Russia to 1796 Christian Raffensperger History 251H/C - 1W Fall Semester MWF 3:00–4:00 PM Hollenbeck 318
Russia occupies a unique position between Europe and Asia. This class will explore the creation of the Russian state, leading into the modern period. We will begin with the exploration and settlement of the Vikings in Eastern Europe, which began the genesis of the state known as “Rus’.” That European state soon encountered threats from Asia when the Mongols invaded in the thirteenth century. The Mongol invasions changed Russian history and contributed to the “othering” of Russia which has continued to the present day. It also created a situation which leads to the creation of Tsars, Russian emperors who come to dominate their European and Asian territory, eventually leading to the creation of a multi-ethnic empire under Tsar Ivan IV. Ivan’s spiritual heirs Peter and Catherine are where we will end the class. The two “greats” dominate the eighteenth century in Russian politics and have a huge impact on the international political scene, changing Russia from the inside out.
Professor: Christian Raffensperger Office: Hollenbeck 311 Office Phone: 937-327-7843 Office Hours: MW 1:00–3:00 P.M. or by appointment E-mail address: [email protected]
Assignments and Deadlines The format for this class is largely lecture, and thus attendance is a main requirement of the course, as is participation when we have discussion. In addition to these exams, there will be two response papers over the course of the semester. We will watch two movies over the course of the semester (Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible) at night, and your assignment will be to write 2-3 pages focusing on the following questions. How does this movie portray the title character? Does that portrayal conform to the historical portrait you received in class or from the textbook? What factors might influence that portrayal, one way or another? This assignment should also have some basis in evidence, use proper citations to document comparisons or contrasts (following the Chicago Manual of Style footnote style). If you have any questions about the assignment, please come see me during my office hours or make an appointment. Additionally, there will be a research paper of 7-9 pages. You will be able to choose the topic yourself from anything we have studied in class this semester, turning in a topic paragraph and sample bibliography of 3-5 sources, one month before the paper is due. You are encouraged to consult with me for topic choices. I expect good research using monographs, articles, and other scholarly work. Not acceptable for this assignment are encyclopedias, dictionaries, or any internet sites (especially Wikipedia), unless approved on a case by case basis.
1 Finally, there will be three exams which will divide up the material in the course. The exams will not be cumulative, with the exception of one over-arching essay question on the final exam.
The grades will be weighted as follows: Attendance: 5% Participation: 5% Exam 1: 15% Exam 2: 15% Response Paper 1 – Alexander Nevsky: 10% Response Paper 2 – Ivan the Terrible: 10% Research Paper: 20% Topic and Bibliography – 5% Final Paper – 15% Final Exam: 20%
Required Books Walter G. Moss. A History of Russia , Volume 1: To 1917. (hereafter Moss) Reinterpreting Russian History: Readings 860-1860s . ed. Daniel Kaiser and Gary Marker (hereafter Readings)
Schedule of Meetings and Assignments Week 1 (August 25, 27, 29): The Early East Slavic World (Moss, 1–18; Readings, 3–20) Introduction to the course; The early East Slavs; The calling of Riurik; Vikings in Eastern Europe
Week 2 (September 3, 5, No Class 9/1 ): Early Rus’ (Moss, 18–21, 26–31, 42–47; Readings, 21–25, 49–54, 63–71) Vladimir and the establishment of Rus’; Christianization; European orientation and integration; Iaroslav and the high point of Rus’
Week 3 (September 8, 10, 12): Rusian Government and Society in the eleventh and twelfth centuries (Moss, 15–52; Readings, 25–37, 72–78) How Rus’ is governed; The position of Rus’ in the world; Rusian governmental infighting; Breakdown of central control
Week 4 (September 15, 17, 19): The Arrival of the Mongols (Movie Night 9/17 - Response Paper 1 Due Wednesday, 9/24 in class) (Moss, 54–73; Readings 83–87, 99-101; “Tale of the Destruction of Riazan” [Moodle]) Period of warring principalities; Arrival of the Mongols; Return of the Mongols
Week 5 (September 22, 24, 26): Separation from Europe (Exam 1 – 9/22) (Moss, 73–77; “Tale of the Life and Courage of the Pious and Great Prince Alexander” [Moodle]; Janet Martin. Medieval Russia 158–74 [Moodle])
2 Creation of Rus’ as “other”; Orthodoxy = Heresy; Alexander Nevsky; Cross Knights; The Golden Horde
Week 6 (September 29, October 1, 3): Rise of Moscow (Moss, 79–99; Readings, 83–87, 99–107, 137–40) Moscow v. Tver; Use of the iarlyk; Attempts at independence and domination
Week 7 (October 6, 8, 10): The Republic of Novgorod (Moss 88–92; Readings, 54–59, 71–72, 90–101, 108–14, 122–24, 128–30) Hansa ties; Proto-democracy; Conquest by Moscow
Week 8 (October 13, 15, 17): Ivan the Terrible and the Creation of Empire Troubles (Movie Night 10/15 – Response Paper 2 Due Wednesday, 10/22 in class) (Moss, 127–43; Readings, 147–63) Ivan’s youth; Ivan as Tsar; Oprichnina; East meets West; Kazan and Astrakhan
Week 9 (October 22, 24, No Class October 20 ): The Time of Troubles (Moss, 146–58; Robert O. Crummey, The Formation of Muscovy 205–33 [Moodle]) Boris Godunov; Dynastic difficulties and foreign interference
Week 10 (October 27, 29, 31): The Rise of the Romanovs (Exam 2 – 10/27) (Moss, 160–81; Paul Dukes, The Making of Russian Absolutism 30–64 [Moodle]) Patriarch Filaret; Smolensk War; Consolidation of Power; Religious development in Russia
Week 11 (November 3, 5, 7): Orthodoxy and the State (Moss, 184–220; Readings 334–50) The creation of a Patriarchy; Separation of Church and State?; Women and the church; Role of monasteries; Heresy and the State
Week 12 (November 10, 12, 14): Peter the Great (Final Paper Topic and Bibliography due 11/12 in class) (Moss, 223–48, 297–305, 313–16) Peter’s youth and travels; Innovation and Accomplishment; Traditionalist Backlash; Multi-front wars
Week 13 (November 17, 19, No Class 11/21 , 24): The Short Eighteenth century (Moss, 251–65, 305–8; Readings 223–41) Three Empresses; Contending foreign influences; Chance at democracy
Week 14 (December 1, 3, 5): Catherine II and the Enlightenment (Moss, 267–88, 316–28; Readings 242–55, 379–85) Rise of a German princess; A Potemkin Enlightenment
Week 15 (December 8, 10, 12): Catch-up Week and Review (Final Paper Due 12/12 by 5:00 P.M. in my office, or the History Office)
3 We will use this week to catch-up on material (as we will most likely be behind). Extra time will be used to review for the final exam.
Final Exam – Thursday December 18, 12:00–3:00 P.M.
For More Information: Moss has an excellent collection of suggested sources at the end of each chapter. Find a chapter that contains what you are looking for, and search that list; it contains the classics, as well as the most modern scholarship.
Additionally, I would recommend scheduling a Personal Research Consultation with Doug Lehman at the library to discuss you research paper and help you find adequate sources. If you have never written a research paper before, this will be enormously helpful.
Missed Examinations, Papers, and Class Sessions A good rule of thumb is do not miss anything. However, if you are ill or have a conflict and cannot make a class, notify me in advance or as soon after the class as is possible. Do not miss examinations! If you have a conflict, notify me a minimum of one week in advance and we can schedule an exam as close to the normal time as possible. If you miss an examination for reasons that are not discussed with me ahead of time or are not catastrophic you will receive a zero, which is much worse than an F in your overall grade. Late papers are accepted, but the grade will drop one grade for each day (weekend day or weekday) that it is late. For example—an A paper handed in one day late will be an A-, two days late a B+, etc.
Attendance Policy As part of your grade for this class, and to get the most out of the class, you are required to attend on a regular basis. Attendance in this class is worth 5% of your grade, and attendance will be taken on a regular basis. If you are going to miss class, let me know in advance. If you accumulate 5 absences over the course of the semester, you will receive a grade of F for your attendance. If you miss 10 or more classes over the course of the semester you will receive a grade of zero for your attendance, much worse than an F when calculating your final grade.
Special Needs Wittenberg University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. In keeping with this policy, if you are eligible for course accommodation due to a disability, please provide me with your self-identification letter from the academic services office, 208 Recitation Hall, during the first few weeks of the semester so that we may discuss appropriate arrangements. If you have significant responsibilities outside of class that will impact your performance, e.g., an infant or young child, care for an aging parent, or a job that requires you to be on-call, please speak to the instructor as soon as possible, and we can discuss arrangements to make your classroom experience the same as everyone else’s.
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Weather-Related Concerns Whenever weather becomes a problem, I shall do my best to adhere to the university guidelines. If the university cancels classes, there will be no class. If the university has not cancelled class, but I am unable or unwilling to risk traveling, I will do my best to post a notice to this effect on as early as possible. I will do my best not to cancel class if at all possible. If there is an exam scheduled or a deadline for a written assignment on a day when class is cancelled, you may assume that the exam or assignment will be due on the following class session.
Academic Honesty Students in this course are expected to uphold the standards of Wittenberg’s Code of Academic Integrity. At its most basic level, this means that you will not turn in someone else’s writing as your own, quote from a source without proper acknowledgment, or provide a classmate with inappropriate help. You will be asked to submit papers and exams with the following statement followed by your signature: “I affirm that my work upholds the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity at Wittenberg, and that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance.” Sanctions for violating these rules range from receiving no credit for a particular assignment to failing the course for a significant act of academic dishonesty. If you are in doubt about any of these rules, please talk to me before submitting your work.
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