Historical Studies 201-01
University of Calgary
Dr. F. Michaud
Winter 2009
Office: SS 608
Office Hours: T: 11:00-12:00 am; F: 2:00-300 pm
Telephone: 220-6415
Email: [email protected]
Matt Bucholtz (SS 637) Office Hours: M: 11:00-12:00 am; TH: 11:00 am-12:15 pm
Email: [email protected]
Introduction to Medieval Latin Christendom, c. 400-1453
The goal of this introductory course is to survey in its broad outline the long gestation of Western
Europe, from the decline of Rome to the fall of Constantinople. In this perspective, Introduction
to Medieval Latin Christendom, c. 400-1453 will cover the origins, the development and the
interrelations between three fundamental factors that best characterize the originality of Medieval
Europe: the Roman Catholic Church, feudalism and the market economy. Therefore, particular
attention will be given to the transformation of the economic conditions surrounding the
settlement of the successor states to the Roman Empire; the emergence of feudalism and the rise
of medieval monarchies; and the evolving contours of the religious culture that so intensely
defined medieval society.
ASSIGNMENT, EVALUATION & DEADLINES
A) Quiz (short answers: geography 20%, identification 30%, definition 50%)
• February 12th, 2009
15%
B) Mid-Term Exam (essay)
• March 10th, 2009
20%
C) Term Paper based on P. Geary’s Sourcebook document selection 1
(10 pages -2500 words- plus notes and bibliography)
30%
•
April 2nd, 2009
D) Final Exam (short answers 20%, essay 30%, document analysis* 50%)
• TBA
35%
*In-class document analysis (20 minutes on Thursday, in preparation for final exam)
N/A
1
Thanks to the use of secondary sources, the research project consists in the rigorous argumentative
interpretation of an historical issue derived from a pre-selected primary source. The thesis statement
ought to be within the historical and geographical confines of the course. The document (or primary
source) should be selected from Readings in Medieval History and submitted in advance to the
instructor (no later than January 22nd, 2009). Failure to do so will result in an F grade. Students must
cite apart from primary sources, a minimum of six secondary sources (of different authors),
including academic journal articles.
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1-N.B.: Citations: Absence of or unsatisfactory footnoting in the term paper will involve an “F”:
prior to writing your essay, please refer to the Department Essay Guide (Department of History
Web Site: http://hist.ucalgary.ca/essay/Handbook.htm). In case of doubt, please consult with your
teaching assistant. ALL assignments must be completed in order to receive the minimum
passing grade, i.e., “D”. If one of the above mentioned assignments is missed, the final score for
the course will be an automatic “F”. Faulty grammar and spelling will affect the grade.
Belated paper will be penalized by half a grade per day.
2-N.B.: The use of on-line secondary sources is strongly discouraged, unless there are
academic publications made available in electronic form (i.e., academic journals).
3- N.B.: Primary sources: P. Geary Readings in Medieval History; On-line Library Research
Tools; Medieval Source Book (Fordham University); Secondary sources: ITER; IMB; In-Library
research tools: DMA; NCE; New Cambridge Encyclopedia
4-N.B.: For the research paper assignment, you may consult with Librarian Jerremy Clyde.
BOOKS TO BE PURCHASED:
Source Book: Patrick Geary, Readings in Medieval History, Peterborough: Broadview Press, any
edition.
Textbook for background information: John Riddle, A History of the Middle Ages, 300-1500,
Lanham (UK): Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2008.
WEEKLY LECTURES
January 13th-15th, 2009: Introduction, Pre-Contact: Romanitas, Germanitas & the Roman
Catholic Church
Readings:
1- J. Riddle: Chap. 1, 2: The Transformation of Classical Civilization: p. 5-66
2- R. McKitterick: Introduction to: The Early Middle Ages, 2001, p. 1-18 (e-blackboard)
*M. de Jong: Religion in: The Early Middle Ages, p. 131-164 (e-blackboard)
January 20th-*22nd , 2009: The Successors States: Continental Europe (5th-6thc.) & the British
Isles (5th-9th c.)
Readings:
1- Document: Pope Gregory I’s letter to Abbot Mellitus, 597 (e-blackboard)
2- J. Riddle: Chap. 3, 4, 5, 6: Barbarian Kingdoms, Byzantine and Islam: p. 67-179
*Ch. Wickham: Society in: The Early Middle Ages, 2001, p. 59-94 (e-blackboard)
January 27th- 29th, 2009: The Holy Latin Empire, 800: Charlemagne and the New Israel
Readings:
1- Document: The Coronation of Charlemagne (video)
2- J. Riddle: Chap. 7, p. 155-205
*R. McKitterick: Politics in: The Early Middle Ages, 2001, p. 21-56 (e-blackboard)
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February 3rd – 5th, 2009: “Muhammad and Charlemagne”: The Pirenne’s Thesis Revisited
Readings:
1- Document: The Polyptyque of Saint-Germain-des Prés (e-blackboard)
2- J.-P. Devroey: The Economy in: The Early Middle Ages, 2001, p. 97-113
*M. McCormick: “Commerce, communications, and the origins of the European
Economy”, and “At the origins of the European economy”, Origins of the
European Economy, 300-900 (e-blackboard, p. 1-23; p. 778-798).
February 10th-12th, 2009 (Quiz), 2009: The Treaty of Verdun, the Last Invasions & the Feudal
Contract
Readings:
1- Document: Fulbert of Chartres’ letter to Duke William of Aquitaine, 1025 (Geary)
2- J. Riddle: Chap. 8, p. 207-236.
February 16th-20th: Reading Week
February 24th-26th, 2009: Feudal Anarchy, ‘Pax Dei’ and the Alliance of the ‘Poor’
Readings:
1- Document: Agreement between lords and vassals (Geary)
2- Document: Miracles of Saint Foy (Geary)
3- J. Riddle: Chap. 9, p. 237-268
*U.-R. Blumenthal: Piety and Monastic Reform During the Tenth and early Eleventh Century in:
The Investiture Controversy. Church and Monarchy from the
Ninth to the Twelfth Century,
1988 (e-blackboard p. 1-22)
March 3rd-5th, 2009: Papal Reform and the Investiture Controversy
Readings:
1- Document: Dictatus Papae (e-blackboard)
2- U.-R. Blumenthal: Henry IV and Gregory VII in: The Investiture Controversy. Church and
Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century, 1988 (e-blackboard, p. 106-127).
March 10th, 2009: Mid-Term Exam (75 minutes)
March 12th, 2009: The ‘Vita Apostolica’, Heresies and the Rise of the Mendicant Orders
Readings:
1-J.H. Lynch, The Friars in: The Medieval Church (e-blackboard)
March 17th-19th, 2009: Feudal Monarchies: 12th-13th c. France, England and the German Empire
Readings:
1- Document: The Magna Carta, 1215 (Geary)
2- W. Hollister, Medieval Europe (e-blackboard)
*Njörm Weiler, Politics in: The Central Middle Ages (e-blackboard)
March 24th-26th, 2009: Market Economy and Urban Expansion, 800-1300
Readings:
1- Document: Charter of Liberties : the Town of Lorris, 12th c. (e-blackboard)
2- D. Nicholas, The Economy in: The Central Middle Ages (e-blackboard)
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*J.H. Mundy, Foundation, Growth and Organization, in: Europe in the High Middle Ages (eblackboard)
March 31th - *April 2nd, 2009: A Century of Calamities (14th c )I: The Great Famine; The
Hundred Years War, 1337-1453
Readings:
1- Document: Froissart’s Chronicle (Geary)
2- J. Riddle: Chap. 13, p. 371-398; Cap. 15, p. 448-451
*W.C. Jordan, ‘A Calamity Unheard-of Among the Living Men’, in: The Great Famine. Northern
Europe in the Early Fourteenth Century, 1996 (e-blackboard)
April 7th-9th, 2009: A Century of Calamities (14th c) II: Popular Unrest & The Black Death:
Readings:
1- Document: Boccaccio’s Decameron (e-blackboard)
2- R.W. Winks and T.F. Ruiz, The Late Medieval Crisis and the Transition to the Early Modern
Period, in: Medieval Europe and the World (e-blackboard)
April 14th -16th, 2009: The Avignon Papacy 1309-1377, the Great Schism (1377-1418) and
Conciliarism
Readings:
1-Document: Boniface VIII’s Clericis Laicos (1296) (e-blackboard)
2- J.H. Lynch, The Late Medieval Church, in: The Medieval Church (e-blackboard)
BOOKS ON RESERVE at the MacKimmie Library Tower,
ground floor
1. Barraclough, G. The Medieval Papacy, 1968.
2. Blumenthal, U.-R. The Investiture Controversy. Church and Monarchy from the
Ninth to the Twelfth Century, 1988.
3. Charles-Edward, T.M., After Rome (449-1066 Great Britain), 2003
4. Cohn, S.K., Popular Protest in Late Medieval Europe: Italy, France and Flanders, 2004
5. Contamine, Ph. War in the Middle Ages, 1984.
6. Ganshof, F.-L. Feudalism, 3rd ed. 1996.
7. Given, J. Inquisition and Medieval Society: Power, Discipline and Resistance in
Languedoc, 1997
8. Hollister, W. The Making of England, 1983
9. Lawrence, C.H. Medieval Monasticism, 3e ed. 2001.
10. Lynch, D., The Medieval Church. A Brief History, 1992
11. MacMullen, R. Christianity and Paganism in the Fourth to the Eighth Centuries, 1997.
12. McCormick, Michael. Origins of the European Economy, 300-900, Cambridge, 2001
13. McKitterick, R. Carolingian Culture: Emulation and Innovation, 1994.
14. Nelson, J. The Frankish World, 750-900, 1996.
15. Riley-Smith, J. The Crusades. A Short History, 1987.
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