John S. Ott
Dept. of History
Portland State University
Summer 2010
(c) John Ott - all linked pages
HST
407/507 :
The Medieval Church and Reform,
950-1150
(M-TH, 1:00-3:20 CH 494)
Course
description
This seminar focuses on the pivotal period in European history of
900-1150 C.E.,
a time when the medieval papacy experienced rapid institutional growth,
expanding social and religious influence, and sharp resistance to its
authority. The outcome of the struggles at all levels of society
over the "natural" order of the world and its authorities and the
proper conduct of Christian
clergy was a dramatic, though not fully
effected, separation of secular and ecclesiastical power—or, in
shorthand, the separation of “Church” from “State”--with the papacy
asserting its ascendancy over (lesser) secular authority. The
implications of this process for European (and, ultimately, American)
history were far-ranging. As students explore, formulate,
and finally write the long bibliographic essay which will be the
centerpiece
of the course, we will simultaneously consider the following topics:
the
fight over clerical celibacy, simony, and investiture; notions of
clerical
purity; the meaning and agendas of "reform" from both secular and
ecclesiastical perspectives;
medieval
ideologies of power and rulership; the laity, lay activism, and
religious reform.
Course
structure
This class will not include a lecture component in any formal sense;
thus, it is highly recommended that students only take this class if
they have
had HST 300, HST 101, HST 354, or HST 355, or other upper-division
coursework in medieval history. In other words, some background
to the period
and basic context of medieval history will probably be essential to
student
success in most cases. The reading load is essentially that of a
10-week
course, compressed into less than four weeks. Be aware that the
demands
on students’ time will be correspondingly quite high. It is not recommended that
students be enrolled in another course simultaneously.
Course materials
Students are required to obtain the following books, either from the
PSU Bookstore or elsewhere. Also note that the course will make
heavy use
of
materials on E-reserve and
in various
full-text databases subscribed to by PSU.
- A Warrior Bishop of the
Twelfth Century. The Deeds of Albero of Trier, by Balderich,
trans. Brian A. Pavlac (Toronto: PIMS, 2008)
- Imperial Lives and Letters of the Eleventh Century,
trans. T. E. Mommsen and K. F. Morrison (Columbia University Press,
1962/2002)
- Uta-Renate Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy. Church
and Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century (University of
Pennsylvania Press, 1988)
Student
evaluation
Students will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Preparation for and active participation in class discussion –
30%. As this is a small group seminar/topics course, it is
imperative
that students come prepared to each class and actively contribute to
class
discussions and group work. Any student with two or more
unexcused
absences will fail the course. Please note: Excellent attendance
without
oral participation will usually be assessed a grade of “C.”
Please note: excellent
attendance without oral participation will usually be assessed a grade
of “C-”
or lower.
- Preliminary source analysis paper (ca. 3-5 pp.) -- 15%. Due
Monday August 2. See link below for guidelines.
- Critical source analysis research paper – 55%. Due by 5:00,
Friday
August 13, in my office. | Click here for guidelines |
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.
Remember, ignorance is no excuse. 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.
I consider as plagiarism work submitted for other courses and
turned into me as original, and will ask students to submit new,
original work.
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).
Syllabus
Monday, July 19 – Introduction to course themes and overview of
research agendas and resources at PSU
Lecture: The Idea
and Realities of Reform in Medieval Religious History
Tuesday, July 20 – Roots of rule, reform, and controversy
Readings
********************
I. Power and Authority in the German Empire
Wednesday, July 21 - Foundations of an “imperial” Church: the Ottonians
Readings
- Emperor Otto I, Decrees of the Assembly at Augsburg,
trans. W. L. North (E-Reserve)
- Liudprand of Cremona, A Chronicle of Otto’s Reign, in
The Embassy to Constantinople
and Other Writings, trans. J. J. Norwich (See instructor)
- Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, ch. 2 (pp.
28-45)
Thursday, July 22 – Ottonian Government in Action
Readings
- The Life of Burchard,
bishop of Worms (1025), trans. W. L.
North (On-line at: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1025burchard-vita.html)
- Timonthy Reuter, “The ‘Imperial Church System’ of the
Ottonian and Salian Rulers: A Reconsideration,” Journal of
Ecclesiastical History 33:3 (July 1982), 347-74 (E-Reserve)
Monday, July 26 – The Salian emperors
Readings
- Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, ch. 2 (pp.
45-58)
- Wipo, The Deeds of Conrad II, in Imperial Lives
and
Letters, pp. 42-44, 52-100
********************
II. The First Phases of Reform
Tuesday, July 27 – The cloister’s gaze upon the saeculum
Readings
- Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, ch. 3 (pp.
64-70)
- Foundation Charter of Cluny (910) (On-line at: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chart-cluny.html
- Peter Damian, Life of Saint Romuald of Ravenna,
trans. Henrietta Leyser, in Medieval Hagiography: An Anthology,
ed. Thomas Head (pp. 295-316) (See
instructor)
- Jean-François Lemarignier, “Political and Monastic
Structures in France at the End of the Tenth and the Beginning of the
Eleventh Century,” in Lordship and Community in Medieval Europe.
Selected Readings,
ed. Fredric L. Cheyette (New York, 1968),
pp. 100-27 (See instructor)
Wednesday, July 28 – The reform of clerical mores: celibacy
Readings
- Peter Damian, Letter to Pope Nicholas II (no. 61) (See instructor)
- Letters of the clergy of Cambrai and Noyon, trans. J. S. Ott
(On-line
at: http://www.web.pdx.edu/~ott/hst407Church/letter/index.html)
- Paul Beaudette, “’In the World but not of It”: Clerical
Celibacy as a Symbol of the Medieval Church,” in Medieval Purity
and Piety. Essays on Medieval Clerical Celibacy and Religious Reform,
ed. Michael Frassetto (Garland, 1998), 23-46 (See instructor)
Thursday, July 29 – The reform of clerical customs: simony
Readings
Monday, August 2 – The Pataria of Milan and the laity’s call for reform
Readings
- Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, ch. 3 (pp.
84-98)
- Arnulf of Milan, The Book of Recent Deeds, books 2-4,
trans. W. L. North (On-line at: http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/MARS/Arnulf.pdf)
- R. I. Moore, “Family, Community and Cult on the Eve of the
Gregorian Reform,” Transactions of the Royal Historical Society,
5th ser.,
30 (1980): 49-69 (E-Reserve)
SOURCE ANALYSIS ESSAY DUE, IN CLASS
********************
III. Gregory VII, Henry IV, and Christendom
Tuesday, August 3 – The Papacy of Gregory VII and rule of Henry IV:
opening salvos (through March 1075)
Readings
- Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, ch. 4 (pp.
106-127)
- The Papal Election Decree of 1059 (On-line at: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/papalel.asp)
- The Letters of Henry IV,
nos. 2-9, in Imperial Lives and
Letters, pp. 139-145
- The Letters of Gregory VII,
1.1*, 1.1, 1.11, 1.60, 2.31, 2.49,
2.69; EV nos. 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11 (See instructor)
- Gregory VII, "Dictatus papae" [The Dictate of the Pope]
(2.55a; March 1075, not
1090 as stated at the site) (On-line at:
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv11.asp)
Wednesday, August 4 – Gregory and the Bishops: Polemics and realities
Readings
- Letters from German bishops, trans. W. L. North (all on
E-Reserve)
- (1) Letter to Hezilo, bishop of Hildesheim, by Liemar,
archbishop of Bremen
- (2) Letter to Pope Gregory VII by Udo, bishop of Trier
- (3) Egilbert, bishop of Trier, to his fellow bishops
- Arnulf of Milan, The Book of Recent Deeds, book 5, trans. W.
L. North (see above: Monday August 2,
for link)
- I. S. Robinson, “’Periculosus Homo’: Pope Gregory VII and
Episcopal Authority,” Viator 9 (1978): 103-131 (E-Reserve)
- Werner Goez, “Ecclesiastical Reform - Gregorian Reform,” in Studi
Gregoriani 13 (1989), 167-78, trans. W. L. North (E-Reserve)
Thursday, August 5 – Gregory VII and Henry IV: the dispute radicalizes
Readings
- The Letters of Henry IV,
nos. 10-17, in Imperial Lives
and Letters (pp. 145-165)
- The Letters of Gregory VII,
nos. 3.10a, 4.12, 4.12a, 7.14a, 8.21 (See
instructor) [NOTE: If
you are interested in reading the letters of Henry and Gregory
chronologically, refer to course syllabus for order]
- Meeting at Canossa, documents trans. W.L. North (E-Reserve)
- (1) Lampert of Hersfeld, Annals (1077)
- (2) Berthold of Reichenau, Annals (1077)
- Benzo of Alba, Ad Henricum
("To Henry [IV]") (See instructor)
Monday, August 9 – NO CLASS
Tuesday, August 10 – In Gregory’s Wake: Church, Empire, and difficult
compromise
Readings
- Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, ch. 5 (pp.
135-142, 167-173)
- Anonymous, An Altercation between Urban and Clement,
trans. W. L. North (E-Reserve);
- Anonymous, The Life of
Emperor Henry IV, in Imperial Lives and Letters, pp.
101-137;
- A Warrior Bishop of the
Twelfth Century, trans. Pavlac, pp. 27-36 (with attention to pp.
33-35, where the first privilege of Paschal II [February 1111] is given;
- The second privilege of Pope Paschal II (April,
1111) (On-line at: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv15.asp)
- “The Concordat of Worms, 1122” (On-line at: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/inv16.asp)
********************
IV. Other visions
Wednesday, August 11 - The laity’s reform of the church
Readings
- John Howe, “The Nobility’s Reform of the Medieval Church,” The
American Historical Review 93:2 (April 1988): 317-39 (Available
on J-Stor);
- A Warrior Bishop of
the Twelfth Century. The
Deeds of Albero of Trier,
by Balderich
(finish book)
Thursday, August 12 – Final class (normally scheduled examination
period)
Reading
- John Van Engen, “The Future of Medieval Church History,” Church
History 71:3 (September 2002): 492-522 (E-Reserve)
****FINAL
PAPERS DUE BY 5:00, FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, IN
MY OFFICE****