http://www.web.pdx.edu/~ott/hst354/index.html

John S. Ott
Department of History
Portland State University
Fall 2011
All material associated with this course page (C) John S. Ott

HST 354U : Medieval Europe, 300-1100
T, TH 10:00-11:50, ASRC 220

Office: Cramer Hall 441M
Office hours: By appt. only; e-mail to set up
Telephone: 503.725.3013
E-mail: ott@pdx.edu

Course overview

Drawing upon a combination of primary and secondary historical sources, this course surveys the social, political, intellectual, and religious development of western continental Europe and the Mediterranean from Late Antiquity through the early Middle Ages, focusing on the interaction and contributions of the three principal cultures--Roman, Judeo-Christian, and Germanic--that shaped it. We will proceed chronologically and thematically, exploring both historical and historiographical issues and debates, to understand how the pluralistic and polytheistic cultures of the Roman empire gradually embraced monotheism and laid the foundations for modern Europe.

Course objectives

To gain a reasonably broad and deep content knowledge of early medieval history;

To develop and cultivate proficiency at reading texts critically and historically;

To develop student source analysis and writing skills through a short, primary-source based analytical essay;

To begin mastering basic analytical and critical skills for reading and assessing secondary source materials and historiographical developments in a field of study;

To enhance communication skills through regular class discussion of the sources.

Course evaluation

You will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Regular attendance and participation in class discussions - 20%. I consider active participation a critical component to every class I teach. Please note that excellent attendance without oral participation will usually be assessed a final grade of "C." Weak attendance with little or no participation will be assessed a grade of "C-" or lower. As part of your participation grade, I reserve the right to conduct random pop quizzes of the assigned reading and lecture material, along with in-class writing assignments, at any point during the quarter.

Map quiz - 15%. Given in class Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Short, analytical mid-term essay (about 4 pp.) - 25%. Due Thursday, October 20, in class.

Final exam - 40%. Essay/short answer format.

Course materials

Required texts are available for sale at the PSU Bookstore and Clean Copy.

Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks, trans. Lewis Thorpe (Penguin, 1974). A copy is on reserve at Millar Library.

Early Medieval Europe Primary Source Reader (blue cover -- University of Toronto Press, 2011). One copy is on reserve at Millar Library.

A Course Packet (CP), available for sale at Clean Copy on SW Broadway, across from Cramer Hall. One copy of the Course Packet will also be put on reserve (OR) at Millar Library.

All readings are required unless otherwise noted. Also, please note that several of our readings this quarter are available on-line (at the URLs below).

Plagiarism policy

Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional, is an intolerable infraction in any setting where ideas are exchanged and discussed. I routinely uncover plagiarized papers each year. Detecting plagiarism is extremely easy. Papers that can be shown to have been plagiarized will automatically receive an “F” grade. Students will be required to resubmit their papers, and will be deducted in their grade an amount appropriate to the late paper policy given in the assignment guidelines. Repeated or particularly egregious offenses may be the cause for additional action. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, you may test yourself at this web site maintained by Indiana University: http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/plagiarism_test.html. Remember, ignorance is no excuse.

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities who need additional consideration for the timely completion of any of the course requirements should speak to the instructor at the beginning of the term, and must be registered with PSU’s Disability Resource Center (drc@pdx.edu).

E-mail policy

E-mail is a superb tool by which students may communicate with the course instructor about questions concerning the course material, content, and assignments. It is especially useful for providing feedback to student ideas and for commenting on student theses or paper topics. But please bear in mind the following:

E-mail is not ideal for urgent matters. I consider 48-72 hours to be a reasonable period in which to respond to inquiries. I am usually much faster than this, but not always.

I will not, in general, respond to student e-mails received after 5:00 p.m. until the following day(s), nor will I generally respond to student e-mail sent after 5:00 on Friday until Monday morning. Please plan accordingly.

Please remember to identify yourself and state your query as clearly as possible.

I will not fill in students who miss class on the details of a particular lecture or discussion. Please seek that information from your fellow students.

Syllabus

I. Transitions and definitions: From pagan to Christian, Late Antique to Early Medieval

T (9/27) Introduction to course content, mechanics, and themes

Lecture: Christianity and the Empire: emergence, spread, and setbacks

TH (9/ 29) Pagans and Christians: Shared culture, multiple religions

Reading

Celsus, On the True Doctrine (pp. 53-54, 91-105, 115-26) (E-reserve)

T (10/4) Voices of the Later Empire: Emperors, bishops, barbarians | Reading Questions |

Reading:

Early Medieval Europe Reader: "Latin Panegyrics"; Orosius, Histories against the Pagans; and Rutilius Namatianus, His Voyage Home (pp. 1-30)

Lecture: The Empire in the Fourth Century

TH (10/6) The challenge of the early church: The many paths of orthodoxy

Readings:

Athanasius, Life of St. Antony (On-line: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-antony.html) (Read chaps. 1-24, 46-47, 51-52, 68-finish; you may skip the introductory matter, in italics)

and

Sulpicius Severus, Life of St. Martin (On-line: http://www.users.csbsju.edu/~eknuth/npnf2-11/sulpitiu/lifeofst.html#tp) (read all)

Lecture: The growth and transformations of Early Christendom: Defining "authentic" Christianity

T (10/11) The 'fall/fail' of Rome: collapse, devolution, mutation?

Readings

The Rule of St. Benedict (ca. 530) (On-line: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/rul-benedict.html)

And choose one of the following (both on E-Reserve)

H.A. Drake, "Lambs into Lions: Explaining Early Christian Intolernace," Past and Present 153 (November 1996): 3-36

Chris Wickham, "The Other Transition: From the Ancient World to Feudalism," Past and Present 103 (1984): 3-36

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II. Identity formation and ethnic plurality : Barbarian polities and rise of Islam

TH (10/13) Myth and history in the Frankish World |Reading Questions |

Reading:

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, Book I (skim chs. 7-17) and Book II (omit chs. 32-34)

Lecture: The Germanic gentes and ethnogenesis

T (10/18) The Franks

Reading:

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, Book III, chs. 1-14, 18, 31 (pp. 161-75, 180-83, 187-89); Book IV, chs. 1-3, 13-21 and 26-31 (pp. 197-98, 207-17, 219-27); Book V, Prologue and chs. 6-11 (pp. 253-54, 263-67); Book VI, chs. 5, 40 (pp. 329-33, 371-74); Book IX, chs. 38-43 (pp. 524-39)

TH (10/20) Islam and continental Europe

Readings:

Olivia Remie Constable, ed., Medieval Iberia: "Accounts of the Muslim Conquest"; "A Muslim-Christian Treatyu"; "Christian Resistance in the North" (pp. 28-42) (CP)

Lecture: The expansion of Islam and early medieval Europe

ESSAY #1 DUE, IN CLASS

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III. The Carolingian Empire: renovation and innovation

T (10/25) The Carolingians: Renovatio imperii (Renovation of Empire)

Readings:

Early Medieval Europe Reader,"The Elevation of Pepin the Short"; "The Reanointing of Pepin in 754"; "The Donation of Constantine"; "Pope Stephen Scolds Charlemagne"; "Einhard's Life of Charlemagne"; "The Capitulary on the Saxon Territories"; "The General Capitulary for the Missi from 802" (pp. 31-80)

Lecture: The Carolingian Rise to Power, or How to Rule the World in Eight Easy Steps

TH (10/27) Avenues of Power in Carolingian Francia

Readings

Early Medieval Europe Reader, "Dhuoda's Advice to Her Son" (pp. 81-89)

And choose one of the following, on families, kin, gender (all on E-reserve unless otherwise noted):

Gerd Althoff, "Kin-groups," Ch. 2 in Family, Friends, and Followers (Cambridge, 2004), 23-64;

Julia H. M. Smith, "Men and Women," Ch. 4 in Europe after Rome: A New Cultural History, 500-1000 (Oxford, 2005), pp. 115-147

And one of these (on aspects of war):

Timothy Reuter, "Plunder and Tribute in the Carolingian Empire," Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 5th ser., 35 (1985): 75-94;

Regine Le Jan, "Frankish Giving of Arms and Rituals of Power: Continuity and Change in the Carolingian Period," in Rituals of Power. From Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages, ed. F. Theuws and J. Nelson (Leiden, 2000), 281-309;

Adam Kosto, "Hostages in the Carolingian World (714-840)," Early Medieval Europe 11:2 (2002): 123-147 (On-line at Academic Search Premier/Ebsco Host, PSU Database)

T (11/1) Learning and Belief in the Ninth Century

Readings:

Early Medieval Europe Reader: “Five Poems of Alcuin”; “Alcuin’s Dialogue with Young Prince Pepin”; “Freculf Dedicates His Book”; “Gottschalk and the Predestination Controversy”; “Popular and Learned Beliefs: Two Specimens”; “Ratramnus and the Dog-Headed Humans” (pp. 90-118)

Lecture : Education and Learning in the Carolingian World

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IV. Order and ritual in a stateless society : the consolidation and reorganization of power

TH (11/3) After Charlemagne: A divided society

Readings:

Early Medieval Europe Reader: "Thegan's Life of Louis"; "The Ordinatio Imperii of 817"; "The Vision of the Poor Woman of Laon"; "The Astronomer's Account of the Rebellions"; "The Final Days and Death of Louis the Pious" (by the Astronomer) (pp. 119-156)

Review: Early Medieval Europe Reader, "The Treaty of Verdun (843)" (pp. 157-58)

Lecture: Later Carolingian Francia

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V. Daily Life in the Early Middle Ages

T (11/8) Order and disorder: The devolution of royal authority in the tenth century | Reading Questions |

Readings:

Early Medieval Europe Reader, "The Annals of Xanten; "The Annals of Saint-Vaast"; "Abbo's Account of the Siege of Paris"; "The Wandering Monks of Saint-Philibert"; "A Judicial Dispute in the Loire Valley" (pp. 160-179);

Heinrich Fichtenau, Living in the Tenth Century, chs. 2-3 (pp. 30-77) (CP);

Lecture: The Invasions and Migrations of the Tenth Century

TH (11/10) The bonds of peasant society | Reading Questions |

Readings:

Carolingian Civilization, "The Polyptique of Saint-Germain-des-Prés"; "The Polyptique of the Church of Marseilles"; "Agobard of Lyons and the Popular Belief in Weather Magic"; "Of Bread and Provisions"; "St. Riquier (Centula): Its Precious Goods" (pp. 180-204);

Jean-Pierre Devroey, “The economy,” in Early Medieval Europe, 400-1000, ed. R. McKitterick, pp. 97-129 (CP)

Lecture: The "F"-word: feudalism

T (11/15) Charlemagne's Heirs: The Ottonians and Byzantium

Readings

Liudprand of Cremona, Embassy to Constantinople (On-line at: http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/liudprand1.asp)

Lecture: The Ottonians and Early Salians

TH (11/17) Millennial anxieties and the struggle for peace

Readings

Rodulfus Glaber, Histories, Book IV (CP);

Raimbaud, archbishop of Arles, "Letter to the Clergy of Italy concerning the Truce of God" (http://web.pdx.edu/~ott/arlespeace/index.html)

Lecture: The "F"-word: feudalism

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VI. Negotiating authority: the beginning of ecclesiastical reform

T (11/22) Sacral monarchy and the recovery of royal authority

Reading:

Helgaud of Fleury, A Brief Life of King Rotbert the Pious, trans. P. Buc (E-reserve)

Lecture: The Slow Restoration of Monarchic Authority in Western Francia and the beginnings of ecclesiastical reform

TH (11/24) NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING OBSERVED

T (11/29) Voices of dissent and reform

Readings

"The Synod of Orléans, 1022," in The Birth of Popular Heresy, trans. R. I. Moore (CP);

Arnulf of Milan, The Book of Recent Deeds, trans. William North (On-line at: http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/MARS/Arnulf.pdf): read Book III and Book IV, chaps. 11-13 = PDF Format pages 26-43 and 49-51)

TH (12/1) The widening rift between pope and emperor

Readings:

Letters and documents of Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV (all on-line at):

(1) The "Dictatus Papae" of Gregory VII (March 1075) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv11.asp;

(2) Letter of Pope Gregory to Henry IV (December 1075) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv01.asp;

(3) Henry IV's re[;y tp Gregory VII (January 1076) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv02.asp;

(4) Gregory VII's anathematization of Henry IV (February 1076) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv04.asp;

(5) Gregory's letter concerning Henry IV's penance at Canossa (1077) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv08.asp;

(6) Henry's decree from the Synod of Brixen (June 1080) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv13.asp;

(7) Pope Gregory's Letter to Bishop Hermann of Metz (March 1081) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv14.asp

and

The Life of Henry IV, in Lives and Letters of Eleventh-century Emperors, trans. T. E. Mommsen and K. F. Morrison, pp. 101-120 (CP)

Lecture: Gregory VII, Henry IV, and the question of world order