learn about such topics as the search for the philosopher's stone, the casting of horoscopes, the design of wondrous machines… and the risks associated with meddling with spirits! Lectures will examine these learned traditions on their own terms, while inviting discussions about their enduring popularity, their connections with the rise of modern science and their reception in popular culture.