HISTORY 3345 001:
BIRTH OF EUROPE (37169)

Fall 2020: MWF 10:00-10:50
Chemistry 25 

TEACHER
John Howe
E-mail: john.howe@ttu.edu                               Telephone: 834-7544                            FAX:  742-1060                                            .
Web: http://myweb.ttu.edu/jhowe  
Office: 143 Holden Hall                                    Office Hours:  MW 11:00-12:00 and  Th 9:40-10:15 pm,  Please arrange meetings by email.
On-line synchronously on Zoom Wednesdays  2:00-4:00pm                                        
 

PURPOSES OF THE COURSE
            To survey the development of medieval Europe from about A.D. 400 to 1000.  To indicate how knowledge about this era has been acquired.  To learn how economic, cultural, and intellectual changes in the distant past have shaped the contours of the contemporary world. To develop skill in reading, analyzing, and reviewing historical monographs.

Expected Learning Outcomes:
            “Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to think critically and demonstrate an understanding of the possibility of multiple interpretations, cultural contexts, and values.”

Upon successful completion of History 3345 students will be able to:
            1.  Describe major events and individuals associated with the early medieval Latin West.
            2.  Discuss the documentary foundation that underlies this historical narrative.
            3.  Relate the development of the early medieval Latin West to the development of basic themes of “Western Civilization.”
            4.  Be more proficient in the following genres of historical writing:  essay examination and book reviews.  

Methods for Assessing the Expected Learning Outcomes:
            The Expected Learning Outcomes of the course will be assessed through: examinations, mini-essays, book reviews, class discussion, and miscellaneous assessment activities that may include non-graded quizzes, reaction papers, polling the class, and other techniques.


 COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Required Texts:
            Robert Cook (ed.).  Njal's Saga (Penguin 2002).
            G. Roland Murphy (ed.), The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel (Oxford 1992).
            Barbara H. Rosenwein, A Short History of the Middle Ages.  5th ed. (Toronto, 2018).
           Also required are documents available on-line. You can "click" to these directly if you access this syllabus via the internet. Printing these out is recmmended, because server or network problems can complicate last minute consultations.

Required Reading:
            Specific reading assignments for each class are listed in the Reading and Lecture Schedule, just ahead and to the right of the lecture date by which they should be completed.  Each assignment is the subject of the following lecture or discussion. Read so that you arrive in class prepared to explain, praise, criticize, and question. The assignments are manageable if read when assigned, but quickly become overwhelming if neglected.

Class Attendance:
            To complete this course successfully you need to attend class regularly.  In the classroom difficult reading assignments are interpreted, additional subject matter is introduced, and visual materials are displayed (which are difficult to comprehend from a friend's notes). Part of the course grade is based on class participation, and you cannot participate if you are not present.

Examinations:
            Midterm tests are scheduled for Friday, September 18, and Monday, October 26. Each will include multiple-choice questions, identification questions, a single essay (from two or more choices), and perhaps map work. If, for good reason, a test is missed, it may be made up at 2:30 pm on Monday, November 30. Students receiving a grade below "C" on a regularly scheduled midterm should meet with the teacher as soon as possible.
            The final examination will feature multiple-choice and  identification questions on the material covered since the second midterm, and several essay questions covering the material of the entire course.  Bring blue books for the final..

Mini-Essays:
            Students will write two short essays (1000-1500 words), each based upon required class readings: one on "Did Rome Fall?" due September 16; one on "Was the Tenth Century the End of the Ancient World or the Start of a New Age?" due  Monday, November 30.

Book Reviews:
            Students will write three two-page book reviews based upon monographs listed on bibliographies posted on this Web site. The bibliographies from which these three reviews will be written deal with the conversion of Europe to Christianity (due Wednesday September 30), Carolingian high culture (due Friday October 16), and post-Carolingian Viking invaders (due Wednesday November 4).  One letter grade will be deducted from late assignments (those not received at the start of class on the due date). Late assignments will not be accepted beyond the next class date following the due date.  Each student who wishes will have at least one opportunity, for extra credit, to present his or her analysis to the class.

STATE OF TEXAS MANDATES  

Contgingency Statement:
            If Texas Tech University campus operations are required to change because of health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that this course will move to a fully online delivery format. Should that be necessary, students will be advised of technical and/or equipment requirements, including remote proctoring software. 

 Observance of a Religious Holy Day:
            Texas House Bill 256 requires institutions of higher education to excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day. The student shall also be excused for time necessary to travel. An institution may not penalize the student for the absence and should allow for the student to take an exam or complete an assignment from which the student is excused. No prior notification of the instructor is required.

Necessary Accommodations:
            Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that the necessary accommodations can be made.

Academic Integrity: 
            "Texas Tech is committed to creating an exciting university atmosphere that is free of academic dishonesty. All members of the university community, including faculty, students, and staff, are upheld to the standard of having integrity in the work they produce. The standard is for all members of the Texas Tech community to contribute to the campus environment in an ethical, fun, and honest manner. Integrity matters because student success matters." Academic integrity violations are outlined in the Code of Student Conduct, Part X. B3 of the Student Handbook.  Because we live in an imperfect world, it is sometimes necessary to undergird ideals with enforcement mechanisms. be aware that Texas Tech defines "Academic Misconduct" and lists specific Disciplinary Outcomes for Academic Honesty Violations.
 

COVID 19 ADJUSTMENTS:
            At minimum students are required to conform to all the requirements of Texas Tech University and of the State of Texas related to student and faculty health during the Covid 19 pandemic.  These include a mandate that students wear face coverings over mouth and nose, both during class and while in public spaces in the Chemistry Building. No student will be allowed in the classroom who is not appropriately wearing a face mask. There will be assigned seats (this potentially helps if contact tracing is needed).  Students will exit the class row-by-row. All personnel must maintain social distancing when possible, and follow traffic-flow guidance related to entering and exiting the building.
            If at any time during this semester you feel ill, in the interest of your own health and safety as well as the health and safety of your instructors and classmates, you are encouraged not to attend face-to-face class meetings or events.  To help with such decisions, and with Covid reporting requirements, Texas Tech has developed a self-screeniing and Covid reporting platform.
            If face-to-face classes cannot be held safely, further changes may be required. Texas Tech's priority here is the safety of its students and employees.  Possible adjustments include shifting some or all of instruction on-line.  Students enrolling in this class should have access to the internet and the ability to participate in on-line meeting programs scheduled synchronously at the present class time (MWF 10-11).   If examinations cannot be taken in person, test formats may be changed to conform to what can be equitably and fairly done on-line.

 
GRADING
             The course grade will be computed as follows: 20% from the two midterm tests (that is, 10% from each); 30% from the three book reviews (10% from each); 5% from one optional class presentation of a book; 20% from the two mini-essays (10% from each); 10% from class participation; and 20% from the final examination. Note that the optional class presentation is equivalent to extra credit: that is, if you present a report to the class, the grade components total 105%, but they equal 100% if you do not.The class participation grade is based on attendance, class preparation, and class contributions.  Students outstanding in these get class participation credited as an `A'; those average have the points dropped out (so they neither help nor hurt); those below acceptable standards have them credited as an `F.'

 

READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE

M Aug 24       Introduction

Rosenwein vi-vii and 2-3; Eurasia; Mediterranean Topography ;  Diocletian's Rome ; Empire in 395.

 W Aug 26     The Physical World of Late Antiquity

[Th Aug 27    Last day for student-initiated course enrollments]

Rosenwein 1-5; Stages of Roman History; Diocletian, the Tetrarchs; Constantine; colossus of Barletta ; Price Controls; Ammianus Marcellinus 

F Aug 28       The Later Roman Empire 

Rosenwein 5-21; Constantine; Conversion of Constantine; Europe 395 (detail 1, detail 2); Constantine's Laws for Christians   

M Aug 31      The Christian Empire  

Rosenwein 21-23 ; Julius Caesar ; Tacitus ; Heliand 199-203 

W Sept 2      The German "Barbarians" 

Rosenwein 23-37 ; Attila; Pope Leo I and Attila ; Spaghetti Map" of the Wanderings of Peoples; Fall of Rome

F  Sept 4       The Crisis of the Late Empire   

Gibbon; Goffart; Europe 476

[M Sept 7     Labor Day Holiday]                      

Rosenwein 29-36 and 41-48; Nika Revolt; Justinian; Map 526; Europe in 565

W Sept 9      Byzantium

[W Sept 9     Last day to drop a course without academic penalty]

Rosenwein 49-54; Islamic Beliefs ; Mosque Architecture;  Map of Early Islamic Expansion; Muslim World ca. 750

F  Sept 11      Islam

Rosenwein 55-64;  Gibbon;  Goffart

 M  Sept 14    The Latin West

Write Mini-Essay #1: "Did Rome Fall?" (use Rosenwein, Gibbon;  Goffart ) 

W Sept 16     Discussion:  The Fall of Rome?  Or Rome's Subtle Triumph?

Study

F Sept 18      Midterm #1

Rosenwein 64; Snyder's "Age of Arthur"  ; Introduction to Arthurian Studies. Start the first book review from List #1:  Conversion

M Sept 21     Arthur of Britain            

Rosenwein 64-69; Confession of St. Patrick ; Bede on the Conversion of England;; Anglo-Saxon Map;  Continue with Book Review #1

 W Sept 23   The British Isles

Theodoric; Gothic Bible Project ; Lombard Italy. Continue with Book Review #1

F Sept 25    The Goths & Lombards

Rosenwein 24-26; Gregory of Tours on the Soissons Vase;  Gregory of Tours on the Conversion of Clovis;  Map of Frankish Dominions; Childeric's Bees; Childeric's Tomb:
Law of the Salian Franks.  Continue with Book Review #1               

 M Sept 28   The Franks

Finish Book Review #1

W Sept 30   Student Reports on the Conversion of Europe

Start Second Book Review from List #2: Carolingian Renaissance

 F Oct 2      Student Reports on the Conversion of Europe

 Rosenwein 81-88, 96-99; Annals of Lorsch. Continue with Book Review #2 

M Oct 5      The Roman Revolution

Rosenwein 96-99. Continue with Book Review #2 

 W Oct 7     The Rise of the Carolingians

Rosenwein 99-100; Life of Charlemagne; Map of Charlemagne's Empire; Continue with Book Review #2 

F Oct 9       Charlemagne

Rosenwein 99-103; General Capitulary of the Missi; Capitulary for Saxony; Continue with Book Review #2   

M Oct 12    Carolingian Government

Rosenwein 103-11; Letter to Baugulf of Fulda;. Continue with Book Review #2

W Oct 14    The Carolingian Renaissance 

Finish Book Review #2  

F Oct 16    Student Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance

Heliand xi-xviii, 1-29

M Oct 19   Student  Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance 

Heliand 29-115. Begin a review from List #3: The Vikings 

W Oct 21   Student Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance

Heliand 115-98. Continue with Book Review #3 

F Oct 23    Discussion: The Heliand

Study

M Oct 26   Midterm Examination #2

Rosenwein 102-03; Map of Carolingian Partitions. Continue with Book Review #3   

W Oct 28   Louis the Pious and Later Carolingians

Rosenwein 113-29. Continue with Book Review #3

F Oct 30    Byzantium & Islam

Rosenwein 129-34. Continue with Book Review #3

M Nov 2   The Vikings

Njal's Saga vii-xxxiii, 3-68.  Finish Book Review #3

W Nov 4    Student Reports on the Vikings

Njal's Saga 68-172; Vikings in America

F Nov 6     Student  Reports on the Vikings 

Njal's Saga 172-310 

M Nov 9     Discussion   Njal's Saga

Rosenwein 134-35

W Nov 11  Muslims & Hungarians in Spain and Italy

Motte and Bailey Castles; "Encastellation"

F Nov 13   Revival of Europe: Military

Rosenwein 135-39; "Feudal" Oaths of Fidelity; Fulbert of  Chartres;

M Nov 16   Revival of Europe:  Society

Rosenwein 173-75; Europe 900; new horse collar; Market Grant; Grants of Rights to Jews

W Nov 18   Revival of Europe: The Economy 

Rosenwein 176-79;  Peace of God - Synod of Charroux, 989; Howe, "Nobility's Reform of the Medieval Church"  

F  Nov 20   Revival of Europe:   Religion and Culture

Rosenwein 140-51; Germany in mid 10th cent ;  Italy in Early Eleventh Century. Read John Howe, "Re-Forging the 'Age of Iron':" Parts I & II. Start mini-essay #2

M Nov 23    Revival of Europe:   Kings and an Emperor

Finish Mini-Essay #2: "Was the Tenth Century the End of the Ancient World or the Start of a New Age?"

[WF Nov 25 to 29 Thanksgiving Holiday]         

TEXAS TECH  UNIVERSITY HAS MANDATD THAT ALL IN-PERSON CLASSES IN FALL 2020 SWITCH AFTER THANKSGIVING TO SYNCHRONOUS ON-LINE CLASSES

M Nov 30    Discussion:  A Whole New World?


[M Nov 30   Make-Up Test at 2:30 pm] 

Ralph Glaber; Europe in 1000

W Dec 2     A Recognizable Map of Europe   

[Th Dec 3    Individual Study Day ]

Study

Tu Dec 8 at 7:30am – 10:00 am,  FINAL EXAMINATION