Dr.
Richard R. Heiser
HIST 373 – LATE MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE EUROPE
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Battle of Crécy |
Papal Palace at Avignon |
The Black Death |
OBJECTIVES:
READINGS:
Primary Text:
Given, Inquisition and Medieval Society: Power, Discipline, and Resistance in Languedoc
Nauert, Humanism and the Culture of Renaissance Europe
Pernoud, Joan of Arc
TeBrake, A Plague of Insurrection: Popular Politics and Peasant Revolt in Flanders, 1323-1328
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Your mark in this course will be based on the following points.
The final grade for the course will be calculated using the four best grades from the assignments below.
Tests: A written midterm and comprehensive final exam will be administered during the semester on the dates noted below. A study guide will be provided prior to each exam. The exams will each count for 25% of the final grade.
Oral Presentation: During the semester on a date listed below, a team of two students will give an oral presentation that studies a significant personality of the period of study.
The objective is to create a class lecture and teach the class about your topic, emphasizing why this personality is important to the course of history. The oral presentation should last a maximum of about 20 minutes and will be followed by a brief time at the end for questions from the class. The use of technology such as PowerPoint is expected. Two days prior to the presentation, the team is to meet with me to ‘rehearse’ the presentation and submit a useful, informative outline complete with an annotated bibliography. Each annotation is to describe how that particular source contributed to your oral presentation. Students will be expected to choose their topics within the first two weeks of the semester. Due to the nature of this assignment, little-to-no provision will be made for lateness.
The oral presentation will count for 25% of the final grade. The only part of the grade that will be shared by the team members is how well they have succeeded in integrating their two aspects. The grade will be determined, then, on the annotated bibliography (25%), the use of PowerPoint (25%), the organization, clarity, persuasiveness, and fulfillment of the assignment (40%), and the integration (10%).
Each team will look at two aspects of the personality's career, with each student being primarily responsible for one of the two aspects. The presentation will have two parts with each team member creating the PowerPoint and presenting the material for his/her particular aspect, each student being allotted 10 minutes. Each student will submit an annotated bibliography for his/her part only; the bibliogrpahy is to make use of at least 8 sources, none of them internet sources unless they have been approved by me, and use proper bibliographic form.
Written Assignments: There will be two formal written assignments during the semester. Each paper counts for 25% of your grade. Due dates are listed below.
Finding a book of their choice as long as it addresses the period relevant to the course and approved by me, students are to analyze the historian's work. To do that, the student should identify the author's principal thesis and argument, describe how the author develops the argument, and critique the author's success in making his/her case. This is not a book report in which the student merely rehashes the contents of the book or a book review in which the student merely discusses whether he/she liked the book.
Acquire a copy of Kelly DeVries's book, Joan of Arc: Military Leader and write a comparison paper using Pernoud's book on Joan as the other source. What are the two different arguments? How do the arguments differ? How are they similar? What is the evidence? Is the evidence the same but used differently or is it completely two different sets of evidences? Which is the more compelling and why?
Students are advised to read and follow the instructions found in Writing History Research Papers. Each assignment is to be 5 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, and 1" margins.
Book/Reading Assignments: The class will read and discuss four books in class. For each book, discussion will center on what impressed the student most about the book, noting in particular how the book changed the student's understanding about the book's subject.
In addition, students will submit a well-written, 1-page synopsis according to the following guidelines:
Synopsis #1: State what you believe the thesis of the book is (note page number or numbers where found) and the major themes of each chapter assigned for that day.
Synopsis #2: Note the themes of each chapter assigned for that day, indicating which one you believe is the strongest from this section of the book. In some cases, only two days of discussion will be needed for a book, in which case, the student should skip to the synopsis described below for the second synopsis.
Synopsis #3: Describe the author's bias, perspective, and/or values now that you have finished the book. For instance, what judgments does the author make and what might that say about the author? Does the author emphasize the 'hero of history' or the little people? Does the author's use of sources suggest any bias or presuppositions within the author? Do the biases, etc. contribute to a stronger understanding of the subject?
The applicable synopsis will be brought to class the day the book is discussed and serve as a catalyst for class discussion. The paper will conform to the guidelines noted above and will be submitted for a grade using the 'check' system. The final assessment for each synopsis will also take into account the amount of discussion and participation the student exhibited. Any absence from discussion day makes it impossible for a 'check +' grade to be earned for that book. Each overall 'check +' grade on a set of synopses will be used to strengthen one of the lower grades earned on the exams and assignments described above.
COURSE POLICIES: Here you will find the attendance policy, make-up exam policy, office hours, etc.
GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE:
I. Introduction
A. England and Edward I
B. France and Philip IV
C. Germany and Frederick II
D.
The Church and Boniface VIII
II. Later Middle Ages
A. General Crises
1. Black Death
2. Hundred Years’ War
B. National Crises
1. England
2. France
C. Religious Crises
1. Avignon and the Great Schism
2.
Conciliar Movement and the Renaissance Popes
III. Renaissance
A. The Italian Renaissance
1. Economic Development and Political History
2. Intellectual Rebirth and Humanism
B. Northern European Renaissance
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Additional reading in areas or aspects of history that interest you is an excellent way to expand your knowledge. The main text has suggested reading lists that I would recommend. Should you desire more books and articles on a particular topic than listed there, see me and visit the library.
PURSUE EXCELLENCE!
Excellence is Sorriness Leaving Your Life!
