Guidelines -- papers
- Undergraduate papers should be roughly five (5) pages long and
include
a bibliography. Papers may be slightly longer but should not exceed 7
pages. They should be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font,
with paper margins of 1-1.5 inches. Bibliography/works cited page
should
be formatted in Chicago, MLA, or APA style.
- Papers must utilize a minimum of five (5) sources (grad
students should use seven) external to the course syllabus. Of these
five, at least
one must be a tertiary source of some kind. Tertiary sources may
include
but are not limited to academic encyclopedias and reference
works,
such as handbooks/companion collections of essays, etc. (print or
on-line are both fine). The remaining sourcesr may include
both primary and secondary sources, but a paper such as this will
generally
depend heavily on secondary and/or tertiary source material.
- Each student should focus on a different town; in cases where
more than
one student is interested in a particular town, a fair means to resolve
the
shared interest will be determined.
- Papers should not produce arguments so much as summarize known
and reliable research; the tone should be informed/authoritative, much
as an encyclopedia article. You are the expert.
- Papers should be submitted on the day of your class
presentation.
Guidelines -- presentations
- Students should present a brief summary of their research
report findings
to the class. The absolute time limit will be 6
minutes.
In their presentations, students should briefly indicate their reasons
for choosing
the city they did; offer an overview of the city's Roman, late antique,
and/or
medieval history, and indicate its significance in the Middle Ages;
note
important or significant milestones or setbacks in urban development,
including
the destruction/construction of noteworthy buildings (churches, town
halls,
wall circuits, royal or private residences, and perhaps other features)
and
division of urban space, indicating places like markets, neighborhoods,
and
geographic features such as rivers or other watercourses, bridges,
topography,
and the like. Commerical/economic significance, political or religious
significance, etc., should be noted where suitable.
- Presentations ideally will make use of powerpoint or other
visual aids; slide presentations should be limited.
Assignment
(1) Pick a town located somewhere in western Eurasia. Obviously, larger
towns will,
as a rule, have more written on them, but if you are interested in a
smaller
provincial city or town, this may be worth exploring. I am fine with
reports on any urban settlement essentially west of a line running
north-south from Moscow to Baghdad.
(2) Identify at least five sources (one tertiary) describing the city's
history
and development. You may cover the period from c. 300-1500. You do NOT
have to cover the entire period in your paper, but you may if you wish.
In some cases, cities only emerge at later dates or become significant
later; this is perfectly acceptable.
(3) Following the guidelines above, indicate the importance or
significance
of the city historically (why/when/how was it established? why did it
last?); some milestones in its historical development (highs and lows),
principal
features, both topographical and geographical; its place in politics,
the economy, religious life, or cultural/material production. Questions
you may consider: What
was produced there and by whom? What laws bound the citizens to one
another?
What political institutions did it possess?
(4) Produce a research summary/write-up; rationalize what you are
covering
or giving attention to, and why.