Dr. W. Turner
Medieval Europe
(HIST 4950)
updated 2004
Please notice quickly that the phrase ‘Middle Ages' is a noun and the name of a particular period in history. The term ‘medieval' is an adjective that describes this time. Middle Ages is almost always capitalized; it is a proper name. Medieval is not a name and, therefore, not capitalized. (Well, okay, it was in that sentence because it was the first word of the sentence.)
We will read primary sources in translation to get a feel for how these people thought about their world. These texts, along with your textbook, will illuminate a period that once was thought ‘dark,' and, I think you will find, it is not. Far from it, this period is key not only to our superstitions, but also our science, medicine, art, family structures, foods, and all sorts of other things.
Certainly the Middle Ages still captures the imagination today. With its kings, queens, castles, and knights; peasants, plagues, magic, and alchemy, inquisitions, saints, sinners, and crusaders, the Middle Ages continues to be the ‘stuff' of legends.
The
Books:
John M. Riddle, A History of the Middle Ages 300-1500 , Rowman & Littlefield, 2008.
Einhard and Notker the Stammerer, The
Two Lives of Charlemagne, ed. Thorpe, London: 1969.
Robert Harrison, ed., The Song of Roland,
New York: 1970.
Paul B. Newman , Daily Life in the Middle Ages , Jefferson, North Carolina; London: 2001.
Brian Tierney, The Middle Ages: Volumen I: Sources of Medieval History, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999.
Other readings will be handed out in class.
Each assignment is worth 100 points. There are nine assignments for a total of 900 points, plus 100 points for attendance and participation, so = there are 1000 points total.
Papers:
Your papers must have one-inch margins, no spaces between paragraphs, numbered footnotes or endnotes, and be double-spaced. Your paper must be your own work. You should have a cover sheet with your name, my name, the course (“Medieval Europe”) and title of the paper. If I find that you have copied any part (even one phrase) from a published work, you will receive a failing grade. You can, of course, quote and site to your heart's content, just give the author credit with a citation. You must include a bibliography and notes for each paper using Chicago Manual of Style, Turabian (same), or British standard. Copies of Kate Turabian's manual are available in any bookstore. Except for the first paper, you must include at least 2 books and 1 scholarly article for each assignment that is not part of our course materials. You are encouraged to as many sources as you need beyond these.
1. Early Middle Ages : Charlemagne Paper. 8-10 pages 
This paper is based on three primary sources in traslation: Einhard's Life of Charlemagne , Notker the Stammerer's Charlemagne (both in the Two Lives book) and The Song of Roland . Compare the three views of Charlemagne both historically and substantively. In other words, look at when, why, and how each ‘historian' wrote of Charlemagne and compare their results. What do these results tell us about the people writing? About their goals for writing? About Charlemagne?
2. High Middle Ages : Sports and Games Paper. 8-10 pages
Whether people lived in castles or villages, there was no television, video games, or inter-net in the Middle Ages. What did people do for fun? Or, did they never have fun? Support your answer with primary sources.
3. Late Middle Ages : Black Death Paper. 8-10 pages
Choose a community—peasant, noble, ecclesiastical, etc; it can be a general or specific as you would like—and explain how they were affected by the plague. How were their lives changed? How many of their community died?
Quizzes:
There are three quizzes, one for each section of the class. The last will be on the last day of class. There is no final exam, only the final paper.
Oral Group Presentations:
Each ‘presenter' will get their own grade, but the group will present in concert. There are three of these as well. Please do not miss the day of your group. This is not only difficult for the group and you, but for the rest of the class as well.
Class
Schedule:
(Subject to change)
EM = Early Medieval; HM = High Medieval; LM = Late Medieval
August
18 – intro; overview
20 – EM Ecclesiastical Communities
25 – EM Ecclesiastical Communities
27 – EM Noble Communities
September
1 – EM Noble Communities
3 – EM Peasant Communities
8 – School is Closed
10 – EM Peasant Communities
15 – EM Quiz
17 – HM Ecclesiastical Communities
22 – HM Ecclesiastical Communities
24 – HM Noble Communities
29 – HM Noble Communities
October
1 – HM Peasant Communities
6 – HM Peasant Communities
8 – HM Quiz
13 –M Oral Reports
15 –M Oral Reports
20 – No Class
22 – No Class
27 – M Oral Reports
29 – M Oral Reports
November
3 – M Oral Reports
5 – LM Ecclesiastical Communities (Guy Fawkes Day)
10 – LM Ecclesiastical Communities
12 – LM Noble Communities
17 – LM Noble Communities
19 – LM Peasant Communities
24 – No Class
26 – No School (Thanksgiving)
December
1 – LM Peasant Communities
3 – LM Quiz
