Course syllabus
Semester 2 2020
15 points
HISTORY 339
Medieval Cultures: Faith, Power, Identities
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Well-being always comes first We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. |
Course Overview
"Medieval Cultures" aims to offer Stage II and III students a detailed study of medieval European history. The European Middle Ages spans the period c. 400 to c. 1550 and takes in the entire European continent. Rather than attempting total coverage of this chronological and geographical range, our intention is to address major themes, institutions, turning points and transformations within shifting parameters. Thus, in any given year the course will emphasise certain aspects of medieval history above others.
In some years the focus may be on the early period, from late antiquity to the Vikings; in others, the focus may be on the transformations of the central period from the tenth to thirteenth centuries; in other years, the focus may be on the mental and social worlds of the high and late Middle Ages from the twelfth to early sixteenth centuries.
Regardless of such variation, it is expected that any student taking "Medieval Cultures" will gain a strong understanding of such topics as the spread and function of Christian faith in medieval societies; conflicts between Catholic Christianity and other faiths of the era; the forms and expressions of institutional power, such as monarchy and papacy; social structures and economic relations, including between lords and peasants; movements of peoples, perceptions of ethnic identities and the impact of migrations; the disparate roles and relations of men and women; moments or periods of social conflict or upheaval; and the literary and visual expression of changing cultural priorities.
In every iteration of the course, strong attention will be paid to primary sources—written, visual and material—and to the methodological challenges posed in their interpretation. Students will consider what kinds of sources are available to the medieval historian, whose perspective they represent, what their purpose was and how historians deal with the omission of certain viewpoints such as those of women, the lower orders, or ethnic or religious minorities.
For 2020, course themes will be examined in the context of two major case studies:
- Examples of so-called "Barbarian" cultures (Franks, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings)
- The Norman period of the eleventh and twelfth centuries
Lecturers
| Associate Professor Lisa Bailey |
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Humanities building 206, Room 808 Office phone: 09-923-8907 Office Hours, in person 206-808 and on Zoom: Thursday 11-12 |
| Dr Lindsay Diggelmann |
Humanities building 206, Room 733 Office phone: 09-923-7099 Office Hours, in person 206-733 and on Zoom: Tue 2.30-3.30 https://auckland.zoom.us/j/93357292916 Thu 10.30-11.30 |
Tutor
Sarah Russell
Office Hours: Wednesday 10.00-11.30, Humanities building 206, Room 304
and on Zoom at: https://auckland.zoom.us/j/97893991519
Class Reps
Hester Acharya hach883@aucklanduni.ac.nz
Amy Giess agie965@aucklanduni.ac.nz
Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the course successfully are expected to achieve the following Learning Outcomes. On the History 339 Digital Course Outline you can see how these outcomes map onto the capabilities of the Bachelor of Arts Graduate Profile.
1. Gain an appreciation of the broad outlines of the history, culture and identity formation of specific medieval European peoples (for 2020: Franks, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans).
2. Analyse and discuss a range of historical primary sources in both oral and written formats.
3. Develop capabilities in critical thinking and communication through organizing and writing assignments that include coherent arguments, supporting evidence, and engagement with academic literature.
4. Understand how historians work with and draw conclusions from different types of medieval source material including written texts, legal and official documents, artefacts and visual evidence.
5. Become familiar with a variety of viewpoints on the formation of cultures and identities within particular historical groups in order to gain an appreciation of diversity and cultural difference.
Assessment Details
All submission is online only via Canvas. No paper submission is required.
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Source Analysis 1 Choose ONE of 4 options: 1. Gregory of Tours 2. Bede 3. Beowulf 4. Viking Sagas |
20%, 1200 words |
Rolling deadlines depending on topic. All due Tuesdays at 9pm (choose one only) 1. Week 4, 18 August 2. Week 5, 25 August 3. Week 6, 1 September 4. Mid-semester break, 8 September |
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Source Analysis 2 Choose ONE of 3 options: 1. Dudo of St Quentin 2. Bayeux Tapestry 3. Geoffrey Malaterra |
20%, 1200 words |
Rolling deadlines depending on topic. All due Tuesdays at 9pm (choose one only) 1. Week 8, 29 September 2. Week 9, 6 October 3. Week 10, 13 October |
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Final Essay Preparation Draft introduction and essay plan |
10%, 600 words |
Due: Week 11, Friday 23 October, 9pm
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Final Essay A comparative, thematic analysis of topics from across the course |
45%, 2400 words (changed from original 40%) |
Due: Wednesday 4 November, 9pm Due in first week of exam period, after teaching finishes |
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Tutorial Participation |
5% (changed from original 10%) |
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Course Outline
Lectures are held in Library B15 on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm. Tutorials will be held on Thursdays.
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PART A: "Barbarian" Cultures Week One 29-30 July Lecture: Introduction / Franks part 1 Tutorial Focus: Welcome and Introduction to Course Themes |
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Week Two 5-6 August Lecture: Franks part 2 Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Gregory of Tours Focus Theme: Kingship and Queenship |
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Week Three 12-13 August Lecture: Anglo-Saxons part 1 Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Bede Focus Theme: Conversion and Christianity |
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Week Four 19-20 August Lecture: Anglo-Saxons part 2 Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Beowulf Focus Theme: Warrior Cultures |
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Week Five 26-27 August Lecture: Vikings part 1 Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Accounts of Raids and Violence Focus Theme: Scholarly Debates |
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Week Six 2-3 September Lecture: Vikings part 2 Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Viking Sagas Focus Theme: Storytelling and Identity |
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Mid-Semester Break
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PART B: Norman Conquests, Norman Voices Week Seven 23-24 September Lecture: Norman Origins Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Dudo of St Quentin Focus Theme: Origin Stories |
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Week Eight 30 September - 1 October Lecture: William the Conqueror and 1066 Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Bayeux Tapestry Focus Theme: Working with Visual Sources |
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Week Nine 7-8 October Lecture: Normans in the Mediterranean Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Geoffrey Malaterra Focus Theme: Expansion and Religious/Cultural Interaction |
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Week Ten 14-15 October Lecture: "Anglo-Normans" and their Neighbours Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: William of Malmesbury Focus Theme: "Ethnic" and "National" Identities |
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Week Eleven 21-22 October Lecture: Norman Families Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Rotuli de Dominabus (Ladies' Rolls) Focus Theme: Studying Medieval Women and Children |
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Week Twelve 28-29 October Lecture: The End of the Anglo-Norman World Primary Source / Tutorial Reading: Magna Carta Focus Theme: Conclusions / Final Essay Preparation |
Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:
The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.
Course summary:
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