History 203: the Early Middle Ages

10

HISTORY 203: THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Prof. Martha Carlin

Fall 2010

Office: Holton 328

Phone: (414) 229-5767

Messages: History Department, tel. (414) 229-4361

E-mail:

Home page: https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/carlin/www/

Office hours: Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00 PM, and by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Kathleen Walkner ()

Office: Holton 380

Phone: (414) 229-4879

Course description: This course will survey the history of Europe in the early middle ages, c. AD 500-1000. During the first ten weeks of the semester we will examine the broad history of the period, and we will look at some individual events and developments and trace their long-term effects on European society. These special topics will include the collapse of the Roman empire in the West and its survival in the East, the spread of Christianity and Islam, the invasions and migrations of the Germanic peoples in Western Europe (including the Anglo-Saxons, the Franks, and the Vikings), and the rise and fall of the Carolingian empire. In the latter part of the semester we will examine in some detail the conditions of daily life in early medieval Europe. To do all this we will read works by modern scholars who have attempted to reconstruct pieces of the medieval past, and also accounts by medieval people of their own world as they saw it, and we will consider examples of the art, architecture, and material culture of the period.

Course objectives: This course should provide you with a good overview of European history between AD 500 and 1000, and enable you to understand the significance both of outstanding individual careers and events, and of broad and long-term historical patterns. It should also enable you to develop important skills in:

· reading and evaluating sources carefully and critically

· identifying and analyzing a wide variety of types of evidence

· using such evidence to reconstruct and interpret the past

· combining research and analysis with thoughtful writing to produce clear, original, and persuasive arguments

There are two required textbooks:

Bennett, Judith M. Medieval Europe: A Short History. 11th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010 [for 2011].

Riché, Pierre. Daily Life in the World of Charlemagne. Trans. Jo Ann McNamara. Philadelphia:

University of Pennsylvania Press, 1978.

There are also numerous required online readings (listed below under Topics and Readings).

E-mail and Internet access: You will require an e-mail account and access to the Internet for this class. All UWM students receive a free UWM e-mail account, and have free Internet access via UWM computer terminals and WiFi in UWM buildings. The History Department regularly contacts students via their assigned UWM e-mail addresses. If you use another e-mail service provider (e.g., Gmail or Yahoo!) instead of your assigned UWM e-address, please go immediately into your Pantherlink account and put a “forward” command on it to forward all incoming e-mail messages to the account that you routinely use. This is your responsibility; the History Department reflectors use UWM e-addresses only.

Papers: There is one required, 5-page, research paper (described at the end of this syllabus). The paper is due in the lecture class on Thursday, 4 Nov. 2010.

Exams: There will be two exams: an in-class midterm (covering material from weeks 1-6) on Thursday, 7 October 2010, and a final exam (covering material from weeks 7-15) on Monday, 21 December 2010 (7:30-9:30 AM). The final exam date and time are set by the University and cannot be altered. No alternative day or time for the final exam will be possible.

Grading and deadlines: Your final grade will be based on your research paper (25%); your midterm exam (25%); your final exam (25%); your attendance at both lectures and discussions, and your participation and work in your discussion section (25%). The research paper is due and exams will be held on the dates specified above. Late work will not be accepted, except in cases of major illness or emergency (it is your responsibility to contact me – not your TA -- immediately in such a case).

Attendance: Your regular attendance is essential, both at lectures and discussion sections. Students who fail to attend class (including discussion sections) or contact me during the first week of classes may be dropped administratively.

Disabilities: If you have a disability, it is essential that you contact me early in the semester to discuss any help or accommodation you may need.

Academic Advising in History: All L&S students have to declare and complete an academic major to graduate. If you have earned in excess of 45 credits and have not yet declared a major, you are encouraged to do so. If you are interested in declaring a major or minor in History, or require academic advising in History, please visit the Department of History’s undergraduate program web page, at: http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/history/undergrad/.

Academic integrity at UWM: UWM and I expect each student to be honest in academic performance. Failure to do so may result in discipline under rules published by the Board of Regents (UWS 14). The penalties for academic misconduct such as cheating or plagiarism can include a grade of "F" for the course and expulsion from the University.

UWM policies on course-related matters: See the website of the Secretary of the University, at: http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/SyllabusLinks.pdf

TOPICS AND READINGS

Week 1 INTRODUCTION; THE LATE ROMAN WORLD

2 Sept. Introduction to course

Week 2 THE ORIGINS AND SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

7 Sept. Bennett, pp. 1-9

Acts of the Apostles, 1:1- 6:15, and 7:55 - 11:30. Use any edition of the New Testament, or use either of the editions below:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/acts-asv.html

(American Standard Version, 1901)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=1&version=49

(New American Standard Version, 1995)

9 Sept. Bennett, pp. 9-18

Eusebius: The Conversion of Constantine, 312

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/conv-const.html

The Nicene Creed, 325

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/nicenecreed.html

Theodosius the Great, Law-code (excerpts): On religion

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/codex-theod1.html

Hypatia of Alexandria (d. 415): Read the editor's introduction, and then

scroll down to "Local Resources" and read all three hyperlinked accounts of her life and murder

http://cosmopolis.com/people/hypatia.html

Week 3 THE COLLAPSE OF ROMAN POWER IN THE WEST; THE BARBARIAN

INVASIONS

14 Sept. Bennett, pp. 19-23

Tacitus, Germania (read the first of the two texts)

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/tacitus1.html

16 Sept. Bennett, pp. 23-27

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks: The reign of Clovis

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gregtours1.html

Biographical sketch of Clotilda, Clovis’s queen

http://medievaleuropeonline.com/retiredclothilde.html

Theodoric the Ostrogoth (via his secretary, Cassiodorus): Letters

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/theodoric1.html

Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book I, Chap. 15: The

coming of the Anglo-Saxons

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bede/history.v.i.xiv.html

Week 4 EARLY WESTERN CHRISTENDOM, c. 500-700

21 Sept. Bennett, pp. 28-40

Venantius Fortunatus: Life of St. Radegund

http://mw.mcmaster.ca/scriptorium/radegund.html

(If the McMaster website is unavailable, use the following website:)

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/carlin/www/earlymed.radegund.html

23 Sept. Bennett, pp. 40-50

The Rule of St. Benedict

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/rul-benedict.html

Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People: Missionaries in

England

http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/bedeconv.html

Week 5 NEIGHBORS: BYZANTIUM AND ISLAM

28 Sept. Bennett, pp. 51-65

Procopius, On the Buildings: Hagia Sophia

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/procop-deaed1.html

Procopius, On the Wars: the Byzantine silk industry, and the racing

factions (see both websites below)

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/550byzsilk.html

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/procop-factions.html

30 Sept. Bennett, pp. 65-79

The Qur'an: Extracts from Surahs 1 and 47, on faith

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/koran-sel.html

Week 6 THE ISLAMIC WORLD; MIDTERM EXAM

5 Oct. “The Origins of the Sunni/Shia split in Islam” (short article by Hussein Abdulwaheed Amin, Editor of IslamForToday.com)

http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm

The Qur’an: Extracts from Surahs 4 and 2, on women, Moses,

Jesus, and righteousness

\ https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/carlin/www/docs.Qur-an.htm

The Hadith (extracts): On the 5 pillars of Islam; on trade

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/carlin/www/docs.hadith.htm

Yakut: Baghdad under the Abbasids, c. AD 1000

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1000baghdad.html

7 Oct. MIDTERM EXAM

Week 7 CAROLINGIAN EUROPE

12 Oct. Bennett, pp. 80-90

Riché, pp. 41-6 (the palace), 90-8 (life at court)

Einhard, Life of Charlemagne: Extracts from Book III

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/einhard1.html

14 Oct. Bennett, pp. 91-101

Riché, pp. 3-23 (the Carolingian world)

Charlemagne: Capitulary De villis

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-devillis.html

Inventory of Charlemagne’s estate at Asnapium [modern Annapes]

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/800Asnapium.html

Week 8 THE NEW INVASIONS: MUSLIMS, MAGYARS, AND VIKINGS

19 Oct. Bennett, pp. 102-111

The Vikings attack the Franks, c. 843-912 (read all three texts)

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/843bertin.html

Viking ship-building and navigation (see both websites below)

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/maldon/gokstad.html

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/norse_ships.htm

Viking ships (see both websites below)

http://www.sjolander.com/viking/museum/Ston3888.jpg

(Viking picture stone from the Swedish island of Gotland, depicting land and sea battles)

http://wind.caspercollege.edu/~gnelson/scandinavia/vikingships.htm

(the Gokstad, Oseberg, and Tune ships)

The Cuerdale hoard, c. 902: the largest known Viking Age silver hoard

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/t/the_cuerdale_hoard.aspx

21 Oct. Saga of Grettir the Strong, Chaps. 1-18

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Grettir/gr1-18.html

Ibn Fadlan: Description of the Rus, 921 (read as far as “Questions and answers about Eaters of the Dead and 13th Warrior”)

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ibn_fdln.shtml

Week 9 EUROPE SURVIVES THE SIEGE

26 Oct. Bennett, pp. 111-122

Asser, Life of King Alfred

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/asser.html

The Peace of God proclaimed in the archdiocese of Bordeaux, 989

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pc-of-god.html

28 Oct. Bennett, pp. 123-130

“Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, Tenth-Century Poet and Playwright” (biographical essay by Brenda M. Johnson on the German canoness who was the first medieval playwright)

http://www.msawomen.org/uploadedFiles/Resources/Research_Papers/Hrotsvit%20of%20Gandersheim-%20Tenth-Century%20Poet%20and%20Playwright.pdf

Week 10 EARLY MEDIEVAL SOCIETY

2 Nov. Riché, pp. 101-9, 110-30 (Carolingian people)

4 Nov. [RESEARCH PAPER DUE IN CLASS] Film

Week 11 THE EARLY MEDIEVAL CHURCH

9 Nov. Riché, pp. 35-40 (monasteries), 84-89 (prelates), 109-10 (rural priests)

11 Nov. Riché, pp. 230-42 (liturgy, churches and their furnishings, penance,

liturgical calendar), 269-72 (sanctuary and hospitality)

Week 12 DAILY LIFE AND WORK

16 Nov. Riché, pp. 133-42 (farming), 142-51 (stock breeding, crafts), 152-8

(construction techniques)

18 Nov. Riché, pp. 47-56, 61-3 (demography, sex, and marriage), 159-77

(housing, clothing, hygiene, food)

Aelfric, Colloquy ("On Laborers"), c. AD 1000

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1000workers.html

Week 13 LORDSHIP AND JUSTICE

23 Nov. Riché, pp. 67-71 (estate administration), 257-8 (the poor), 259-68 (royal

justice and lay protectors)

The law of the Salian Franks

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/salic-law.html

Judgment by ordeal

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/ordeals1.html

25 Nov. [THANKSGIVING DAY]

Week 14 FORMAL EDUCATION; POPULAR RELIGION

30 Nov. Riché, pp. 74-76 (aristocratic training), 191-7 (clerical training), 203-29

(education and learning)

2 Dec. Riché, pp. 181-90 (paganism, magic, astrology, marvels), 197-202 (popular religious instruction), 242-5 (prayer associations), 273-88 (relics and pilgrimage)

Week 15 HARDSHIPS OF DAILY LIFE; RIDDLES, POETRY, AND TALES

7 Dec. Riché, pp. 24-8 (landscape), 76-81 (war), 249-54 (hardships)

9 Dec. Alcuin of York, “The Debate Between Pippin and Alcuin”

http://www.gillianspraggs.com/translations/alcuin.html

Anglo-Saxon poetry and riddles from the Exeter Book: Excerpts from

The Ruin and The Wanderer, and three riddles

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/carlin/www/ExeterBookExcerpts.htm

Two tales from The 1001 Nights (translated by Sir Richard Burton):

“The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream”

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/burt1k1/tale14.htm

“The Sweep and the Noble Lady”

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/burt1k1/tale12.htm

Week 16 REVIEW

14 Dec. Review

RESEARCH PAPER FOR HISTORY 203

Choose one of the following topics:

You are a Frankish peasant (male or female) of the time of Charlemagne. Describe your life and work over the course of a single year. Topics to discuss could include the location of your village, your status (free peasant or serf or slave), the members of your household, your house and its furnishings, your diet and clothing, the work you do in the house and/or on the farm, and the pleasures and difficulties of your life. You should also make it clear why you are relating this account. Is it to tell an intended spouse what your life is like? To describe your life to your grandchildren? To explain to your lord why you were caught poaching game or pilfering something from his estate? Or what?

You are a Viking (male) of the ninth century. Describe your attack on an English village, town, or monastery. You should locate and describe the village, town or monastery, and say why it was chosen for attack. Other topics to discuss could include the time of year (and weather), leadership, numbers, transport, tactics, weapons, and outcome. You should make it clear why you are relating this account. Is it to glorify yourself or your war-leader? To justify yourself for a raid that went wrong? To criticize someone else? To provide a factual historical account of a stirring adventure? Or what?

You are a Benedictine monk or nun living in the tenth century. Describe what life is like in your abbey. You should include its name and location, and describe its physical arrangements, wealth or poverty, residents (monks or nuns, novices, boarders, servants), living conditions, work, regulations, and routines. You might also discuss whether or not your abbey attracts aristocratic or royal patronage, and why, and how that affects the lives of the monks or nuns. You should make it clear why you are writing this account. Is it to please your abbot or abbess? To attract new novices? To appeal for donations? As a preface to a history of your abbey? Or what?

In your youth (male or female) you were a member of Charlemagne’s court. Now, in your old age, write a memoir of your experiences there. Topics to discuss could include your position at Charlemagne’s court, how long you spent there, your recollections of the king and of other members of his court, the politics of the day, the living conditions at court, comparisons and contrasts between the time when you are writing and Charlemagne’s day. You should also make it clear why you are writing this memoir. Is it to enhance your own reputation? To enhance or damage the reputation of others? To record what you perceive as an important piece of history as impartially as possible? To dispute what other contemporary historians have written? Or what?

Your paper must be five, double-spaced, typescript pages long.

The point is to produce a piece of genuine historical research, packed with factual details, so no fantasy and no time-travelers, please.

Your paper must be based on a minimum of two primary sources and three scholarly secondary sources. Use only sources that are directly relevant to your own paper topic. Encyclopedias are permissible as sources of general background reading (and must be cited if used), but may not be used as any of the three required secondary sources. You may use primary sources that are available online, but you may not use any websites (including Wikipedia) as secondary sources.