HISTORY 3345 001:
BIRTH OF EUROPE (37169)
Fall 2020:
MWF 10:00-10:50
Chemistry 25
TEACHER
John Howe
E-mail: john.howe@ttu.edu
Telephone: 834-7544
FAX: 742-1060
Web:
http://myweb.ttu.edu/jhowe
Office: 143 Holden Hall
Office Hours: MW 11:00-12:00 and Th 9:40-10:15 pm, Please
arrange meetings by email.
On-line synchronously on Zoom Wednesdays 2:00-4:00pm
PURPOSES OF THE
COURSE
To survey the development of medieval
Expected Learning Outcomes:
“Students
graduating from
Upon successful completion of History 3345 students will
be able to:
1.
Describe major events and individuals associated with the early medieval Latin
West.
2.
Discuss the documentary foundation that underlies this historical narrative.
3.
Relate the development of the early medieval Latin West to the development of
basic themes of “Western Civilization.”
4. Be
more proficient in the following genres of historical writing: essay
examination and book reviews.
Methods for Assessing the Expected Learning Outcomes:
The
Expected Learning Outcomes of the course will be assessed through:
Required Texts:
Robert Cook (ed.). Njal's Saga (Penguin 2002).
G. Roland
Murphy (ed.), The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel
(Oxford 1992).
Barbara H. Rosenwein, A Short History of the Middle Ages. 5th
ed. (Toronto, 2018).
Also required are documents available on-line. You can "click" to these directly
if you access this syllabus via the internet. Printing these out is recmmended,
because server or network problems can complicate last minute consultations.
Required
Specific reading assignments for each class are listed in the
Class Attendance:
To
complete this course successfully you need to attend class regularly. In
the classroom difficult reading assignments are interpreted, additional subject
matter is introduced, and visual materials are displayed (which are difficult to
comprehend from a friend's notes). Part of the course grade is based on class
participation, and you cannot participate if you are not present.
Examinations:
Midterm tests are scheduled for Friday, September 18, and Monday, October
26.
Each will include
multiple-choice
questions, identification
questions, a single
essay (from two or more choices), and perhaps
map work. If, for good reason, a test is
missed, it may be made up at 2:30 pm on Monday, November 30. Students receiving
a grade below "C" on a regularly scheduled midterm should meet with the teacher
as soon as possible.
The
final examination will feature
multiple-choice
and
identification
questions on the material covered since the
second midterm, and several
essay questions covering the material of
the entire course. Bring
blue books for the final..
Mini-Essays:
Students will
write two short essays (1000-1500 words), each based upon required class
readings: one on "Did Rome Fall?"
due September 16; one on "Was the Tenth Century the End of the Ancient
World or the Start of a New Age?" due
Monday, November 30.
Book Reviews:
Students will
write three two-page
book reviews based upon monographs listed on bibliographies posted on this
Web site. The bibliographies from which these three
reviews will be written deal with the
conversion of Europe to Christianity (due Wednesday September 30),
Carolingian high culture (due Friday October 16), and
post-Carolingian Viking invaders (due Wednesday November 4). One
letter grade will be deducted from late assignments (those not received at the
start of class on the due date). Late assignments will not be accepted beyond
the next class date following the due date.
STATE OF TEXAS MANDATES
Contgingency Statement:
If
Texas Tech University campus operations are required to change because of health
concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that this course will
move to a fully online delivery format. Should that be
necessary, students will be advised of technical and/or equipment requirements,
including remote proctoring software.
Observance of a Religious
Holy Day:
Texas House
Bill 256 requires institutions of higher education to excuse a student from
attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the
observance of a religious holy day. The student shall also be excused for time
necessary to travel. An institution may not penalize the student for the absence
and should allow for the student to take an exam or complete an assignment from
which the student is excused. No prior notification of the instructor is
required.
Necessary Accommodations:
Any student
who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in
order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as
possible so that the necessary accommodations can be made.
Academic Integrity:
"Texas
Tech is committed to creating an exciting university atmosphere that is free of
academic dishonesty. All members of the university community, including faculty,
students, and staff, are upheld to the standard of having integrity in the work
they produce. The standard is for all members of the Texas Tech community to
contribute to the campus environment in an ethical, fun, and honest manner.
Integrity matters because student success matters."
Academic integrity violations are outlined in the Code of Student Conduct,
Part X. B3 of the Student Handbook.
Because we live in an imperfect world, it is sometimes necessary to undergird
ideals with enforcement mechanisms.
be aware that Texas Tech defines
"Academic Misconduct"
and lists specific
Disciplinary Outcomes for Academic Honesty Violations.
COVID 19 ADJUSTMENTS:
At minimum
students are required to conform to all the requirements of Texas Tech
University and of the State of Texas related to student and faculty health
during the Covid 19 pandemic. These
include a mandate that students wear face coverings over mouth and nose, both
during class and while in public spaces in the Chemistry Building. No student
will be allowed in the classroom who is not appropriately wearing a face mask.
There will be assigned seats (this potentially helps if contact tracing is
needed). Students will exit the class row-by-row. All personnel must
maintain social distancing when possible, and follow traffic-flow guidance
related to entering and exiting the building.
If at any
time during this semester you feel ill, in the interest of your own health and
safety as well as the health and safety of your instructors and classmates, you
are encouraged
not
to attend face-to-face class meetings or events.
To
help with such decisions, and with Covid reporting requirements, Texas Tech has
developed a self-screeniing
and Covid reporting platform.
If
face-to-face classes cannot be held safely, further changes may be required.
Texas Tech's priority here is the safety of its students and employees.
Possible adjustments include shifting some or all of instruction on-line.
Students enrolling in this class should have access to the internet and
the ability to participate in on-line meeting programs
scheduled synchronously at the present class time (MWF 10-11).
If examinations cannot be taken in person, test formats may be changed to
conform to what can be equitably and fairly done on-line.
GRADING
The
course grade will be computed as follows: 20% from the two midterm tests (that
is, 10% from each); 30% from the three book reviews (10% from each); 5% from one
optional class presentation of a book; 20% from the two mini-essays (10% from
each); 10% from class participation; and 20% from the final examination. Note
that the optional class presentation is equivalent to extra credit: that is, if
you present a report to the class, the grade components total 105%, but they
equal 100% if you do not.The class participation grade is based on
attendance, class preparation, and class contributions. Students
outstanding in these get class participation credited as an `A'; those average
have the points dropped out (so they neither help nor hurt); those below
acceptable standards have them credited as an `F.'
READING AND
LECTURE SCHEDULE
M Aug 24 Introduction
Rosenwein vi-vii and 2-3; Eurasia; Mediterranean Topography ; Diocletian's Rome ; Empire in 395.
W
Aug 26 The Physical World of
Late Antiquity
[Th Aug 27 Last day for student-initiated course enrollments]
Rosenwein 1-5;
Stages of Roman History;
Diocletian, the
Tetrarchs;
Constantine; colossus
of Barletta
F Aug 28
The Later Roman Empire
M Aug 31 The
Christian Empire
Rosenwein 21-23 ;
Julius
Caesar ;
Tacitus
; Heliand 199-203
W Sept 2
The German "Barbarians"
Rosenwein 23-37 ;
Attila;
Pope Leo I and
Attila ;
Spaghetti Map" of the Wanderings of Peoples
F Sept 4 The Crisis of the Late Empire
[M Sept 7 Labor Day Holiday]
Rosenwein 29-36 and 41-48; Nika Revolt; Justinian; Map 526; Europe in 565
W Sept 9
Byzantium
[W Sept 9 Last day to drop a course without academic
penalty]
Rosenwein
49-54; Is
F Sept 11 Islam
Rosenwein 55-64; Gibbon; Goffart
Write Mini-Essay #1: "Did
Rome Fall?" (use Rosenwein,
Gibbon;
W Sept 16 Discussion: The Fall of Rome? Or Rome's Subtle Triumph?
Study
F Sept 18 Midterm #1
Rosenwein 64; Snyder's "Age of Arthur" ; Introduction to Arthurian Studies. Start the first book review from List #1: Conversion
M Sept 21 Arthur of Britain
Rosenwein 64-69;
Confession
of St. Patrick
;
Bede on
the Conversion of England;;
Anglo-Saxon Map; Continue
with
Book Review #1
Theodoric; Gothic Bible
Project ; Lombard Italy. C
F Sept 25
The Goths & Lombards
Rosenwein 24-26;
Gregory of Tours
on the Soissons Vase;
Gregory
of Tours on the Conversion of Clovis;
Map of Frankish
Dominions;
Childeric's Bees;
Childeric's Tomb:
Law of the Salian
Franks. Continue
with
Book Review #1
M Sept 28 The Franks
Finish Book Review #1
W Sept 30 Student Reports on the Conversion of Europe
Start Second Book Review from List #2: Carolingian Renaissance
F Oct 2 Student Reports
on the Conversion of Europe
Rosenwein 81-88, 96-99; Annals of Lorsch. Continue with Book Review #2
M Oct 5 The Roman Revolution
Rosenwein 96-99. Continue with Book Review #2
W
Oct 7 The Rise of the Carolingians
Rosenwein 99-100; Life of Charlemagne; Map of Charlemagne's Empire; Continue with Book Review #2
F Oct 9 Charlemagne
Rosenwein 99-103;
General
Capitulary of the Missi;
Capitulary for
Saxony; Continue
with
Book Review #2
M Oct 12 Carolingian
Government
Rosenwein 103-11; Letter to Baugulf of Fulda;. Continue with Book Review #2
W Oct 14
The Carolingian Renaissance
Finish Book Review #2
F Oct 16 Student Reports
on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand
xi-xviii, 1-29
M Oct 19 Student Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand 29-115. Begin a review from List #3: The Vikings
W Oct 21 Student
Reports on the Carolingian Renaissance
Heliand 115-98. Continue with Book Review #3
F Oct 23 Discussion: The
Heliand
Study
M Oct 26 Midterm Examination #2
Rosenwein 102-03; Map of Carolingian Partitions. Continue with Book Review #3
W Oct 28 Louis
the
Pious and Later Carolingians
Rosenwein 113-29. Continue with Book
Review #3
F Oct 30
Byzantium & Islam
Rosenwein 129-34. Continue
with
Book Review #3
M Nov 2 The
Vikings
Njal's
Saga vii-xxxiii, 3-68. Finish
Book Review #3
W Nov 4 Student
Reports on the Vikings
Njal's Saga 68-172; Vikings in America
F Nov 6 Student Reports on the Vikings
Njal's Saga
172-310
M Nov 9 Discussion Njal's
Saga
Rosenwein 134-35
W Nov 11 Muslims & Hungarians
in Spain and Italy
Motte and Bailey Castles; "Encastellation"
F Nov 13 Revival of Europe: Military
Rosenwein
135-39; "Feudal"
Oaths of Fidelity;
Fulbert of
Chartres;
M Nov 16 Revival of
Europe: Society
Rosenwein 173-75; Europe
900;
new horse collar; Market
Grant;
Grants of Rights to Jews
W Nov 18 Revival of Europe: The Economy
Rosenwein 176-79; Peace
of God - Synod of Charroux, 989;
Howe, "Nobility's Reform
of the Medieval Church"
F Nov 20
Revival of Europe: Religion and Culture
Rosenwein 140-51;
Germany in mid 10th
cent ; Italy
in Early Eleventh Century.
Read
John Howe, "Re-Forging
the 'Age of Iron':" Parts I & II. Start mini-essay #2
M Nov 23
Revival of Europe: Kings and an
Emperor
[WF Nov 25 to 29 Thanksgiving
Holiday]
M Nov 30 Discussion: A Whole New World?
[M Nov 30 Make-Up Test at 2:30
pm]
W Dec 2
A Recognizable Map of
Europe
[Th Dec 3
Individual Study Day ]
Study
Tu Dec 8 at 7:30am – 10:00 am,
FINAL EXAMINATION