History 203/ Religion 217
The Early Middle Ages
Fall 1999
Professor: Deeana Klepper
Description
Texts
Requirements
Schedule of Readings
September
October
November
December
Office and Hours:
Stetson H12
ext. 2125
Thursday 10-12, or by appointment
e-mail: deeana.klepper@williams.edu
from The Book of Kells
Course Description: Just how dark were the so-called Dark Ages? What can we know about European culture and society during the 500 or so years from the fall of the Roman Empire until the end of the first Christian millenium? In this course we will explore the emergence of a new, uniquely European world out of the encounter between earlier Roman and Barbarian societies, as well as the relationship between that world and the other great post-Roman civilizations of Islam and Byzantium. We will look at changing economies and social structures, the impact of Christianity, the nature of learning and knowledge, the place of women in society, the role of violence in European culture, and will conclude with a look at "Y 1-K" and apocalyptic thought around the millenium.
In addition to familiarizing students with the outline of early medieval history and introducing some of the most important historiographical problems and debates related to the study of this period, the course is also designed to provide students with the opportunity to work with primary sources and to improve their ability to think, read and write critically.
P. Geary, Readings in Medieval History, vol. I
C. W. Hollister, Medieval Europe: A Short History, 8th ed.
Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy
Burgess, trans., Song of Roland
Also: a packet of photocopies, available in the History Office
Most assignments are also on reserve in Sawyer Library
Students are expected to bring all reading materials to class on the day(s) they are assigned.
Course Requirements: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class. All reading is to be completed before the class for which it is assigned. The class participation grade will be based on the level of your preparedness and involvement in discussion. In order to participate you must complete the reading and be prepared to discuss the issues raised by the readings. Written work for the class will include two short (3-4 page) papers, one longer (5-7 page) paper analyzing a primary source and a final exam. The grading for the course will be as follows: 20% for class participation, 15% for each of the short papers, 20 % for the longer paper and 30% for the final exam. In addition, each student will be responsible for the creation of a "personally relevant" time-line covering the period from 300- ca. 1000, to be shared with the class at the end of the semester. Please note that students must complete all written work in order to receive a passing grade for the class.
Thursday, Sept. 9 Introduction: Dark Age? Middle Age? Compared to What?
Monday, Sept. 13 The World of Rome in Late Antiquity (circa 300-400 CE)
Assignment: "The Theodosian Code" in Geary, 1-27; E. Pagels, Adam, Eve and the Serpent, 78-97 (photocopy)
Thurs, Sept. 16 From Roman Empire to Latin Christendom
Assignment: Hollister, 1-27; Edicts of Toleration; Augustine, "The City of God" in Geary, 46-57
Mon, Sept. 20 Yom Kippur, No Class
Thurs, Sept. 23 The Barbarian World
Assignment: Tacitus, "Germania" in Geary, 65-77; Jordanes, "History of the Goths" in Geary, 78-110
Mon, Sept. 27 The Barbarian World and the Fall of Rome
Assignment: Hollister, 28-41; Walter Goffart, "The Barbarians in Late Antiquity and How They Were Accomodated in the West" in B. Rosenwein and L. Little, Debating the Middle Ages, 25-44 (photocopy)
Thurs, Sept. 30 The Preservation and Transformation of Ancient Greek Knowledge
Assignment: Boethius, "The Consolation of Philosophy," ix-xxii; 3-20; 42-74
Mon, Oct. 4 Monastic Culture
Assignment: J. Leclerq, O.S.B., "The Conversion of Saint Benedict" in The Love of Learning and Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture, 12-24 (photocopy); Saint Benedict, "Rule for Monasteries" in Geary, 158-187. For some nice photos and images, check out this site from the Tourist office at Benedict's Abby of Montecassino.
FIRST PAPER DUE
Thurs, Oct. 7 East Rome: the Byzantine Empire
Assignment: Hollister, 42-55; The foundation of Constantinople; Procopius, excerpts from "Secret History"
Mon, Oct. 11 Post-Roman Europe: The Franks
Assignment: Hollister, 56-74; "The Tomb of Childeric," "Salic Law," and Gregory of Tours, "History of the Franks" in Geary, 113-128; 131-151
Thurs, Oct. 14 Ireland
Assignment: J. N. Hillgarth, "Christianity in a Non-Roman World" in Christianity and Paganism, 350-750, 117-137 (photocopy)
Mon, Oct. 18 Reading Period, No Class
Thurs, Oct. 21 "Christianizing" the People
Assignment: A. Gurevich, "Popular Culture and Medieval Latin Literature" in Medieval Popular Culture: Problems of Belief and Perception, 1-38 (photocopy); Bernard of Angers, "The Miracles of St. Foy" in Geary, 319-326
Mon, Oct. 25 The Rise of Islam
Assignment: Hollister, 75-86; Excerpt from "The Life of Muhammad"; Muhammed’s last sermon; Excerpts from the Qu’ran; The Pact of Umar; An additional text on the life of Muhammad (optional)
Thurs, Oct. 28 Charlemagne and the Carolingian Revival
Assignment: Hollister, 87-108; Einhard, "Life of Charlemagne" in Geary, 267-280
Mon, Nov. 1 Changing Status of Women
Assignment: S. F. Wemple, "Women from the Fifth to the Tenth Century" in A History of Women in the West, II. Silences of the Middle Ages, 169-201 (Photocopy); "Life of Saint Balthild" in Geary, 152-157
SECOND PAPER DUE
Thurs, Nov. 4 Early Medieval Mentalities and the Nature of Science
Assignment: R. C. Dales, "Science and the Culture of Early Europe," in The Scientific Achievement of the Middle Ages, 1-36 (photocopy); E. James, "A Sense of Wonder: Gregory of Tours, Medicine, and Science" in The Culture of Christendom, 45-60 (photocopy)
Mon, Nov. 8 The Impact of Technological Innovation
Assignment: L. White, Jr., "The Agricultural Revolution of the Early Middle Ages" in Medieval Technology and Social Change, 39-78 (photocopy)
Thurs, Nov. 11 Ninth- and Tenth-Century Invasions
Assignment: Hollister, 109-146; Three Sources on the Invasions, ca. 843-912
Mon, Nov. 15 Otto and the Holy Roman Empire
Assignment: Liudbrand of Cremona in Geary, 304-311; Economic Development in the Empire: Text 1; Text 2; Text 3; Text 4
Thurs, Nov. 18 Spain—Cultural Meeting Ground
Assignment: Jews in Visigothic Spain; Muslim Conquest of Spain, 711 CE; Trade; Jews in the Royal Courts; Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, "Pelagius" in Medieval Women's Visionary Literature, 114-124 (photocopy)
Mon, Nov. 22 Monastic Culture Revisited: Cluny and Monastic Reform
Assignment: Cluniac Charters in Geary, 312-318, B. Rosenwein, To Be The Neighbor of St. Peter: The Social Meaning of Cluny’s Property 909-1049, 35-48
Thurs, Nov. 25 Thanksgiving, No Class
Mon, Nov. 29 Violence in Medieval Society and Culture
Assignment: J. M. Wallace-Hadrill, "War and Peace in the Early Middle Ages" in Early Medieval History, 19-38 (photocopy); "Song of Roland"
THIRD PAPERS DUE
Thurs, Dec. 2 Feudal Society
Assignment: Fulbert of Chartres to Duke William of Aquitaine; Hugh of Lusignan and William of Aquitaine in Geary, 327-333; E. A. R. Brown, "The Tyranny of a Construct: Feudalism and Historians of Medieval Europe" in Debating the Middle Ages, 148-169 (photocopy)
Mon, Dec. 6 Apocalyptic Expectations and the Millenium
Assignment: B. McGinn, Apocalyptic Spirituality, 55-80; 85-96 (photocopy) Ralph Glaber, "The Millenium". You might also want to check out Richard Landes’ compilation of "Y1K" references.
Thurs, Dec. 9 Final Class—Bringing things together
TIMELINES DUE
Dec. 10-13 Reading Period
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