Prof. Lisa Wolverton                                                                                                         FALL 2010

325 McKenzie Hall

Office hours:  Tues 9-10:30 am

lwolvert@uoregon.edu

http://uoregon.edu/~lwolvert

History 321

Europe in the Late Middle Ages

 

This course covers the cultural, political, economic, and religious developments in Europe of the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries--a period of great disasters, but also great vibrance.

The readings include a variety of primary sources in translation, scholarly articles or book chapters, and a pair of short thematic books.

 

As a survey, class time will be devoted chiefly to lectures by the instructor.  But there will be many occasions for discussion, especially for student reactions to the readings, both primary and secondary. 

 

Students will be tested on lectures, as well as readings, over the entire course.  Therefore, everyone is strongly encouraged to attend class regularly.  In addition, all students must complete two of the three writing assignments listed in the syllabus. 

 

The breakdown of the final grade is as follows:

      2 Short Papers             40%      (each 20%)
      Mid-term                     25%
      Final exam                   35%

 

Four items are available for purchase at the UO Bookstore, in addition to a few items available on-line:
     Coursepack (those items with an * in the syllabus)

     Michael Camille, Gothic Art:  Glorious Visions
     Froissart, Chronicles
     David Herlihy, The Black Death and the Transformation of the West

SYLLABUS

Sep. 27

Introduction

 

Sep. 29

Space

Camille, Intro., Ch. 1

Oct. 1

Time

Camille, Ch. 2

 

Religious Life

Oct. 4

Scholasticism:  University Theology

*Aquinas

Oct. 6

Mysticism:  Vision and Visionaries

Camille, Ch. 3; *Gertrude

Oct. 8

Eucharistic Devotion

*Several Excerpts

 

Cascading Disasters:  The First Half of the Fourteenth Century

Oct. 11

Money, Banking, and Trade

*De Roover; Paper #1 due

Oct. 13

The Problem with Communal Government:  Florence

*Dino Compagni

Oct. 15

The Great Famine

 

 

Oct. 18

Peasant Life 

*Hanawalt

Oct. 20

The Problem with Kings:  Edward II

*Life of Edward II

Oct. 22

The Black Death, 1348 

Herlihy, Ch. 1

 

Oct. 25

The Aftermath of Plague

Herlihy, Ch. 2 and 3

Oct. 27

Vernacular Literature

Boccaccio, Decameron, 1st Day, Novels I-VI

Oct. 29

MID-TERM EXAMINATION

Study Guide

 

Secular Culture in the Fourteenth Century

Nov. 1

Courts and Patronage

Camille, Ch. 4 & 5

Nov. 3

Charles IV

*Autobiography

Nov. 5

No class

 

 

Cascading Disasters II:  The Hundred Years War Begins

Nov. 8

Hundred Years War Begins

 Froissart, pp. 68-110

Nov. 10

England and France

*Good Parliament of 1376; Paper #2 due

Nov. 12

Mercenaries in Italy

*Caferro

 

Three Rebellions

Nov. 15

The Jacquerie

Froissart, pp. 146-66

Nov. 17

The English Peasant Revolt, 1381

Froissart, pp. 211-30

Nov. 19

The Ciompi Uprising, Florence 1381

*Brucker

 

From the Fourteenth Century Into the Fifteenth

Nov. 22

The Great Schism

Froissart, pp. 201-10; *Catherine letters

Nov. 24

Lollardy

*Selected Excerpts

Nov. 26

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 

Nov. 19

The Hussite Revolution

*Fudge

Dec. 1

Hundred Years War Ends

*Trial Transcripts

Dec. 3

Italy in the Early 15th Century & WRAP UP
Paper #3 due

 

 Friday, Dec. 10 10:15-12:15  FINAL EXAM               Study Guide

 

PAPER TOPICS

All students must write two papers analyzing primary sources assigned as part of the regular course reading.  You may choose any two of the from the three topics listed below.  Plan ahead and pick those topics that will allow you to do your best work.  No one may write a third paper for extra credit, or to otherwise replace or improve a grade on a previous paper.

Papers are due in class on the day specified.  Late papers will be penalized; papers more than one week late will not be accepted. 

For the topics listed below, answer the question exclusively on the basis of close analysis of the primary text.  Your paper should have a clear thesis and a logically organized argument, supported by specific evidence and citations from the text.

Papers should be 3 pages, double-spaced, printed in 12-pt. font, with 1” margins.  Citations from the text may consist simply of page numbers in parentheses.

For more detailed guidelines click here.

*           *           *

Paper 1          Due Oct. 11

Judging by the brief excerpts of their work, how does Thomas’s understanding of God compare with Gertrude’s?

*           *           *

Paper 2          Due Nov. 10                                                                                     

In Froissart’s description what influence did either king have on the outcome of the battle of Crecy?  (In particular, what qualities of leadership does Edward III exhibit and how does he compare to Philip?)

*           *           *

Paper 3          Due Dec. 3

Judging from the transcript of the trial, did Joan of Arc recognize the proceedings against her as legitimate?