John S. Ott
Dept. of History
Portland State University
Winter 2017
(c) John Ott - all linked pages (2010, 2013, 2017)
HST 491/591 :
The Medieval Church and Reform, 900-1150
Part One (Winter): c.900-c.1088 / Part Two (Spring): c. 1088-c.1150
 (T, TH, 2:00-3:50 CH 448)

MAIN SYLLABUS UPDATED AS OF 2/3/2017


Course description

This seminar focuses on the pivotal period in European history of 900-1200 C.E., a time when the medieval papacy and local churches experienced rapid institutional growth, expanding social and religious influence, and at times sharp resistance to its authority.  The institutional growth was met by similarly transformational impulses in lay religious behavior in local communities. The struggles conducted at all levels of society over conceptualizing the proper social, political, and religious order within a divinely created world, and with it the proper conduct and place of Christian clergy and laity, led to a dramatic, though not fully effected, redefinition of secular and ecclesiastical power—in shorthand, what has sometimes been dubbed a separation of “Church” from “State.”  Resistance to papal institutional expansion, when it appeared, was often led by Europe's monarchs, especially the kings of Germany, who, since the ninth century, had regularly been crowned in Rome as emperors. The implications of these events for European history were far-ranging.  Topics covered in this class include: the attempt to modify clerical behaviors, above all related to sex/marriage, entrance into office, and investiture by lay powers; the multiforms meanings and agendas of "reform" from both secular and ecclesiastical perspectives; medieval ideologies of power and sacral rulership; the changing roles of the laity and lay activism in transforming religious life.  This course has as its principal objective to prepare students to write a research paper in anticipation of taking the seminar (HST 492/592) to be offered during Spring term.


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 Course reserves and in various full-text databases subscribed to by PSU.

Student evaluation

Students will be evaluated according to the following criteria:


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.  PSU considers as plagiarism work submitted for other courses and turned in 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

T (1/10) – Introduction to course themes and readings-seminar model

Reading (to be done in advance of class):

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I.  Background and Sources for the Study of Medieval Church Reform

TH (1/19) – Roots of reform: Orientation I (Source assessment : Charters)
Readings
T (1/24) -- The German regnum in the tenth century: Orientation II (Source assessment : Chronicles and annals)

Readings
TH (1/26) -- The eleventh-century church: Orientation III (Source assessment : Canon law collections)

Readings
T (1/31) -- Lay investiture: Orientation IV (Source assessment : Letters and letter collections)

Readings
QUIZ ON POPES AND PRINCES AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS


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II.  Power and Authority in the German Empire

TH (2/2) -- The Ottonians and the 'imperial' church
Readings
T (2/7) – The Salians
Readings
TH (2/9) – The Ottonian episcopate in action
Readings
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III.  The First Phases of Monastic and Papal Reform

T (2/14) -- Reform ideologies before the eleventh century

Readings

PRESENTATIONS OF ORAL PRIMARTY SOURCE REPORTS I

TH (2/16) -- The outward and inward gaze of the monastic cloister

Readings
T (2/21) –  Thurs., Feb. 14 – Prooftexts of papal authority
Readings
PRESENTATIONS OF ORAL PRIMARY SOURCE REPORTS II

TH (2/23) -- Gender, celibacy, and clerical sexuality: the attack on clerical mores

Readings
T (2/28) – Gender, celibacy, and clerical sexuality: the defense of clerical mores

Readings

TH (3/2) -- The reform of clerical and lay custom: simony
Readings
T (3/7) -- The reform of clerical and lay custom: proprietary churches and libertas ecclesiae

Readings
REVIEW OF PERIODICAL ARTICLE DUE, IN CLASS

TH (3/9) – The Pataria of Milan and the laity’s call for reform
Readings
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IV.  Gregory VII and Henry IV

T (3/14) – The Papacy of Gregory VII and rule of Henry IV: opening salvos (through March 1075)
Readings
TH (3/16) – NO CLASS, INSTRUCTOR AT CONFERENCE

M (3/20) -- Looking ahead -- final class meeting and check-in

HISTORIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY DUE WEDNESDAY, 3/22, IN MY OFFICE BY 5:00


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MATERIAL TO BE COVERED NEXT TERM

Gregory and the bishops: Polemics and realities
Readings
Gregory VII and Henry IV: the dispute intensifies
Readings