Prof. Lisa Wolverton Spring 2007

Office hours: Mon 10-11:30

lwolvert@uoregon.edu

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, and 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:
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

Apr. 2	Introduction
Apr. 4	Space	Camille, Intro., Ch. 1
Apr. 6	Time	Camille, Ch. 2

Religious Life

Apr. 9	Scholasticism: University Theology	*Aquinas
Apr. 11	Mysticism: Vision and Visionaries	Camille, Ch. 3; *Gertrude
Apr. 13	no class

Cascading Disasters:  The First Half of the Fourteenth Century

Apr. 16	Eucharistic Devotion	*Several Excerpts; Paper #1 due
Apr. 18	Money, Banking, and Trade	*De Roover
Apr. 20	The Problem with Communal Government: Florence	*Dino Compagni

Apr. 23	The Great Famine	*Jordan
Apr. 25	Peasant Life	*Hanawalt
Apr. 27	The Problem with Kings: Edward II	*Life of Edward II

Apr. 30	The Black Death, 1348	Herlihy, Ch. 1
May 2	The Aftermath of Plague	Herlihy, Ch. 2 and 3
May 4	MID-TERM EXAMINATION	Study Guide

Secular Culture in the Fourteenth Century

May 7	Vernacular Literature	Boccaccio, Decameron, 1st Day, Novels I-VI
May 9	Courts and Patronage	Camille, Ch. 4 & 5
May 11	Charles IV	*Autobiography

Cascading Disasters II:  The Hundred Years War Begins

May 14	Hundred Years War Begins	Froissart, pp. 68-110
May 16	England and France	*Good Parliament of 1376; Paper #2 due
May 18	Mercenaries in Italy	*Caferro

Three Rebellions

May 21	The Jacquerie	Froissart, pp. 146-66
May 23	The English Peasant Revolt, 1381	Froissart, pp. 211-30
May25	The Ciompi Uprising, Florence 1381	*Brucker

From the Fourteenth Century Into the Fifteenth

May 28	Memorial Day
May 30	The Great Schism	Froissart, pp. 201-10; *Catherine letters
June 1	Lollardy	*Selected Excerpts
June 4	The Hussite Revolution	*Fudge
June 6	Hundred Years War Ends	*Trial Transcripts
June 8	Italy in the Early 15^th Century	Paper #3 due

 Tuesday, June 12^th 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 April 16

How does Thomas’s understanding of God compare with Gertrude’s?

* * *

Paper 2 Due May 16

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 June 8

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