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HISTORY 1612
THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
SYLLABUS

Instructor: William Bakken Home Phone: 288-8602
Office: Memorial Hall 213Office Phone: 280-5009
Office hours: (MWF) 12 Noon-12:50 PM MWF and by appointment
E-Mail Address: bakken1@aol.com
Course Internet site: http://www.acd.roch.edu/courses/hist1612/

Textbook: Winks & Ruiz, Medieval Europe And The World

Norton Downs, Basic Documents in Medieval History

Course Description:

This course is an overview of the history and to a lesser degree the culture of Europe and the Middle East from about 500 AD to 1500 AD. The Winks & Ruiz text provides the framework for the course. Beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire in the western Europe, the course will trace the history of Europe and the Middle East through the aftermath of the Mongol invasions. Various basic documents from the Norton text will be used to give a flavor for the original sources of this period and emphasize some of the important concepts.

Attendance Policy:

You are expected to be present in class and to participate in class discussions. You must arrange with the instructor if exceptional circumstances require make-up tests or other assigned work. Class attendance will count for about 10% of your grade. My office and home phones have answering machines and I check my e-mail regularly so you can always reach me.

Tests and Quizzes:

There will be three objective tests in this course. Test I will cover material from the beginning of class through the High Caliphate Period in the Middle East, Test II will cover the eleventh through the thirteenth centuries, and the Final test will cover the remainder of the course. We will discuss the nature of the tests the first week of class. Before each test, you will receive a list of map locations and study terms to help you prepare for that test.

In addition to the three tests, there will be several essays and take-home quizes on assigned topics throughout the semester. Unless excused, late assignments and make-up tests will be penalized 10% within the first week of the due date and 25% thereafter.

Each test will be worth about 20% of your final grade, the remaining 40% will consist of essays, quizes, and class attendance and participation. Any evidence of cheating on a test or quiz will result in a 0 grade. Plagarism on an essay will result in a zero grade for the essay and a reduction of one grade level for your semester grade. Also any evidence of cheating will result in a maximum grade of D for the class. In addition, student conduct action is possible. (See Student Code of Conduct in your 2005-2006 Student Policy and Advising Handbook.) A second incident of plagiarism by the same individual will result in a failing grade for the class.

Approximate Total Points = 550. A = 495; B = 440; C = 385; D = 330.

Preliminary Schedule for Lectures, Discussions and Tests:
Jan 9 Introduction, handouts; Geography Winks: Preface
Jan 11 The Roman World & Christianity Winks: 9-18,23-36
Jan 13 The Barbarian Invasions Winks: 23-36
Jan 16Holiday
Jan 18 The Growth of the Church Winks: 18-21

Tacitus Discussion Document 1
Jan 20 The Barbarian Successor States Winks: 76-86
Jan 23 Charlemagne Winks: 86-89

Basic Documents Norton No. 7 to 12, 17 to 25
Jan 25 Carolingian Military and Education [Essay 1] Norton No. 8 & 10
Jan 27 Feudalism, Manoralism, Monasticism Winks: 106-126
Jan 30 The Rise of Islam Winks: 60-65
Feb 1 Arab Conquest Winks: 65-75
Feb 3 The High Caliphate Winks: 65-75
Feb 6Test Review
Feb 8Test I



Feb 10Anglo-Saxon England Winks: 91,94,203-4
Feb 13Cnut's Law [Essay 2] Handout
Feb 15 Anglo-Norman England Winks: 203-208
Feb 17 Viking Summary Winks: 89-91
Feb 20Holiday
Feb 22Medieval Society: 1000-1200 Winks: 153-190
Feb 24 Video: The White Garment of Churches Winks: 176-181
Feb 27Central Europe: 1000-1200 Winks: 228-231
Mar 1 Church Conflict and Reform Winks: 21-3,130-8,148-50

Basic Documents Norton No. 26-31
Mar 3 The Investiture Controversy [Essay 3] Norton No. 26 & 27
Mar 6 Byzantium And the Middle East Winks: 37-60,84-5
Mar 8 The Crusades Winks: 138-148
Mar 10No Class
Mar 13-17Spring Break
Mar 20 The Latin Kingdom of Constantinople 146-8,216-7
Mar 22Test Review
Mar 24Test II



Mar 27-29 Norman England Winks: 206-208
Mar 31 The Magna Charta [Essay 4] Norton No. 56
Apr 3 England from Henry III to Edward III Winks: 210-213
Apr 5 The Plague Winks: 247-251
Apr 7 The Plague [Essay 5] Norton No. 75-77
Apr 10 The Church in the Late Middle Ages Class Notes
Apr 12Holiday
Apr 14 Political Change in the Late Middle Ages Class Notes
Apr 17-19 The Mongols Horde Winks: 224-226
Apr 21 The Mongols in Europe Winks: 224-226
Apr 24 Medieval Russia Winks: 54-6,222-4
Apr 26 The Mongols in The Middle East Winks: 224-226
Apr 28 Islamic Civilization & Culture Winks: 215-219
May 1 The Middle East in the Late Middle Ages Winks: 219-221
May 3 Social Classes in Medieval Europe Lecture Notes
May 5Test Review
May 10Test III

The dates and topics above may vary depending on class discussion, etc. Since the tests will be based on the material presented in class lectures and discussions as well as the book, your attendance and attention will play an important part in your success in this class.

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Updated 10 Dec 2005