THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME 5/21/2015 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUMMER SESSION II - 2015 SYLLABUS COURSE TITLE: THE BLACK DEATH IN ITALY – AD 1347-1350 COURSE NUMBER: ANT 283 PRE/CO-REQUISITES: NONE REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: The Great Mortality : An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time / John Kelly. New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 2005. ISBN: 978-0–06–000693–8 (pbk.) SELECTED READINGS: ONLINE THROUGH AUR - LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CREDITS: 3 INSTRUCTOR: RICHARD P. WATSON, PH.D. COURSE DESCRIPTION: (The Black Death in Italy) This course is designed to give students the opportunity to study the Black Death by experiencing first- hand where it occurred, and to see the consequences of a pandemic that killed as much as one half the population of Italy and Europe in less than four years! Students will study descriptions of the Black Death as recorded in eyewitness accounts, and will examine its biological, social, economic, political, and cultural consequences through the eyes of modern scholars. By studying what the Black Death was, where it occurred, and why it occurred where it did, students gain an understanding of how pandemics have, and continue, to shape the world in which we live. From this geographical perspective students will study how the Black Death provides an important analog to the spread, and potential consequences, of epidemic and emerging diseases in the modern world. This course contributes towards AUR General Education embedded skills requirements of oral presentation and/or Information Literacy. Additional Information on this course is available at: http://GeogWorld.com. COURSE OBJECTIVES (CO) The purpose of this class is to provide an overview of the Black Death in Italy during the mid-14th Century. The study of the Black Death in this course is intended to provide a case study of a demographic catastrophe that altered the world of the Late Middle Ages and set the stage for the subsequent transformation of the Renaissance, but at a terrible human cost. The study of the Black Death and its consequences offers insight into how humans adapted to the greatest depopulation ever faced in the Western World prior to the 20th Century while providing a valuable analytical framework for understanding human resilience and adaptability in the face of what surely was “The End of The World.” • Expose students to a natural phenomenon that changed the world and shaped the future in only four years. • Engage students in an analysis of the biological processes, geographic, and cultural mechanisms by which the Black Death spread throughout Italy and Europe in the Late Middle Ages. • Expose students to the broad impact of the Black Death on the social, economic, political, and cultural consequences of the Black Death. • Engage students in a critical assessment of whether a similar pandemic can occur today and the potential consequences of a modern “Black Death.” 1 THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME 5/21/2015 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUMMER SESSION II - 2015 SYLLABUS COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO) Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to accomplish the following outcomes. 1 Demonstrate knowledge of the essential aspects of the Black Death in the Late Middle Ages in Italy and Europe using the historical, cultural, and geographical studies frameworks. 2 Compare and contrast alternative explanations for the Black Death and its impact on Italy and Europe as a whole. 3 Critically analyze the consequences of the Black Death from an historical, cultural, and geographic perspective, identifying key issues and themes. 4 Analyze the implications of the Black Death as an analog to the epidemic and emerging diseases facing the modern world. 5 Demonstrate information literacy skills that enable them to conduct high quality bibliographical research, consult academic electronic sources, and master citation techniques with competence and in accordance with anti-plagiarism standards and regulations. 6 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding through original academic and/or creative works that show a considered understanding of the nature and consequences of the Black Death stemming from their study of its impact on Central Italy in AD 1347-1350. 7 Demonstrate effective communication through presentation of their findings and/or creations to the class using appropriate media, technology, and visual aids. COURSE LEARNING ACTIVITIES COURSE ACTIVITIES CLO Out of class reading and writing assignments: Students will read the assigned texts for each class session in preparation for seminar style discussion. 1-4, 6 In class discussions: Students will participate in discussions; sustain their views and ideas using the appropriate geographical and historical lexicon. 1-4, 6 Oral presentations: Students will choose a topic from a provided list as the basis for an oral presentation to the class. The presentation will use appropriate 5-7 technology and/or media. In-class and on-site lectures: Lectures will provide guided observation, analysis, 1-4 and discussion of relevant issues. Preparation of a research paper, portfolio, video or other creative work: Students will prepare a research paper, portfolio, video, short story, screenplay or 5-7 other creative work on the same topic selected for oral presentation to the class. 2 THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME 5/21/2015 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUMMER SESSION II - 2015 SYLLABUS ASSESSMENT METHODS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS Assessment Methods and Course Requirements Percent Grade Course Requirements Grade Points Students will be required to participate, i.e. attend all in-person class sessions, to read the assigned materials, and to participate in class 10% 100 discussions and exercises. (100 pts) Write a 3-5 page synthesis paper comparing and contrasting 2 or more of the course readings. (100 pts) 10% 100 Submit a 1-2 page proposal describing the proposed Final Project research/portfolio topic. The Final Project Proposal will be submitted as a draft proposal. The draft proposal will be reviewed by the Instructor and 10% 100 returned with comments allowing sufficient time for revisions prior to the submission of the final proposal. (100 pts) Prepare a 15-20 page paper/portfolio that addresses one of the major themes discussed in the course. (The paper/portfolio can consist of: a formal research paper with complete citations; an original themed photographic, video, short story, play, screenplay, art portfolio - of no 50% 500 fewer than 10 pages (30 Original Photos), or one or more original videos totaling approximately 7 minutes. This assignment should illustrate one of the major course themes addressed in the course as listed below.) (500 pts) • Biology and Epidemiology of the Black Death • Demographic Consequences of the Black Death • Social Consequences of the Black Death • Economic Consequences of the Black Death • Political Consequences of the Black Death • The Black Death and The Arts • Implications of the Black Death for the modern world Students will present the results of their final research paper/portfolio to the class using appropriate technology and/or media. (200 pts) 20% 200 TOTAL 100% 1000 3 THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME 5/21/2015 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUMMER SESSION II - 2015 SYLLABUS Class Schedule Class Day Date Discussion Topic Meetings Topic 1: The Biology of the Black Death and Its Demographic Consequences Course Introduction & What was the Black Death Anyway? – The Session 1 Biology and Epidemiology of the Bubonic Plague. R 2nd DISCUSSION OF FINAL PROJECT Introduction to the Black Death in Italy – How did it get here, and where F 3rd Session 2 did it go? The Evidence for the Black Death – What do we know about the Black Session 3 Death and how do we know it? M 6th PAPER/PORTFOLIO PRE-PROPOSAL DUE! The Consequences – The Death Toll in Italy and Europe. Session 4 PAPER/PORTFOLIO PRE-PROPOSAL RETURNED WITH T 7th COMMENTS Session 5 What Happened When Half of the Population Died? W 8th Field Trip 1 - The Black Death in Italy (Off Campus) Session 6 R 9th FINAL PAPER/PORTFOLIO PROPOSAL DUE! Topic 2: Introduction to the Medieval Period and the Social Consequences of the Black Death The Cultural and Historical Background of the Medieval Period: What Session 7 M 13th Was Life Like in the Middle Ages? The Geographic Background of the Medieval Period: Mapping the Session 8 T 14th Middle Ages Session 9 The Maintenance and Breakdown of the Social Order. W 15th Topic 3: The Economic and Political Consequences Session 10 Trade, Food, and The Spread of the Black Death. R 16th Session 11 The Breakdown of the Economic System. M 20th Political Efforts to Halt the Spread of the Black Death: Successes and Session 12 T 21st Failures. Topic 4: The Cultural Consequences & Implications of the 14th C Black Death for the Modern World The Consequences of the Black Death: The Redistribution of Wealth and Session 13 W 22nd Power. SYNTHESIS PAPER DUE! Session 14 The Black Death, Art, and Religion. R 23rd Session 15 Field Trip 2 - The Black Death in Rome (Off Campus) M 27th Can it happen again? Is Ebola the 21st Century Black Death? Session 16 T 28th Implications for the modern world. FINAL PRESENTATIONS & COURSE SUMMARY Session 17 W 29th FINAL PROJECT DUE! 4 THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME 5/21/2015 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUMMER SESSION II - 2015 SYLLABUS GRADE CALCULATION: Course Grades will be assigned in accordance with the AUR Grade System. AUR Grade Values Points/Percent Grade Ranking 94.00 – 100.00 A “Excellent” 90.00 – 93.99 A- 87.00 – 89.99 B+ 83.00 – 86.99 B “Good” 80.00 – 82.99 B- 77.00 – 79.99 C+ 73.00 – 76.99 C “Satisfactory” 70.00 – 72.99 C- “Less than Satisfactory” 60.00 – 69.99 D “Poor” 59.99 – 0.00 F “Failing” AUR ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance Policy In keeping with AUR’s mission to prepare students to live and work across cultures, the University places a high value on classroom experience.