HISTORY 5341: TOPICS  IN MEDIEVAL HISTORY MEDIEVAL MILITARY  HISTORY      Th 7:00-9:50 pm, HH 151

TEACHER
John Howe
Office: 143 Holden Hall, Department of History
Office Hours: M 8:30-9:30 am; MWF 11:00-11:30; Th 9:40-10:15 pm; and by appointment
Telephone: 806 742-1004 ext 233; 806 438-1321
E-Mail: john.howe@ttu.edu
Web: http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/howe
Fax:  806 742-1060

PURPOSES OF THE COURSE
        To survey the history of war in the Western Middle Ages, here defined not only as military strategy and tactics but also "as the product of a whole cultural, technical and economic environment" (Philippe Contamine, War in the Middle Ages [1984], p. xii). To survey the rapidly developing historiography of medieval warfare. To provide graduate students with an important perspective on the overall development of Western civilization in the Middle Ages.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required Books
John France. Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades.  Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press,1999.
Guy Hallsall. Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West.  New York:  Routledge, 2003.
 Nicholas Hooper & Matthew Bennett. Cambridge Illustrated Atlas:  Warfare: The Middle Ages,
        768-1487. New York:  Cambridge University Press, 1996.  
Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science. Translated by N.P. Milner. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press,
        1993.  Distributed by University of Chicago Press.

Class Attendance
Attend class regularly. Difficult material will be analyzed in class, much of it presented through student reports. Part of the course grade is based on class participation, and you cannot participate if you are not present. If you must miss more than three classes, you should not be enrolled.

Required Reading
Reading--a great deal of reading--is central to this graduate topics course. As indicated in the "Reading and Class Schedule" at the end of this syllabus, students will read specific texts for each class, either from the required books or from reading lists.  Student reports and discussion will play a major role in class proceedings, so it is important to complete all assignments on schedule.

Book Reviews
Over the course of the semester, students will write ten book reviews, based upon books chosen from the assigned reading lists. Each should not be much longer than two double-spaced typed pages. These are due on the days indicated, and late assignments are accepted only on rare occasions, and only with good reason. Students should be prepared to report in class on the works they have reviewed.

Movies?
Film makers love medieval warfare.  Their images of it color our perceptions.  In order to advance our knowledge, it may be useful to analyze and deconstruct some film interpretations.  Four movies featuring medieval warfare will be shown during the course of the semester, to be followed by discussions of their strengths and weaknesses as "history." Those who can attend two film screenings and participate in the following discussions will receive extra credit as indicated below.

Examination Essays
There will be no regularly scheduled examinations. However, on the basis of the required readings for the course and the books reviewed in class, students will write two essays (about 1000 to 1500 words each), due on the final exam day (Thursday, Dec. 13), answering any two of the following questions:

        These essays will be easier to write if students, when reading their assignments and when reviewing notes after class, enter relevant points into note files devoted to each question. Then the "examination" becomes largely a matter of organizing the data you have collected concerning your two favorite questions.

Observance of a Religious Holy Day:
        Texas House Bill 256 requires institutions of higher education to excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day. The student shall also be excused for time necessary to travel. An institution may not penalize the student for the absence and allows for the student to take an exam or complete an assignment from which the student is excused. No prior notification of the instructor is required.

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 accommodations can be made.

Academic Integrity: 
        "It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity.  The attempt of students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension."    -- Texas Tech University Catalog. 

GRADING
        The course grade will be computed as follows: 50% from the ten book reviews (i.e., 5% from each); 40% from the two comprehensive essays (i.e., 20% from each); and 10% from class participation.  A possible additional 5% of extra credit A can be earned by attending at least two of the film discussions.
        The class participation grade is determined by attendance, class preparation, and class contributions. At the end of the semester, each student will be classified as belonging to one of three groups: 1) outstanding; 2) generally average; and 3) significantly below acceptable standards. In computing the course grade, the first group gets the class participation component credited as an ‘A’; the second group has the points removed from the averaging process (so they neither help nor hurt); and the third group has them credited as an ‘F’.
 
 

READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE

Th Aug 30    Introduction: The Study of Medieval Warfare

[Th Aug 30   Last day to drop a course and get a full refund.]

Th Sept 6     The Imperial Roman Army

                    Vegetius; Hallsall 20-70

Th Sept 13   Vegetius' De Rei Militari

                    Reading from List #2:  Early Christians and Warfare

[W Sept 19  Optional Movie, 7-10 pm in HH28: King Arthur (2004)]

Th Sept 20   Early Christian Attitudes toward Warfare

M Sept 27   Byzantine Warfare

Th Oct 4      Barbarian, Carolingian, and Anglo-Saxon Warfare

[Th Oct 11   Last day to declare P/F, or to drop a course and receive an automatic W for courses dropped.]

Th Oct 11    "The Battle of Hastings":  Film and Discussion / "Feudalism"

Th Oct 18    The Church and Warfare

Th Oct 25    Fortification and Sieges

Th Nov 1     Frontier Warfare / Battles

                    Atlas of Warfare 154-56; reading from List #9: Chivalry / Tournaments

Th Nov 8     Chivalry / Tournaments

[Tu  Nov 13 Optional Movie, 7-10 pm in HH128: The Vikings (1958)]

Th Nov 15   Naval Warfare / Weaponry

                    Atlas of Warfare 114-51; France 39-76, 187-234

[M Nov 19  Optional Movie, 7-10 pm in HH126: The War Lord (1965)]

[Th Nov 22   THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY]

[M  Nov 26   Optional Movie, 7-10 pm in HH126: Alexander Nefsky(1938)]

Th Nov 29   Changes in Late Medieval Warfare ?

Th Dec 6     Toward National Armies

Th Dec 13 at 7:30 - 10:00 am FINAL EXAMINATION
                        (to be moved back to 7:00 if students do not have conflicts)

        Instead of a formal examination, students will meet at Prof. Howe’s house (3109 25th St.) for Christmas cheer and a final discussion of the essays.  Those students who want the essays returned quickly should attach a self-addressed, appropriately stamped envelop.