The
final exam will consist of two parts; together they are worth 35% of your final grade. Part I is, in essence, a second mid-term;
it will cover only the second half of the course (15%). Part II, itself 20% of your final
grade, is a comprehensive essay.
Unlike the midterm,
this is an all-essay exam. Be
mindful that your essays should include specific examples (persons, events,
detailed facts). Essays consisting
largely of unsubstantiated generalizations—however, correct—will
earn grades in the C range.
Part I
will consist of one short essay.
One of the three questions below will appear on the exam:
What were the causes of the
Hundred Years’ War and why did it last more than 100 years?
Compare and contrast the
Jacquerie, English Peasants Revolt, and the Ciompi rebellion. To what extent did they stem from similar
causes? What explains their
differences?
What was the relationship
between the Great Schism and popular anticlericalism? How did both of these
prepare the ground for Wyclif’s and Hus’ challenges to religious authority?
Part II
requires you to synthesize the material covered throughout this course. One of the three questions below will
appear on the exam:
Describe the oligarchic
republican governments of Italy and the parliamentary monarchy of England, then
compare their stability and effectiveness. Evaluate them with specific reference to their handling of
crises such as famine, war, and rebellion.
Explain the importance of
the Eucharist in medieval religious belief and practice. What positive force did it play in
people’s lives, including those of visionaries like Gertrude or Catherine? Why did it become a focus for
anti-Semitism, or religious reform/heresy?
How would you assess the
economic conditions prevailing in the Late Middle Ages? Consider both urban and rural
economies, and the periods before and after the Black Death. How did concerns about money and the
economy spill over into political affairs, religious life, and social
relations?