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The concept of race, it is generally acknowledged, originates at the dawn of modernity with the colonization of the New World and the beginnings of the transatlantic slave trade. In this course, we will turn instead to the preceding period and explore how early English literature, primarily that written in the fourteenth century, conceives of, represents, and articulates human difference centuries prior to the emergence of modern racial ideologies. We will place these literary works in conversation with other historical sources including visual art, archaeological and legal records, and maps. At every step of the way, we will also consider whether and how these materials speak to issues of race and racism in the United States today.