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

John S. Ott
Department of History
Portland State University
Summer 2008
All material associated with this course page (C) John S. Ott

HST 354U : Medieval Europe, 300-1100
M-TH 1:00-4:00, CH 494

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

Course overview

Drawing upon a combination of primary and secondary historical sources, this course surveys the social, political, intellectual, and above all religious development of continental Europe and the Mediterranean in Late Antiquity through the early Middle Ages, focusing on the interaction and contributions of the three 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 cultural 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 short, primary-source based analytical essays;

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 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 at any point during the quarter.

Map quiz - 15%. Given in class Monday, August 24. | For Map Quiz guidelines click here |

4 reading response essays (1-2 pp. each) - 20% (5% each). Due on the day the reading is discussed in class. | For response essay guidelines click here|

Comparative essay (5-6 pp.) - 45%. Due September 4, in class. | For analytical essay guidelines click here |

Guidelines for all assignments will be posted on-line at the course webpage in advance of assignment due-dates.

Course materials

Required texts are available for sale at the PSU Bookstore.

Paul Edward Dutton, ed., Carolingian Civilization. A Reader, 2d ed. (Ontario: Broadview, 2004);

Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks, trans. Lewis Thorpe (Penguin, 1974);

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

M (8/18) Introduction to course content, mechanics, and themes

Lecture: From minority to favored faith: Christianity in the Roman Empire

T (8/19) Voices of the Later Empire: Emperors, bishops, barbarians | Click here for Study Questions |

Reading:

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

"Latin Panegyrics" (pp. 3-9); Orosius, Histories against the Pagans (pp. 22-40); and Rutilius Namatianus, His Voyage Home (pp. 55-58), all in From Roman to Merovingian Gaul. A Reader, ed. A. C. Murray (CP)

Lecture: The Empire in the Fourth Century

W (8/20) 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)

and

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

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

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

TH (8/21) Myth and history in the Frankish World

Reading:

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, Book I (skim chs. 7-17) and Book II (omit chs. 32-34); Book III, chs. 1-15, 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)

Lecture: The Germanic gentes and ethnogenesis

M (8/24) Islam and continental Europe

Readings:

Olivia Remie Constable, ed., Medieval Iberia: "A Christian Account of the Life of Muhammad"; "Accounts of the Muslim Conquest"; "Eulogius and the Martyrs of Córdoba" (pp. 28-36, 48-55) (CP)

Lecture: The expansion of Islam and early medieval Europe

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III. The Carolingian Empire: renovation and innovation

T (8/25) The Carolingians: Renovatio imperii (Renovation of Empire) | Click here for Study Questions |

Readings:

Carolingian Civilization,"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. 12-49, 66-78); Carolingian Civilization: "Dhuoda's Advice to Her Son" (pp. 336-44);

And choose one of the following, on E-reserve unless otherwise noted:

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

Jo Ann McNamara and Suzanne Wemple, "The Power of Women through the Family, 500-1100," in Women and Power in the Middle Ages, ed. M. Erler and M. Kowaleski (Georgia, 1988), 83-101 (See instructor);

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

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 (See instructor);

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

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

W (8/26) Charlemagne's Century and After

Readings:

Carolingian Civilization: “Five Poems of Alcuin” (pp. 136-39); “Alcuin’s Dialogue with Young Prince Pepin” (pp. 139-146); “Freculf Dedicates His Book” (pp. 355-56); “Gottschalk and the Predestination Controversy” (pp. 360-64); “Popular and Learned Beliefs: Two Specimens” (pp. 365-71); “Ratramnus and the Dog-Headed Humans” (pp. 452-55)

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

Readings:

Carolingian Civilization: "Thegan's Life of Louis" (pp. 159-176); "The Ordinatio Imperii of 817" (pp. 199-203); "The Vision of the Poor Woman of Laon" (pp. 203-204); "The Astronomer's Account of the Rebellions" (pp. 256-65); "The Final Days and Death of Louis the Pious" (by the Astronomer) (pp. 334-36)

Review: Treaty of Verdun and Division of Europe (Ott); Carolingian Civilization, "The Treaty of Verdun (843)" (pp. 334-36)

Lecture: Late Carolingian Francia

TH (8/29) The Ottonian tenth century; rough order | Click here for Study Questions |

Readings:

Carolingian Civilization, "The Annals of Xanten" (pp. 347-50); "The Annals of Saint-Vaast" (pp. 507-512); "Abbo's Account of the Siege of Paris" (pp. 514-16); "The Wandering Monks of Saint-Philibert" (pp. 468-71); "A Judicial Dispute in the Loire Valley" (pp. 479-81);

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

Liudprand of Cremona, Embassy to Constantinople (On-line: www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/liudprand1.html);

Lecture: The Invasions and Migrations of the Tenth Century and the Ottonian Empire

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V. Daily Life in the Early Middle Ages

M (9/1) -- NO CLASS: LABOR DAY

T (9/2) Lords and Peasants in 'Feudal' Society | Click here for Study Questions |

Readings:

Carolingian Civilization, "The Polyptique of Saint-Germain-des-Prés" (pp. 207-214); "The Polyptique of the Church of Marseilles" (pp. 214-220); "Agobard of Lyons and the Popular Belief in Weather Magic" (pp. 220-223); "Of Bread and Provisions" (pp. 223-229); "St. Riquier (Centula): Its Precious Goods" (pp. 250-251);

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

Rodulfus Glaber, Histories, Book IV (CP);

Three documents concerning the Peace and Truce of God: "Synod of Charroux, 989," and "The Peace-Pact of Drogo and Baldwin", and "The Letter of Raimbaud, Archbishop of Arles (On-line at: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pc-of-god.html and http://www.web.pdx.edu/~ott/drogopeace/index.html) and 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

W (9/3) Voices of dissent and reform

Readings:

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

"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)

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

TH (9/4) 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://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv11.htm; (2) Letter of Pope Gregory to Henry IV (December 1075) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv01.htm; (3) Henry IV's re[;y tp Gregory VII (January 1076) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv02.htm; (4) Gregory VII's anathematization of Henry IV (February 1076) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv04.htm; (5) Gregory's letter concerning Henry IV's penance at Canossa (1077) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv08.htm; (6) Henry's decree from the Synod of Brixen (June 1080) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv13.htm; (7) Pope Gregory's Letter to Bishop Hermann of Metz (March 1081) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/inv14.htm

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

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