TEACHER
John Howe, Professor of History
Office: 150C Humanities Building
Office Hours: M 11:00-12:15; Tu 9:45-10:15pm; W 11:00-12:15, and by appointment
Tel: 806 834‑2971 E‑Mail: john.howe@ttu.edu Fax 806 742-1060
Web: http://myweb.ttu.edu/jhowe (the best way to access this syllabus)
THE COURSE
Purposes
To acquire a general knowledge of the crusading movement in Western Europe, including its ideology, organization, military strategies, and leadership. To situate the crusades in the larger economic, cultural, and religious context of the Mediterranean world, a cross-cultural world of Latin, Greek, and Arabic civilizations. To use the crusades as a case study for analysis of problems posed by "holy war," imperialism, colonialism, and the formation of European consciousness. To learn how historians reconstruct historical events from conflicting primary sources.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this class students will be able to:
1. Identify major events and individuals associated with the crusades.
2. Discuss the documentary foundation that underlies this historical narrative.
3. Relate the history of the crusades to other major social developments in the medieval Latin West.
4. Recognize antecedents of some contemporary debates between Western and Islamic societies.
5. Be more proficient in the following genres of historical writing: essay examinations; comparative analyses of historical documents.
Methods for Assessing the Expected Learning Outcomes
The Expected Learning Outcomes of the course will be assessed through examinations, source problems, quizzes, and class discussion.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required Texts
Joinville and Villehardouin: Chronicles of the Crusades. Translated by Caroline Smith. New York: Penguin USA, 2008. ISBN 978-0-140-44998-3.
Madden, Thomas F. The Concise History of the Crusades: Third Student Edition. Lanham MD: Rowan & Littlefield, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4422-1575-7
Runciman, Steven. The First Crusade. Penguin Modern Classics Penguin UK: 2016 978-0141985503
Internet Medieval Sourcebook: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html
Some journal articles accessible via the Texas Tech Library through JSTOR
Some on-line materials to be accessed through the electronic syllabus.
Required Reading
Specific reading assignments for each class are listed in the "Reading and Lecture Schedule," just ahead of the lecture date by which they should be completed. Each assignment concerns the subject of the following class meeting. Read so that you arrive in class prepared to explain, praise, criticize, and question. The assignments are manageable if read on schedule, but overwhelming if you fall behind.
Successful completion of this course requires regular attendance. In the classroom difficult reading assignments are interpreted and contextualized, and additional subject matter is introduced. If you cannot attend 80% or more of the scheduled classes, you should not be enrolled.
Examinations
Midterm tests are scheduled for Friday February 16, and Monday March 25 Each includes 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, a make-up test may be taken at 3:30-4:30 pm on Monday, April 2. Students receiving a grade below "C" on a midterm should meet with the teacher to discuss it (this will be part of the class participation grade).
The final examination on Friday, May 3 at 1:30 - 4:00pm will feature multiple-choice questions, identifications, and perhaps map work on the material covered since the second midterm, and then several essay questions covering the material of the entire course. Bring blue books for the final.
Discussion Questions
Some readings in the syllabus are marked with an asterisk (*). For those readings the instructor may give a three-minute in-class quiz. Each quiz will require you to do two things: 1) ask an intelligent question about the specified reading; and 2) identify one thing in that reading which you found "distinctive" (enlightening, surprising, odd, weird, stupid, wrong, or whatever). These questions will help focus class discussions. Your top ten grades on the quizzes will be included in your final grade.
Source Problems
This course assigns three crusade source problems, cases where the primary documentary evidence seems contradictory. Students will attempt to reconstruct what happened, presenting their findings in papers no longer than five typed, double-spaced pages. Since the evidence provided for each case study yields no indisputable "right answer," all you can do is to present your arguments for the "most probable" scenario. You will be given information about how to avoid common errors. Grades will be based upon logic, persuasiveness, analytical depth, and comprehensive use of the sources. Be careful not to violate the History Department and University guidelines on plagiarism.
The first source problem is due on Friday, February 2; the second on Wednesday, March 6; the third on Monday April 8. Papers late by a day or two will be assessed a one grade penalty, but no late papers will be accepted after the corrected on-time papers have been returned.
UNIVERSITY NOTICES
Necessary Accommodations: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that the necessary accommodations can be made.
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 shoiuld allow the student to take an exam or complete an assignment from which the student is excused. No prior notification of the instructor is required.
Academic Honesty: "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 include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student. See the Student Handbook. The Department of History adheres to Texas Tech University’s statement and related policies on issues of academic integrity as detailed in OP 34.12. Any student found to be in violation of these policies will be subject to disciplinary action at both the departmental and university levels. At the departmental level, such action may include one or more of the following: a failing grade (F) for the assignment in question; a failing grade (F) for the course; a written reprimand or disqualification from scholarships and/or funding. See TTU Student Judicial Programs.
GRADING
The course grade will be computed as follows: 25% from the midterm tests (that is, 12.5% from each); 30% from the papers (10% from each); 10% from quizzes (based upon your best ten grades); 10% from class participation; and 25% from the final.
The class participation grade is determined in this way. At the end of the semester, students are divided into three groups on the basis of attendance, class preparation, and class contributions: 1) individuals who were outstanding; 2) individuals who were generally average; and 3) individuals who were well below average. In computing the course grade, the first group gets the class participation component credited as an ‘A’; the second group has these points dropped out (so they neither help nor hurt); and the third group has them credited as an ‘F’.
READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE
W Jan 10 Introductions
Eurasian World; Mediterranean Topography; Holy Land Topography ; Holy Land Maps; Modern Israel
F Jan 12 Geography
Runciman 32-41; Wilkinson*; Piacenza Pilgrim*.
[Tu Jan 16 Last Day to add a course]
W Jan 17 Early Medieval Pilgrimage
Runciman 3-31; Date Chart; Roman Empire ca. 600; Europe 1000; Byzantine Empire mid 11th ; Liutprand 949*; Luitprand 963*
F Jan 19 The Greek East at 1000AD
Overview of Islam; "Pact of Omar"* ; Kennedy*
M Jan 22 Islam at 1000AD
John Howe on "Encastellation"*; new horse collar;
W Jan 24 The Latin West at 1000
Runciman 69-76; Madden 1-5
F Jan 26 Holy War
[F Jan 26 Last day to drop a course and get a full refund.]
Byzantine Empire mid 11th ; Liutprand 949*; Liudprand 968; Runciman 42-65; Madden 5-7; Late 11th-Century Maps; How to Mess Up the Source Problem. Start Source Problem #1.
M Jan 29 The Turkish Threat
Madden 5-13; Runciman 69-91. Continue writing Source Problem #1.
W Jan 31 Church Reform and the Call to Crusade
Finish Source Problem #1
F Feb 2 Response to the Call
Madden 15-19; Runciman 91-117; Solomon bar Samson* Europe 1100
M Feb 5 The Peoples' Crusades
Runciman 118-41; Madden 19-23; Roster of Crusaders; Anna Comnena*
W Feb 7 The Crusaders at Constantinople
Madden 23-30; Runciman 145-76
F Feb 9 The March to Antioch
Runciman 177-216; Battle of Antioch
M Feb 12 The Siege of Antioch
Runciman 219-38; Madden 30-32; Ibn Al-Athīr*; Fulcher of Chartres*; Battle of Jerusalem Osprey conquest of Jerusalem
W Feb 14 The Fall of Jerusalem
Study
F Feb 16 Midterm #1
Runciman 239-70; Madden 34-46; Crusader State map; Fulcher*
M Feb 19 Organizing the Crusader States
Hamilton, "Rebuilding Zion"*; “Crusader Church"*
W Feb 21 Organizing the Crusader Church
Denis Pringle, "The Planning of Some Pilgrimage Churches in Crusader Palestine." World Archeology 18 1987): 341-62* [access through JSTOR]
F Feb 23 Crusader Art & Architecture
Madden 46-48; Partner, Templars*; Templar Rule.
M Feb 26 The Military Orders
Madden 132-33; Crusader Women*; Nicholson.* Start Source Problem #2 by listing and analyzing the documents
W Feb 28 Women on Crusade
Holmes*. Start writing Source Problem #2.
F Mar 1 Daily Life in the Crusader States
Madden 48-59; Fall of Edessa; Mayer, "2nd Crusade" . Continue writing Source Problem #2.
M Mar 4 Islam Strikes Back
Capture of Lisbon*. Eugenius III. Finish Source Problem # 2.
Nazareth capitols ; Melisende Psalter French Crusade Song ; Krak de Chavaliers ; Holy Sepulcher
F Mar 8 Crusader Art & Architecture
[Spring Vacation, March 9-17]
Baldwin IV Aymeric* ; Madden 60-71
M Mar 18 The Kingdom of Jerusalem at Risk
Madden 72-77; Hattin; Capture of Jerusalem*.
W Mar 20 The Battle of Hattin and the Fall of Jerusalem to Saladin
Madden 77-91; Ambroise*.
F Mar 22 The Third Crusade
Study
M Mar 25 Midterm #2
Madden 115-17; Strayer
W Mar 27 Spanish Crusades
Madden 117-29. Start Source Problem #3
F Mar 29 Crusades against Heretics
Madden 129-132; In Defense of Teutonic Knights; Teutonic Knights ; Children's Crusades* ; Cologne Chronicle.
M Apr l Easter Break
W Apr 3 Baltic Crusades / Children's Crusades
Queller on "4th Crusade" (map) and on 4th Crusade Chronology; Continue Source Problem #3.
F Apr 5 Launching of the Fourth Crusade
Nicetas Choniates ; Villehardouin 74-141; Finish Source Problem #3.
MApr 8 Latin Empire of Constantinople
Madden 134-45; Innocent III*
W Apr 10 The Fifth Crusade
Madden 146-53; Map of the Crusader Kingdom 1192-1243; Capture of Jerusalem in 1244*; Letters*;; Joinville 161-200;
F Apr 12 Crusade of Frederick II and Its Aftermath
Madden 154-68; Letter from 1249; Joinville 200-264; St. Louis Testament*.
M Apr 15 Louis IX and the Sixth CrusadeJoinville 265-330*; Mongols* Capture of Jerusalem 1244; 'Ayn Jalut
W Apr 17 Mongols
Joinville 331-353; Madden 168-76; Michener" ; Fall of Acre"
F Apr 19 Fall of the Mainland Crusader States
Madden 176-77; Criticism of Avignon
M Apr 22 Fall of Papacy
W apr 24 Fall of the Templars
Madden 178-95; Atiya*.
F Apr 26 Later Medieval Crusades
Madden 9-13, 194-95, and 197-209; Runciman "Summing Up"; Effects of the Crusades ; Bernard Hamilton, "The Impact of Crusader Jerusalem on Western Christendom.” The Catholic HIstorical Review 80 (1994): 695-713 [access through JSTOR]
M Apr 29 Summing Up
[M Apr 29 Make-Up Test at 3:30-4:30 pm]
[W May 1 Individual Study Day
Study
F May 3, 1:30-4:30 FINAL EXAMINATION
