Dr. D. Pryds Office Hours T/Th 10:00-11:00  and by appointment Lane Hall 353 Tel. 540-231-7004 email: dpryds@vt.edu http://www.cis.vt.edu/fac/pryds

This course is designed as an introduction to Medieval European Civilization, c.300-1500. Throughout the course emphasis will be placed on the various kinds of sources scholars of the humanities use to understand and interpret the past. The goal is to acquire a broad understanding of the sequence of events and major cultural developments of the period. In addition students will acquire skills of analyzing and interpreting historical sources.

This class uses writing as a means of learning. Writing is an essential skill required in all fields of study and professional levels of employment. See my webpage under ìTeaching Philosophyî for further discussion on why writing is an essential skill and why I stress writing in my classes. All students should be prepared to write in correct, standard English on in-class assignments, essay-exams, and essays. Proof-reading is essential.

Required Books
In addition to the following books, students will be expected to have internet access for materials on the Web.

Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy (This book was my favorite when I was a freshman in college.  It addresses questions like, how do we face our own mortality?)

Two Lives of Charlemagne (Reading two biographies of the same king will let us discuss how we assess sources for knowing the past and present.)

Letters of Abelard and Heloise (These personal letters between two former lovers helps us explore the nature of romantic love in the middle ages as well as the nature of medieval education and career paths.)

Fabliaux, Fair and Foul  trans. John DuVal (Humor in the Middle Ages...be prepared for some pretty raunchy stuff!)

The Formation of a Persecuting Society , by R.I. Moore (This fascinating essay centers our discussion on the darker side of the Middle Ages: persecution)

The Book of Margery Kempe (Was Margery a mystic or crazy?  What is mysticism?)
 

Your grade will be based on the following:
Midterm exam: 100 points
Final Exam: 100 points
Essay (#1): 100 points
Essay (#2): 100 points
In-class assignments/quizzes: 50 points
Class Participation: 50 points

TOTAL: 500 points

Both exams are essay format.  Please bring two bluebooks (available at the bookstore) to each exam.

Week One: August 22/24 What are the Middle Ages?
 The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Emergence of Medieval Europe

Week Two: August 29/31 Boethius and The Purpose of Life
 The Consolation of Philosophy

Week Three: September 5/7 Boethius and Stress
The Consolation of Philosophy
 Sept. 7: In-Class Peer Review of Essay #1

Week Four: September 12/14 Monarchy as a Form of Government
 Movie: The Lion in Winter
 Two Lives of Charlemagne
 Sept. 12 Essay #1 Due (No Extensions without prior notification)

Week Five: September 19/21: Kingship and Political Image-Making
 Two Lives of Charlemagne

Week Six: September 26/28: Where does Religion Happen? Architecture and Pilgrimage
 October 1: Labyrinth Walk in Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires (between 10:00-5:00)

Week Seven: October 3/5: Islam and the Islamic Way of Life
 Koran
 Poetry of Hafiz

Week Eight: October 10 Islamic Mysticism
 Sufi Writings
 

Midterm Exam: Thursday Oct. 12

Week Nine: October 17/19 Gender and Educational Opportunities
 Letters of Abelard and Heloise

Week Ten: October 24/26 Gender and Humor
 Fabliaux

Week Eleven: October 31/Nov. 1: Ethnic and Religious Diversity
 Moore, Formation of Persecuting Society

Week Twelve: Nov. 7/9: Heresy
 Moore, Formation of a Persecuting Society

Week Thirteen: Nov. 14/16 Mysticism
 The Book of Margery Kempe

Thanksgiving Break Nov. 21/23

Week Fourteen Nov. 28/30 Religious Authority and Gender
The Book of Margery Kempe

 November 30 Essay #2 Due

December 5: Concluding Remarks