Middle Ages I

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The early centuries of the medieval period saw the breakdown of the structures of the Roman Empire and the rise of new and distinctive cultures in the regions of western Europe and Byzantium . This course will follow the spread of institutional Christianity from Constantine to the early medieval papacy, the rise of the Franks and the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire , and the development of characteristically “medieval” forms of social and political organization, religion, art and architecture. Questions we will consider include those of how to define the “Middle Ages,” the utility of this definition for our understanding of Europe’s history, continuity versus discontinuity between Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages, and how medieval European civilization organized itself and related to the societies on its borders.

COURSE OBJECTIVES (“Student learning outcomes”):

1. This semester-long course will introduce the history of the early Middle Ages in Europe and on its borders, and you will be asked to master a body of information relevant to this history. This historical narrative forms the foundation of the course on which you will be tested by objective exams.

2. The course will be organized around twice-weekly lectures and once-weekly discussions of assigned materials. These course discussions will introduce you to the practice of historical investigation, asking you to read and analyze primary sources within their historical contexts, and form the secondary purpose of this course. By the end of the semester it is expected that you will be able to verbally analyze primary texts in discussion.

3. Beyond mastery of basic historical information and the ability to discuss texts in a classroom setting, you will be asked to exercise the skills of historical investigation in written assignments. In each of these writings, you will pose significant historical questions and use primary texts to develop possible answers. You will learn how to write formal analytical essays about primary sources.

REQUIRED BOOKS:

Julia Smith, Europe after Rome : A New Cultural History 500-1000 ( Oxford , 2007)

ISBN: 9780192892638 / 0192892630

Barbara H. Rosenwein, ed. Reading the Middle Ages, Volume I: From c. 300 to c. 1150 (UTP

Higher Education, 2007) ISBN: 9781551116952 / 1551116952

Additional primary sources will appear on the course WebCT page (webct.uta.edu) or online at the Internet Medieval Sourcebook (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/Sbook.html)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS and GRADING:

Grades will be assessed on the basis of your performance in three areas:

1. Class reading and discussion. You are responsible for reading all assigned texts before coming to the discussion session for the week. Your participation in these discussions will be graded on the quality and quantity of your comments and questions. 20%

2. Analytical writing. You will write four very short (2-3 pages, double-spaced) papers in the course of the semester, based on your analysis of primary texts. You will choose the texts on which to write from among the assigned primary readings on the syllabus. Each analytical paper must be submitted at the beginning of the class on the day for which the reading was assigned. Two must be handed in before October 9, and two after. 15% each

3. Final exam. Wed., December 9. Short-answer identification questions, map quiz. 20%

COURSE POLICIES:

1. Americans With Disabilities Act: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation. As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. If you require an accommodation based on disability, it is your responsibility to inform me at the beginning of the semester and provide appropriate documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability. Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 102 of University Hall or at (817) 272-3364.

2. Academic Integrity: Cheating will not be tolerated. If you need help, ask for it rather than stealing someone else’s work. It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any form. Anyone involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University. Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2 states: "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts."

3. Classroom Decorum: You are expected to treat me, as your professor, and your fellow students with respect. Accordingly, do not wander in late to class or leave early, talk disruptfully (either in person or on cell phones or other devices), wear earphones of any type, use your laptops to access games or the internet, read, send/receive text messages, sleep, or any other disrespectful and disruptive activities and behaviors. You are permitted and encouraged to ask me questions or respond to mine.

4. Attendance: Because 20% of your final grade is based on attendance and participation, any unexcused absence will reflect poorly on your grade. If you absolutely must miss a class, please discuss the matter with me beforehand.

COURSE UNITS and READINGS :

Units/class sessions:

1. Late Antiquity and the Roman Empire

Read: Smith, Introduction

M 8/24 Introduction; Late Roman Empire and Political Division

W 8/26 Christianity Becomes the State Religion under Constantine

F 8/28 Discussion: 1.1, Edict of Milan ; 1.7, Augustine The City of God ; St. Perpetua, The Passion of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/perpetua.html)

2. Rome Divided: Byzantium and the West

Read: Smith, ch. 1

M 8/31 Rome and the “Barbarians”

W 9/2 Constantinople, the New Rome

F 9/4 Discussion: 1.11, Sulpicius Severus, The Life of St. Martin of Tours; 1.12, Venantius Fortunatus, The Life of St. Radegund; 2.3, John of Damascus, On Holy Images; 2.4, The Synod of 754

3. The Early Church at Rome

M 9/7 Labor Day Holiday – no class.
W 9/9 The Power of the Pontificate

F 9/11 Discussion: 2.16, The Life of Gregory II in The Book of the Pontiffs

4. Frankish Gaul and the Rise of the Merovingians

Read: Smith, ch. 2

M 9/14            Clovis and the Franks
W 9/16            Rise of the Mayors of the Palace
F 9/18              Discussion:1.14, Bishop Avitus of Vienne,
                         Letter to Clovis ; 1.17, Gregory of Tours , History

5. The Rise and Spread of Islam

M 9/21 Muhammad and the early Islamic Conquests
W 9/23 Spain under Muslim Control

F 9/25 Discussion: 2.6, al-A‘sha, Bid Huraya Farewell; 2.7, Qur’an, suras; 3.9, al-Bukhari, On Fasting; Two Accounts of the Muslim Conquest of Spain (WebCT)

6. Charlemagne and the Carolingian state

Read: Smith, c. 3

M 9/28 Charles the Great, Holy Roman Emperor

W 9/30 Administration and Law under the Carolingians

F 10/2 Discussion: Einhard, Life of Charles the Great (WebCT); 3.17, The Admonitio Generalis; 3.18, Double Capitulary of Thionville for the missi

7. Culture and Society under the Carolingians

Read: Smith, c. 4

M 10/5 Monasticism, Pilgrimage, and the Papacy in Carolingian Europe

W 10/7 Carolingian Renaissance: Early Medieval Culture, Art, and Education

F 10/9 Discussion: 1.9, The Benedictine Rule; 3.15, The Donation of Constantine; texts on the Carolingian Renaissance (WebCT)

Today is the final day to turn in your second analytical paper.

8. Anglo-Saxon England

Read: Smith, c. 7

M 10/12 Christianity and Literacy in the British Isles

W 10/14 Invasion and Disorder

F 10/16 Discussion: 2.11, Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People; 4.15, King Alfred, Prefaces to Gregory the Great’s Pastoral Care; 4.16, Battle of Maldon

9. Carolingian Successor States and Europe ’s Eastern Edges

Read: Smith, c. 6

M 10/19 Vikings and Magyars, Threats to Frankish Security

W 10/21 Treaty of Verdun (843) and a Changing Europe

F 10/23 Discussion: Three Sources on the Ravages of the Northmen in Frankland (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/843bertin.html); Agobard of Lyons, On the Division of the Empire (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/830agobard.html); 4.12, King Stephen, Laws

10. Technology, Towns and Transformation of the European Landscape

Read: Smith, c. 5

M 10/26 Changes in Land Use, Farming Technology, and Social Organization

W 10/28 From Late Antique City to Early Medieval Town

F 10/30 Discussion: 4.44, Agreements between Count William of the Aquitanians and Hugh of Lusignan; 5.3, Henry I, Privileges for the Citizens of London ; “Declaration of the Powers of the Count of Toul over the City of Toul , 1069” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1069Toulgild.html)

11. Capetian France and Ottonian Germany

M 11/2 Hugh Capet and the Royal Touch

W 11/4 Ottonian Germany and the Holy Roman Empire

F 11/6 Discussion: 4.5, Andrew of Fleury, The Miracles of St. Benedict; 4.13, The “Older Life” of Queen Mathilda; 4.14, Thietmar of Merseberg, The Accession of Henry II

12. Cluny and Monastic Reform

M 11/9 Monastic Houses and Lay Society

W 11/11 Spirituality and Art around the year 1000

F 11/13 Discussion: 4.3, Cluny ’s Foundation Charter and various charters of donation

13. Byzantium , Islam, and the West

M 11/16 Abbasid Revolution and Break-up of the Caliphate

W 11/18 Byzantium and the West in the 10^th and 11^th centuries

F 11/20 Discussion: 3.11, Sinbad the Sailor; 4.1, al-Tabari, The Defeat of the Zanj Revolt; 4.8, Michael Psellus, Portrait of Basil II; 4.10, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Treatise on Logic

Today is the final day to turn in your fourth analytical paper.

M 11/23 No class.

W 11/25 No class.

F 11/27 Thanksgiving Holidays – no class

M 11/30 Film screening: “Hildegard of Bingen”

W 12/2 Final exam review

F 12/4 Final exam review

W 12/9 Final exam 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.