HISTORY 3345 001:
BIRTH OF EUROPE (37169)
Fall 2016:
MWF 11:00-11:50
Holden Hall 225
TEACHER
John Howe
Office: 143 Holden Hall
Office Hours: MW 9:30-10:30;
Telephone: 834-7544
E-mail: john.howe@ttu.edu
Web: http://myweb.ttu.edu/jhowe
FAX: 742-1060
PURPOSES OF THE
COURSE
To
survey the development of medieval
Expected Learning Outcomes:
“Students graduating from
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 examinations and book reviews.
Methods for Assessing the Expected Learning Outcomes:
The Expected Learning Outcomes of the course will be assessed through
examinations, book reviews, class discussion, and miscellaneous classroom
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).
Roger
Collins. Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000. 3rd ed.
(Palgrave 2010).
G. Roland Murphy (ed.). The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel
(
Also required are documents available on-line. You can "click" to these directly
if you access this syllabus via the internet. It is advisable to print the
assigned texts a few days in advance because server or network problems can
complicate last minute consultations.
Required
Specific reading assignments for each class are listed in the
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 Wednesday, September 28, and Friday, November 4. Each will
include
multiple choice
questions, identifications,
and a single essay (to
be selected 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, December 5.
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 one or more blue books to the
final.
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 Monday October 10),
Carolingian high culture (due Wednesday October 26), and
post-Carolingian Viking invaders (due Friday November 11). 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.
Movies?
Much
of what we think we know about the "Dark Ages" consists of misconceptions and
misrepresentations, often created long ago but promulgated today by film images.
The fact that these tend to be contradictory does not diminish their power:
contrast, for example, the dining scenes from Camelot and The
Vikings. In order to advance our knowledge, it can be useful to confront
such images.
Therefore, students may view films about the Early Middle Ages that will be
projected and discussed on designated evenings during the course of the
semester: this fall the 7:00 pm movie choices will include King Arthur
(2004) on Thursday, Sept 22, in HH225; The Vikings (1958) on Thursday, Nov 10,
in HH225; and
The War Lord (1965) on Tuesday, November 29, in HH111. On the
designated evenings, students will watch the films and evaluate their strengths
and weaknesses as "history." Those who can attend at least two of these events and participate
in the associated discussions will the receive extra credit indicated below.
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 mandates specific disciplinary
outcomes for academic integrity violations. See
TTU
Student Judicial Programs.
GRADING
The course grade will be computed as follows: 30% from the two midterm tests
(that is, 15% from each); 30% from the three book reviews (10% from each); 5%
from one optional class presentation of a book; 10% from class participation;
and 30% from the final examination. Note that the optional class presentation is
equivalent to extra credit because, if it is included, the grade components total 105%; they equal 100% if it is not.
An
extra 5% of A credit will be added to the averages of students who attend
two of the films and participate in the post-film discussions.
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 29
Introduction
Eurasian World ;
Mediterranean Topography;
W Aug 31
The Physical World of Late Antiquity
[Th Sept 1
Last day for student-initiated course enrollments]
Collins 1-24;
Diocletian,
Augustus, Tetrarchs;
Constantine;
Price
Controls;
Ammianus Marcellinus
F Sept 2
The Later Roman Empire
Collins 25-41; Constantine;
Conversion of
Constantine; Europe
395 (detail 1,
detail 2);
Constantine's
Laws for Christians
[M Sept 5
Holiday]
W Sept 7
The Christian Empire
Collins 41-60;
Julius
Caesar ;
Tacitus
F Sept 9
The German "Barbarians"
Collins 60-85;
Attila;
Pope Leo I and
Attila
M Sept 12
The Crisis of the Late Empire
Collins 85-103;
Gibbon;
"Spaghetti Map" of the Wanderings of Peoples;
Goffart;
Europe 476
W Sept 14
The Fall of Rome? Or a Subtle Roman Triumph?
[W Sept 14 Last day to drop a course without
academic penalty]
Collins 103-09; Theoderic ; Theoderich's Letters
F Sept 16
The Goths
Collins 109-13, 160-72; Gregory of Tours on the Soissons Vase; Gregory of Tours on the Conversion of Clovis; Map of Frankish Dominions; Childeric's Tomb:
Childeric's Bees, Law of the Salian Franks
M
Sept 19
The Franks
Collins 173-79 (see also his note 6 on p.49: "The literature on Arthur is vast, and mostly silly."); Snyder's "Age of Arthur"
W Sept 21
Arthur of Britain
Collins 114-32; Justinian ; Europe in 526; Europe in 565
[Th Sept 22
Optional Movie King Arthur at 7:00pm in HH225]
F Sept 23
The Empire Strikes Back
Collins 133-50;
Map of Early Islamic
Expansion; Muslim World ca. 750;
Mosque Architecture;
Is
M Sept 26
The Arabs
Study
W Sept 28
Midterm #1
Collins 151-72; Heliand
199-203; start the first book review from
List #1: Conversion
F Sept 30
"Ethnogenesis" and the Early Germanic "Nations" / Visigoths
Collins198-219;
Europe ca. 600;
continue with
Book Review #1
M Oct 3 Lombards
Collins 178-97;
Patrick's Confession;
Anglo-Saxon Map; continue
with Book Review #1
W Oct 5
The Celts and the Saxon Kingdoms
Collins 236-62; continue with
Book Review #1
F Oct 7
Monks and Missionaries
Finish Book Review #1
M Oct 10
Reports on the Conversion of Europe
Start Second Book Review from List #2:
Carolingian Renaissance
W Oct 12
Reports on the Conversion of Europe
Collins 220-35;
Annals of Lorsch;
continue with
Book Review #2
F Oct 14
The Roman Revolution
Collins 263-79; continue with Book
Review #2
M Oct 17
The Rise of the Carolingians
Collins 280-99;
Einhard's Life of Charlemagne;
Map of Charlemagne's
Empire; continue with
Book Review #2
W Oct 19
Charlemagne
Collins 300-17;
General
Capitulary of the Missi;
Capitulary
for Saxony; continue with Book Review #2
F Oct 21
Carolingian Government
Letter to
Baugulf of Fulda; Continue with
Book Review #2
M Oct 24
The Carolingian Renaissance
Finish Book Review #2
W Oct 26
Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand xi-xviii, 1-29
F Oct 28
Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand 29-115; begin a review from
List #3: The Vikings
[M Oct 31
Last Day to Drop a Course with Academic Penalty (counts against the drop
limit)]
M Oct 31
Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand 115-98; continue with
Book Review #3
W Nov 2
The Heliand
Study
F Nov 4
Midterm Examination #2
Collins 318-43;
Map of Carolingian
Partitions; continue with
Book Review #3
M Nov 7
Louis The Pious and Later Carolingians
Collins 344-70;
Vikings; Viking Ship; continue with
Book Review #3
W Nov 9
The Vikings
Njal's Saga vii-xxxiii, 3-68; finish
Book Review #3
[Th Nov 10 Optional Movie; The
Warlord at
7:00pm in HH225]
F Nov 11
Reports on the Vikings
Njal's Saga 68-172
M Nov 14
Reports on the Vikings
Njal's Saga 172-310
W Nov 16
Njal's Saga
Collins 371-93, 394-99
F Nov 18
Muslims in Spain / Italy
John Howe, "Re-Forging the 'Age of Iron':" Parts I and II
M Nov 21 Tenth-century Transformations of Europe
[WF Nov 23 and 25
Thanksgiving Holiday]
John Howe on
"Encastellation"; Motte and Bailey Castles ;
Elizabeth A. R. Brown, :The Tyranny of a Construct: Feudalism and Historians of
Medieval Europe,"
American HIstorical Review 79 (1974): 1063-88 [Access through
JSTOR]
M Nov 28
Revival of Europe: Military
Lynn White Jr on "Agricultural Revolution"; Europe 900; Europe 1000; new horse collar; Market Grant; Grants of Rights to Jews
[Tu Nov 29 Optional Movie:
The Vikings at 7:00pm in HH111]
John Howe, "The Nobility’s Reform of the Medieval Church,"
American Historical Review, 93(2) (1988): 317-339 [Access through
JSTOR]
F Dec 2
Revival of Europe: Religion and Culture
Collins 399-413;
Ralph Glaber
M Dec 5
Revival of Europe: A New Western
Empire
[M Dec 5
Make-Up Test at 2:30 pm]
[Tu Dec 6 Optional Movie;
Alexander Nefsky at 7:00pm in HH111]
Collins 414-29
W Dec 7
Moving beyond Rome
[Th Dec 8
Individual Study Day ]
Study
F Dec 9 at 1:30 – 4:00 pm
FINAL EXAMINATION
