Medieval Europe: Fact not Fiction

Hist 2533

Harley MS 4399, f. 22r

Dr. Jennifer MacDonald Office: BAC 443 Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-4, Fridays 1:40-3:40 Email: [email protected] Phone: (902) 585-1243

Course Description: King Arthur? Richard the Lionheart? Flat earth? Inquisition? Study the real stories of disaster and renewal. Learn about Germanic migrations, development of kingdoms, feudalism, urbanisation, art, architecture, and learning. Discuss religious vitality and conflict as the Christian Church expanded, changed, and clashed with kingdoms, heretics and other religions.

Course Objectives: In this course, you will gain new insights into the Middle Ages and this will help you have a greater understanding of the medieval people and how they lived. This course will make heavy use of primary sources and you will thus improve your ability to work with historical documents. You will think about how historians can use various types of sources when evaluating the past. This course will give you a solid foundation for European studies.

Marking Scheme Assignment Date Due Weight Record your mark Participation Continuously 5% Primary Source sign up September 20 2% Primary Source Analysis October 4 20% Midterm October 16 15% Optional Primary Analysis Rewrite November 1 Essay December 1 30% Exam In exam period 28%

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Textbooks Rosenwein, B. Reading the Middle Ages. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2014. (History) Rosenwein, B. A Short History of the Middle Ages. 4th ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2014. ()

Readings and Schedule The reading schedule is a guideline. Topics will be covered in roughly this order, but topics may carry on into the next day(s) depending on this class’s interests. Most readings will be discussed in class, but some will be discussed on Acorn. All adjustments will be discussed in class and it is your responsibility to stay on top of the reading schedule.

September 6 Introduction to the Course

Late Antiquity

September 8 Late Antiquity History: 1-8 Reader: 1.1 Toleration or favoritism? Edict of (313) 1.4 Heretics: A Donatist Sermon (c.318) 1.5 Orthodoxy's declaration: The (325)

September 11 Eastern Roman Empire History: 28-36, 39-44 Reader: 1.2 Law: The Theodosian Code (438) 1.3 Plague: Gregory the Great, Letter to Bishop Dominic of Carthage (600) 2.1 Byzantine village life and the education of a saint: The Life of St. Theodore of Sykeon

September 13 Growth of and Papal Power History: 8-21, 74-5 Reader: 1.6 Relating this world to the next: Augustine, The City of God (413-426) 2.10 A world explained by words: Isidore of Seville, Etymologies (c.615-c.630) Internet Medieval Source Book: Gelasius I on Spiritual and Temporal Power, 494 https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/gelasius1.asp

September 15 Growth of Monasticism and Cult of Saints Reader: 1.7 Monasticism: The Benedictine Rule (c.530-c.560) 1.8 The virginal life: Jerome, Letter 24 (To Marcella) (384) 1.9 The eremetical life: Athanasius, Life of St. Antony of Egypt (357) 1.10 The active life: Sulpicius Severus, The Life of St. Martin of Tours (397)

September 18 Germanic tribes History: 21-28, 72-77 Reader: 1.13 Gothic Italy as 's heir: Cassiodorus, Variae (State Papers) (c.507-536) 1.14 Gothic converts: The Third Council of Toledo (589) Map 3.1 Major European Slave Exports (700-900) 3.3 The sale of a slave in Italy: A Contract of Sale (725) See Acorn for supplemental reading

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The Early Middle Ages

September 20 Developments in the East – Byzantium and Islam History: 45-57, 79-95, 115-123 Reader: 2.3 The iconoclastic argument: The Synod of 754) 3.2 Byzantine guilds: The Book of the Prefect (886-912) 2.6 The sacred text: Qur'an Suras 1, 53:1-18, 81, 87, 96, 98 (c.610-622) 2.7 Umayyad diplomacy: The Treaty of Tudmir (713) 3.7 The minority—that is, Christian—view: Chronicle of Albelda (c.883) Plate 1 Dome of the Rock (692) Plate 4 Page from a Qur'an (993) 3.14 The Slavic conversion: Constantine/Cyril, Prologue to the (863-867) 3.15 The Bulgarian Khan in Byzantine guise: Seal of Boris-Michael (864-889) Plate 11 Seal of Boris-Michael (864-889) 3.16 The Bulgarians adopt Christianity: Nicholas I, Letter to Answer the Bulgarians Plate 2 with Saint Demetrios (2nd half 10th c.) Plate 3 Reliquary Locket (10th-11th c.)

September 22 Merovingian France History: 58- 64 Reader: 1.11 St. Radegund as ascetic: Venantius Fortunatus, The Life of St. Radegund (before c.600) 1.12 St. Radegund as relic collector: Baudonivia, The Life of St. Radegund (c.600) 1.15 Merovingian Gaul's bishop-historian: Gregory of Tours, History (576-594) 2.11 A modern martyr in Francia: The Passion of Leudegar (680s) 2.12 The settlement of disputes: Judgment of Childebert III (709 or 710)

September 25 Early Carolingians and beginning Charlemagne History: 96-99, 102-114 Reader: 2.13 Reforming the Continental church: Letters to Boniface (723-726) 3.1 Manors in the West: Polyptyque of the Church of Saint Mary of Marseille (814-815) 3.10 The pope and the Carolingians: Pope Stephen II, Letters to King Pippin III (755-756) 3.11 Charlemagne as Roman emperor: Einhard, Life of Charlemagne (825-826?) 3.12 Modeling the state on Old Testament Israel: The Admonitio Generalis (789)

September 27 Charlemagne continued

September 29 Later Carolingians History: 99-102 Reader: 3.13 Ideals of family and fidelity: Dhuoda, Handbook for Her Son (841-843)

October 2 Early Anglo-Saxon England History: 64-72 Reader: 2.14 Creating a Roman Christian identity for England: Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731)

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October 4 Vikings History: 127-131 Reader: 4.19 Christianity comes to : The Jelling Monument (960s) Plate 13 The Jelling Monument (960s)

October 6 No Classes October 9 University Closed

October 11 Viking Age British Isles History: 135-139 Reader: 4.17 Literacy: King Alfred, Prefaces to Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care (c.890) 4.18 Law: King AEthelred, Law Code (1008) Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: see Acorn

October 13 Vikings in the North Atlantic See Acorn

October 16 Midterm

The High/Late Middle Ages

October 18 Feudalism and Knights History: 213-218 Reader: 4.4 Love and complaints in Angouleme: Agreement between Count William of the Aquitanians and Hugh IV of Lusignan (1028) 4.5 The Peace of God at Bourges: Andrew of Fleury, The Miracles of St. Benedict (1040-1043) 4.6 A castellan's revenues and properties in Catalonia: Charter of Guillem Guifred (1041-1075)

October 20 Town and Country History: 131-135, 160-164, 281-220-244-250 Reader: 5.1 Cultivating new lands: Frederick of Hamburg's Agreement with Colonists from Holland 5.2 Ibn 'Abdun, Regulations for the Market at Seville (early 12th c.) 5.3 The role of royal patronage: Henry I, Privileges for the Citizens of London (1130-1133) 6.8 Women's work: Guild Regulations of the Parisian Silk Fabric Makers (13th c.) 6.9 Men's work: Guild Regulations of the Shearers of Arras (1236)

October 23 Changes in Monasticism, Romanesque Art & Architecture History: 164-5, 180-195 Reader: 4.3 Donating to Cluny: Cluny's Foundation Charter (910) and various charters of donation 5.20 The Cistercian view: St. Bernard, Apologia (1125) 5.21 The Cluniac view: , Miracles (mid-—mid-1150s) 7.4 Poland as a frontier society: The Henrykow Book (c.1268)

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October 25 Ottonian & Eastern Europe History: 139-145, 146-151 Reader: 4.12 Hungary as heir of Rome: King Stephen, Laws (1000-1038) 4.13 Coming to terms with Catholic Poland: Thietmar of Merseburg, Chronicle (1013-1018) 4.14 Poland's self-image: Boleslaw's Coin (992-1000) Plate 12 Boleslaw's Coin (992-1000) 4.16 An Ottonian courtier/bishop: Ruotger, Life of Bruno, Archbishop of Cologne (late 960s)

October 27 Church Reform and Investiture Conflict History: 164-170 Reader: Plate 5 A Holy (late 10th-early 11th c.) 5.4 The royal view: Henry IV, Letter to Gregory VII (1075) 5.5 The papal view: Gregory VII, Letter to Hermann of Metz (1076) 5.6 Vesting Prayers (c.1000?) 5.7 The Star of Clerics (c.1200?) 5.8 A Visitation Record (1268) Internet Medieval Sourcebook: Dictatus Papae http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/g7-dictpap.asp

October 30 Reform Continued

November 1 Late Medieval England and France History: 173-178, 201-208, 236-239 176-178 Reader: Plate 14 The Bayeux Tapestry (end of the 11th c.) 5.13 The pro-Norman position: William of Jumieges, The Deeds of the Dukes of the 5.14 The native position: "Florence of Worcester," Chronicle of Chronicles (early 12th c.) 5.15 The Conquest depicted: The Bayeux Tapestry (end of the 11th c.) 5.16 Exploiting the Conquest: Domesday Book (1087) 6.3 English law: The Assize of Clarendon (1166) 6.13 Henry II and Becket: Constitutions of Clarendon (1164) 6.15 King and nobles: Magna Carta (1215 7.16 A charismatic ruler: Joinville, The Life of St. Louis (1272) 7.17 Summons of Representatives of Shires and Towns to Parliament (1295)

November 3 England Continued, and Late Medieval France

November 6 Mediterranean Worlds: Byzantium, the Crusades, and Spain History: 123-127, 155-160, 170-173, 175, 197-201, 233-236, 252-3 Reader: 4.2 The powerful in the Byzantine countryside: Romanus I Lecapenus, Novel (934) 4.7 Military life: Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, Military Advice to His Son (950-958) 4.8 Imperial rule: Michael Psellus, Portrait of Basil II (c.1063) 4.15 Kievan Rus': The Russian Primary Chronicle (c.1113, incorporating earlier materials) Plate 6 Tlemcen, Great Mosque (1236) 5.9 Martyrs in the Rhineland: Rabbi Eliezer b. Nathan ("Raban") 5.10 A Westerner in the Holy Land: Stephen of Blois, Letter to His Wife (March 1098) 5.11 The Muslim reaction: Ibn al-Athir, The First Crusade (13th c.) 5.12 The crusade in Spain and Portugal: The Conquest of Lisbon (1147-1148) 6.2 The Fourth Crusade: Nicetas Choniates, O City of Byzantium (c.1215) 6.5 The legislation of a Spanish king: The Laws of Cuenca (1189-1193)

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November 8 Mediterranean and Islamic, continued

November 10 Italy and Asia History: 241-244, 250-252 Reader: 6.7 Doing business: A Genoese societas (1253) 7.1 The Mongol Challenge: The History of the Mongols (first half of the 13th c.) 7.2 A Mongol reply to the pope: Guyuk Khan, Letter to Pope Innocent IV (1246) 7.3 The Hungarian king bewails the Mongol invasions: Bela IV, Letter to Pope Innocent IV (c.1250) 7.8 Bulgaria and Venice regularize commercial relations: Oath and Treaty (1347) 7.10 The Hanseatic League: Decrees of the League (1260-1264)

November 13 University Closed November 15 No Classes

November 17 Church and Empire History: 208-213 Reader: 6.11 Petitioning the papacy: Register of Thomas of Hereford (1281) 6.14 Emperor and pope: Diet of Besancon (1157) 6.10 The growth of papal business: Innocent III, Letters (1200-1202) 6.12 Mocking the papal bureaucracy: The Gospel According to the Marks of Silver (c.1200) 6.23 Disciplining and purifying Christendom: Decrees of Lateran IV (1215)

November 20 Learning, Gothic Art and Architecture History: 178-181, 220-228 Reader: Plate 7 The Church as Reliquary: Sainte-Chapelle (1248) Plate 8 Monstrance (c.1430) Plate 9 Synagogue and Ark (1435) Plate 10 The Wienhausen Sepulcher (15th c.) 4.11 Logic: Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Treatise on Logic (1020s or 1030s) 5.17 Logic: Abelard, Glosses on Porphyry (c.1100) 7.22 Scholasticism: Thomas Aquinas, Summa against the Gentiles (1259-1264) 8.20 Defending women: Christine de Pisan, The Book of the City of Ladies (1404-1407)

November 22 Monasticism and Heresies History: 228-233 Reader: 6.23 Disciplining and purifying Christendom: Decrees of Lateran IV (1215) 6.24 Devotion through poverty: Peter Waldo in The Chronicle of Laon (1173-1178) 6.25 Devotion through : Jacques de Vitry, The Life of Mary of Oignies (1213) 6.26 The mendicant movement: St. Francis, The Canticle to Brother Sun (1225) 6.27 Religious feeling turned violent: Chronicle of Trier (1231) 7.13 Inquisition: Jacques Fournier, Episcopal Register (1318-1325) See Acorn for supplemental readings

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The Disintegration of Medieval Europe

November 24 Age of Crisis: Famine and Plague History: 276-286, 297-301 Reader: 5.18 Medical science: Constantine the African's translation of Johannitius's Isagoge 7.11 Food scarcity at : Athanasius I, Patriarch of Constantinople, Letter 8.1 A medical view: Nicephorus Gregoras, Roman History (1350s) 8.2 at : Ibn Battuta, Travels (before 1368) 8.3 Prayers at York: Archbishop William, Letter to His Official at York (July 1348) 8.4 Blaming the Jews: Heinrich von Diessenhoven, On the Persecution of the Jews (c.1350) 8.5 A legislative response: Ordinances against the Spread of Plague at Pistoia (1348)

November 27 Crisis in Papacy History: 252- 261, 265-266, 301-302, 304 Reader: 7.5 The Lithuanian duke flirts with Christianity: Duke Gediminas, Letter to Pope John XXII (1322) and Letter to the Burghers of Lubeck, Rostock, Stralsund, Griefswald, Stettin, and Gotland (May 26, 1323) 7.6 Pagan Lithuania: Peter of Dusburg, Chronicle of the Prussian Land (c.1320-1326) 7.18 The pope throws down the gauntlet: Boniface VIII, Clericis laicos (1296) 7.19 The pope reacts again: Boniface VIII, Unam sanctam (1302) 7.20 William of Plaisians, Charges of Heresy against Boniface VIII (1303) 7.21 Assembly of the Estates General in : Grand Chronicles of France (1314) 8.15 The conciliarist movement: Jean Gerson, Sermon at the Council of Constance (1415)

November 29 Lay Piety and Religious Change History: 260-264, 302-304 Reader: 7.24 Medieval drama: Directions for an Annunciation Play (14th c.) 7.25 The : The Life of Juliana of Mont-Cornillon (1261-1264) 8.16 Taking part in the life of Christ: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1430) 8.17 The Hussite program: The Four Articles of Prague (1420)

December 1 Conflict and Change in Western European Kingdoms History: 252-258, 286-287, 289-297 Reader: 8.11 Chivalric and non-chivalric models: Froissart, Chronicles (c.1400) 8.12 National feeling: Jeanne d'Arc, Letter to the English (1429) 8.14 The commons revolt: Wat Tyler's Rebellion (after 1381)

December 4 Changes in the Mediterranean World and Conclusions History: 267-275, 287-289, 305-329 Reader: 8.6 A Turkish hero: Ashikpashazade, Othman Comes to Power (late 15th c.) 8.7 Diplomacy: Peace Agreement between the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and the Signoria of Venice (, 1478) 8.8 Before the fall: Patriarch Anthony, Letter to the Russian Church (1395) 8.9 The fall bewailed: George Sphrantzes, Chronicle (before 1477) 8.21 Portolan Map Plate 15 Portolan Map

December 6 Wrap up and Review

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Description of Assignments

*** General Instructions, Referencing and formatting: All papers be properly referenced using Turabian style footnotes and bibliographies. You may not cite class lectures. You may not use Wikipedia or other non-specialist websites. If you have questions about acceptable web resources, come see me. All assignments must use both primary and secondary sources. Please double space your papers, use a font like 12pt Times New Roman, use 2.54cm margins, and number your pages. At the beginning of all papers, I want to see a title, my name, the course name and the course number, the word count, and your name. Your name is to be on the right-hand side of the first page. Word counts include everything except the bibliography and if you lie about the word count, you will lose 50% of your grade. If you are having problems with any assignment, please come see me during office hours.

Class participation: You are expected to come to class and to do the readings for each class. You will be marked on oral participation and written work done during class in groups and/or as individuals. You will also be given marks for contributing to discussions on Acorn (note: some of the readings will be discussed only on Acorn). Criteria for marking include sophistication and completeness of ideas, originality of thought, knowledge of material covered and ability to present the material clearly. Poor attendance can lead to failing participation marks.

Primary Source sign up: You are to find a primary source which we are not discussing in class. I suggest using our Library or one of the websites listed on Acorn. You must bring in your source in person for approval. Anyone having trouble finding a document should see me well in advance of the due date.

Primary Source Analysis: I cannot guarantee to return late papers promptly and this could have a negative impact on the time you have to rewrite the paper. The document analysis must be 800-1000 words long. You will explain the source of the passage and discuss what we can learn by reading it. The best document analyses contain an argument and often focus on one specific idea. While you are concentrating on developing your own ideas about the document, you must make significant use of secondary sources. Failure to use secondary sources will lead to poor grades on this assignment.

Primary Source Rewrite: After your analysis is marked, you have the option of rewriting it. The new mark will replace the old one. You must submit the new version and the old assignment with my comments. Each individual version should be stapled in the upper left corner and the two versions should be held together by a clip. If the old essay is missing, I will not mark the new one. The new essay will be marked on content, argument, style, and improvements.

Essay: I will circulate a series of suggested topics as term progresses or you may create your own topic. Please note: your essay topic should differ significantly from your primary source analysis. The research essay must be 1800- 2000 words long. You will be graded on content, argument and style. As you work, concentrate on creating a strong thesis statement and backing up your ideas with evidence from primary sources. You must also use a good variety of secondary sources.

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Midterm: There will be one midterm examination in this course. It will take place in class and will include short answer, primary source and essay questions. It may cover any of the material in your assigned readings and anything discussed in class. You must show detailed knowledge of the course content.

Final Exam: The exam will take place during the exam period. The first section of the exam will be similar to the midterm and will be on material covered since the midterm. The second section will cover material from the whole term and will include primary source and essay questions. These tend to cover the most important themes from the entire term.

Policies

Late Assignments: Hardcopies of assignments are due at the times specified above. Late assignments will be penalised one letter step per day. If the paper is one week late, it will receive a maximum of 50%. I stamp all hardcopies with date on which I receive them and that is the only date that counts. If you have a legitimate reason for not being able to hand in work on time, please contact me as soon as you can and attach documentation to the assignment when you submit it. Late papers will be marked after papers which were received on time and it is possible that they will not be returned until the end of term. Furthermore, late papers might not receive as detailed comments as papers which were submitted on time.

Class Attendance: The best way to succeed in this course is to come to class. There is a participation mark in this course and if you are not in class, you are not participating.

Computer Usage: I expect all students to check their university email on a regular basis. This course makes use of Acorn for discussions, some assignments, updates and the like. Websites of Special interest for this class are listed on Acorn.

Contact Information: My email address and office number are given at the beginning of this syllabus. Please note: office hours are held only when classes are scheduled. If you send an email, please include your full name and the course number. I never check email in the evenings or on the weekends. You are encouraged to visit the office during my posted office hours and I am happy to arrange to meet you at other times. You may post questions of general interest on Acorn.

Accessibility Learning Services: If you are a student with a documented disability who anticipates needing accommodations, please inform Kathy O’Rourke (902-585-1823) in Accessible Learning Services, Fountain Commons - [email protected].

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The Writing Centre offers free help to all students wanting to improve their writing skills. You can sign up online today: •To book a one-to-one appointment with a writing tutor, click here: writingcentre.acadiau.ca/writing-tutorials.html •To see which helpful presentations and workshops you’ll want to attend this year, click here: writingcentre.acadiau.ca/workshops-and-presentations.html

Academic Misconduct Please read “Academic Integrity” to be found on p. 58 in the “Academic Policy and Regulations” section of the Acadia University Calendar, 2017-2018. You must be familiar with these guidelines to be enrolled in this course. Plagiarism is also viewed seriously by the Department of History and Classics: it is departmental policy that plagiarised work will receive a grade of F (zero), with no departmental appeal possible. In especially bad cases more severe penalties, including a course grade of F (zero) and/or a recommendation for expulsion from the university, are possible. If the transgression warrants it, I will not hesitate to seek the application of such a penalty. Please note that under no circumstances will I tolerate a breach of academic integrity: transgressions such as cheating, plagiarism, or actively aiding another student in such an act will result in -- at the very least -- a grade of zero on the offending assignment.

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