History 310 / Seminar: Medieval Europe
Laurel Carrington
Holland Hall 509, ext. 3528
Office hours: MWF 12:55-1:50
Topic for Spring 2008: Medieval Italy, 1050-1350. This seminar will consider divergent developments in north, central, and southern Italy during a formative period in the history of the west. Topics include the medieval papacy and Rome, Sicily, Frederick II, the city-states of northern Italy, Dante, and the Franciscan order.
Assignments will consist of one 4-page paper and an in-class essay on course readings, plus a major (20-page) research paper, to be completed in stages. In addition, beginning at the end of the second week of the course, each student will be expected to serve as discussion leader for class, generating questions and guiding discussion. This exercise will be part of your class participation grade, along with regular attendance and participation in discussion. I expect each of you to come to class every for every meeting unless you have a compelling reason for being elsewhere, and I expect to hear from each person in the seminar at least once per meeting.
Grades will be calculated as follows:
Books to purchase:
Calendar of Assignments
| F Feb 8 | Introduction |
| M Feb 11 | Introduction; Edward Coleman "Cities and communes" and Hiroshi Takayama "Law and monarchy in the south" from Abulafia Italy in the Central Middle Ages |
| W Feb 13 | Brenda Bolton "Papal Italy," Trevor Dean "The rise of the signori," and Marco Tangheroni Trade and navigation" from Abulafia |
| F Feb 15 | Patricia Skinner "Material life," Duane Osheim "Rural Italy," and Steven Epstein "The family" from Abulafia |
| M Feb 18 | Alberto Varvaro "Language and culture," David Abulafia "The Italian other: Greeks, Muslims, and Jews," Marco Tangheroni "Sardinia and Italy," and David Abulafia "Conclusion" from Abulafia |
| W Feb 20 | J.K. Hyde Society and Politics in Medieval Italy introduction, chapters 1-3 |
| F Feb 22 | Hyde Chapters 4-5; Giovanni Villani: Florentine Chronicle (packet) |
| M Feb 25 | Hyde Chapters 6-7; Bartolo of Sassoferrato Treatise on City Government (packet) |
| W Feb 27 | Marsilius of Padua Defender of the Peace Discourse One I-III, VIII-XII, XVI-XIX |
| F Feb 29 | Marsilius of Padua Discourse Two III-IV, VI, XVII-XVIII, XXV |
| M Mar 3 | David Abulafia Frederick II: A Medieval Emperor Preface, Chapters One-Two (packet) STUDENT LED DISCUSSIONS BEGIN |
| W Mar 5 | Abulafia Chapters Three-Five |
| F Mar 7 | Abulafia Chapters Six-Nine |
| M Mar 10 | Abulafia Chapters Ten-Twelve |
| W Mar 12 | Abulafia Chapter Thirteen, Conclusion |
| F Mar 14 | FIRST PAPER DUE |
| M Mar 17 | Steven Runciman The Sicilian Vespers Prologue, Chapters 1-3 |
| W Mar 19 | Runciman Chapters 4-7 |
| F Mar 21--F Mar 28: SPRING BREAK | |
| M Mar 31 | Runciman Chapters 8-11 |
| W Apr 2 | Runciman Chapters 12-15 |
| F Apr 4 | Runciman Chapters 16-17 |
| M Apr 7 | TOPIC STATEMENT DUE |
| W Apr 9 | Thomas of Celano: First and Second Lives of Saint Francis; selections from Brother Ugolino Little Flowers of St. Francis Of Assisi (packet) |
| F Apr 11 | Selections from David Burr The Spiritual Franciscans, Delano C. West and Sandra Zimdars-Swartz Joachim of Fiore, and Marjorie Reeves Joachim of Fiore and the Prophetic Future (packet) |
| M Apr 14 | Dante Inferno Cantos I-V, IX-XI, XIV |
| W Apr 16 | Dante Inferno Cantos XVI-XVII, XIX, XXIII, XXVI-XXVIII, XXXII-XXXIV |
| F Apr 18 | Dante Purgatorio Cantos III, VI-VIII, XI, XIV, XXIII-XXIV-XXVIII, XXXII |
| M Apr 21 | Dante Paradiso Cantos I-III, V-VII, IX, XI-XII, XV |
| W Apr 23 | Dante Paradiso Cantos XVI-XX, XXVII, XXX-XXXIII |
| F Apr 25 | IN-CLASS ESSAY |
| M Apr 28 | PRESENTATIONS BEGIN |
| W Apr 30 | PRESENTATIONS |
| F May 2 | PRESENTATIONS |
| M May 5 | FIRST DRAFT DUE PRESENTATIONS |
| W May 7 | PRESENTATIONS |
| F May 9 | PRESENTATIONS |
| M May 12 | PRESENTATIONS |
| W May 14 | PRESENTATIONS |
| Tu May 20 2:00-4:00: FINAL DRAFT OF PAPER DUE | |
Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: February 8, 2008