September 5, 2001
HISTORY 3345: THE BIRTH OF EUROPE
Fall 2001: MWF
10:00-10:50, HH 127
TEACHER
John Howe
Office: 143 Holden Hall
Office Hours: MWF 11-11:45; M 9:30-10:00 pm, TuTh 8:45-9:30; and
by appointment
Telephone: 742-1004 ext. 233; e-mail: john.howe@ttu.edu; web: http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/howe
PURPOSES OF THE COURSE
To survey the development of medieval Europe from about A.D. 300
to 1000. To indicate how knowledge about this era has been
acquired. To see how economic, cultural, and intellectual changes
in the past have helped shape our contemporary world. To develop
the art of reading, analyzing, and reviewing historical
scholarship.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required Texts:
Roger Collins, Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000, 2nd ed.
G. Roland Murphy (ed.), The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel
Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (eds.), Njal's
Saga.
Also required is a set of documents to be taken from the WEB. You
can "click" to these directly if you access the
syllabus via the WEB. Print these texts a few days in advance.
Last minute consultations can be thwarted by server or network
problems.
Required Reading
Specific reading assignments for each class are listed in the Reading
and Lecture Schedule, just ahead and to the right of the
lecture date by which they should be completed. Each assignment
is the subject of the following lecture or discussion. Read so
that you arrive in class prepared to explain, praise, criticize,
and question. The assignments are manageable if read when
assigned, but quickly become overwhelming if neglected.
Class Attendance
Successful completion of this course requires regular attendance.
In the classroom difficult reading assignments are interpreted
and contextualized, additional subject matter is introduced, and
visual materials are displayed (which are difficult to comprehend
from a friend's notes). Part of the course grade is based on
class participation, and you cannot participate if you are not
present.
Examinations
Midterm tests are scheduled for September 28 and November 2. Each
will include multiple-choice questions,
identifications, a single essay (to be
selected from two or more choices), and perhaps map work. If, for
good reason, a test is missed, a make-up test may be taken at
4:00 pm on Monday, December 3. Students receiving a grade below
"C" on a midterm should meet with the teacher to
discuss it (this will be part of the class participation grade).
The final examination will feature multiple-choice
and identification questions on the material covered since the
second midterm, and several essay
questions (to be chosen out of six or more possible
questions) covering the material of the entire course. Bring blue
books for the final.
Book Reviews
Students will write two two-page book
reviews based on monographs listed on bibliographies that
will be distributed to the class. The three bibliographies from
which these two reviews will be written deal with the conversion of Europe to Christianity, Carolingian high culture, and the post Carolingian invaders. Each
student who wishes will have at least one opportunity to present
his or her analysis to the class. Late assignments (those not
received before 5:00 pm on the due date) will be penalized one
letter grade. Late assignments will not be accepted beyond the
next class date after the due date.
Time Line
Over the course of the semester each student will make a
timeline that will offer a narrative skeleton of major events and
institutions. This should pull together the readings and report
subjects, placing them in proper chronological perspective. The
time line is due on Monday, December 3, and will be returned on
Wednesday, December 5, so that it can be used in studying for the
final examination.
Movies?
Much of what we think we know about the "Dark
Ages" consists of misconceptions and misrepresentations long
enshrined in our cultural tradition. Their power is not reduced
by the fact that they are often mutually contradictory (for
example, compare the dining scenes from Camelot and from
The Vikings). It can be useful to confront directly some
of the myths within ourselves in order to advance our knowledge.
Therefore, three films about the early Middle Ages will be shown
on designated evenings during the course of the semester: on
Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 there will be a viewing and discussion
of The Dragon Slayer; on Thursday, October 25 at 7:00, a
viewing and discussion of the Thirteenth Warrior; on
Tuesday, November 20 at 7:00 pm there will be a viewing and
discussion of The Warlord. Students who can attend two
films and participate in the discussions that follow will receive
extra credit as indicated below.
Necessary Accommodations
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require
some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements
should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that the
necessary accomodations can be made.
GRADING
The course grade will be computed as follows: 30% from the two
midterm tests (that is, 15% from each); 20% from the two book
reports (10% from each); 10% from the time line; 5% from one
optional class presentation of a book; 10% from class
participation; and 30% from the final examination. Note that the
optional class presentation is also basically extra credit: the
grade components total 105% if it is included, 100% if it is not.
An extra 5% of A credit will also be added to the averages of
students who attend two of the films and film discussions.
READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE
M Aug 27 Introduction
Collins xxiii-xxix, 1-30; Maps (Europe 395
(detail
1, detail
2); Europe
476;
Near
East by satelite; Eurasian World;
World
Map Envisioned in CE 700
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/395eur.jpg
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/395westemp.jpg
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/395eastemp.jpg
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/mideastmap.jpg
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~rs143/map1.jpg
http://gate.henry-davis.com/MAPS/EMwebpages/203.html)
W Aug 29 Geography
[Th Aug 30 Last day for student-initiated Drop/Add]
Conversion
of Constantine
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/conv-const.html;
Constantine's
Laws for Christians
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/const1-laws2.html
The
Battle over the Altar of Victory
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/ambrose-sym.html
F Aug 31 The Christian Roman Empire
Collins 61-75; Vincentian
Canon, AD 434
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/434lerins-canon.html
[M Sept 3 Labor Day Holiday]
W Sept 5 Christian Civilization
Collins 31-60, 80-99
F Sept 7 The Roman Military Order Unravels
Pope
Leo I and Attila
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/attila2.html;
Episcopal
Exemption from Taxation
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/570Chrchtax.html;
Bishop
Eligius Redeems Slaves
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/630Eligius.html;
M Sept 10 Bishops as Post Roman Leaders
Collins 75-79; Benedictine
Rule
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/rul-benedict.html
W Sept 12 Monasticism
[W Sept 12 Last day to drop a course and get a full refund.]
Collins 100-05; Heliand 201-03; Tacitus's
Germania
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/tacitus-germania-excerp.html
F Sept 14 "Ethnogenesis" and the Early Germanic
"Nations"
Collins 105-111, 116-120; Jordanes
on Theoderic
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/jordanes-theodoric1.html
Theoderic
Letters
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/theodoric1.html
M Sept 17 The Ostrogoths
Collins 111-15; Gregory
of Tours on the Soissons Vase
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gregtours1.html
Gregory
of Tours on the Conversion of Clovis
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gregory-clovisconv.html
Map
of Frankish Dominions
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/frankmapc6.jpg
W Sept 19 The Franks
Collins 96-99, 120-34; Start First Book
Review from List #1 (Conversion)
F Sept 21 The Byzantine Empire and Justinian
Collins 135-152; Continue with Book Review
M Sept 24 The Rise of Islam
[M Sept 24 Last day to withdraw from TTU with partial refund]
Collins 153-179; Snyder's
Age of Arthur
http://members.aol.com/heroicage1/Issue1/haage.htm;
Continue with Book Review
W Sept 26 Arthur of Britain
Study
F Sept 28 Midterm Examination 1
Collins 179-95; Continue with Book Review;
Map of
Anglo-Saxon England
http://www.georgetown.edu/cball/oe/oe-map.html
M Oct 1 The Saxon Kingdoms
Collins 195-217; Continue with Book Review
[Tu Oct 2 at 7:00 in HH 73: Optional
Film Discussion of The Dragon Slayer;
W Oct 3 at 8:30 in HH 130:
Rescheduled Showing of The Dragon Slayer]
W Oct 3 The Lombard Kingdom
Collins 234-61; Columbanus's Boat Song http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columban1.html
F Oct 5 Monks and Missionaries
Finish Book Reviews
M Oct 8 Reports on the Conversion of Europe
[M Oct 8 Last day to declare Pass/Fail, to drop a course, to
receive a grade of W for courses dropped.]
Start Second Book Review from List #2
(Carolingian Renaissance)
W Oct 10 Reports on the Conversion of Europe
Collins 218-33; Continue with Book Review;
Annals
of Lorsch http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/lorsch1.html
F Oct 12 The Roman Revolution
Collins 262-90; Continue with Book Review
M Oct 15 The Rise of the Carolingians
Continue with Book Review; Einhart's
Life of Charlemagne
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/einhard1.html;
Map of
Charlemagne's Empire
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/800eur.jpg
W Oct 17 Charlemagne
Collins 291-300; Continue with Book Review;
General Capitulary of the Missi
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-missi1.html
Capitulary
for Saxony
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-saxony.html
F Oct 19 Carolingian Government
Collins 301-08; Continue with Book Review; Letter
to Baugulf of Fulda
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-baugulf.html
M Oct 22 The Carolingian Renaissance
Finish Second Book Review
W Oct 24 Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
[Th Oct 25 at 7:00pm: Optional Film Discussion of The Thirteenth Warrior]
Heliand xi-xviii, 1-69
F Oct 26 Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand 70-131
M Oct 29 Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand 131-98
W Oct 31 The Heliand
Study
F Nov 2 Midterm Examination 2
Collins 333-63; Map of
Carolingian Partitions http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/844-870map.jpg.
Class members who have not already written two book
reviews should begin a review from List
3 (Vikings);
other students may wish to begin Njal's Saga
M Nov 5 Louis The Pious and Later Carolingians
Collins 364-78; Continue with Book Review?
W Nov 7 The Vikings
Njal's Saga 9-108; Finish Book Review?
F Nov 9 Reports on the Vikings
Njal's Saga 108-224; Peruse Vikings in America
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/vinland.html
M Nov 12 Reports on the Vikings
Njal's Saga 225-355
W Nov 14 Njal's Saga
Collins 378-89
F Nov 16 Alfred's England
Collins 390-409; Map of
HRE http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/962germa.jpg;
Map of
Italy in 11th Cent.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/11citaly.jpg
M Nov 19 Italy and Germany
[Tu Nov 20 at 7:00 pm: Optional Film Viewing and
Discussion of The Warlord]
[WF Nov 21 and 23 Thanksgiving Holiday]
Agreement
between Count William V of Aquitaine and Hugh IV of Lusignan
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/agreement.html
Peace
of God - Synod of Charroux, 989
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pc-of-god.html
Map
of France in 1032
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/1032francea.jpg
M Nov 26 France
Motte
and Bailey Castle
http://kilby.sac.on.ca/7history/feudalism/sld004.htm;
Motte and Bailey
Castles http://www.castlewales.com/motte.html;
Life in a Castle
http://www.castlewales.com/life.html
W Nov 28 Encastellation
Powers
of the Count of Toul over the City
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1069Toulgild.html
Dialogue
On Laborers
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1000workers.html
Tables
on Population
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pop-in-eur.html
F Nov 30 Agricultural and Urban Revivals
Two
Reviews of Susan Reynolds: Fiefs and Vassals (1994) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/reynolds-2%20reviews.html
"Feudal"
Oaths of Fidelity
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/feud-oath1.html
Fulbert
of Chartres: Letter on Mutual Obligations
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/fulbert1.html
M Dec 3 The Debate on "Feudalism"
[M Dec 3 Make-Up Test at 2:30 pm]
Collins 409-22; Ralph
Glaber: On the First Millennium
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/glaber-1000.html
W Dec 5 The Byzantine Empire and Otto III: A New World
Study
W Dec 12 at 7:30 - 10:00 am FINAL EXAMINATION
