Due to recent inclement weather, I have revised both the schedule of class meetings and readings, as well as the assignments for the course.

I. The Revised Sequence of Class Meetings and Readings
January 11: Course Introduction: Historians and Their Method
January 13: Rome
     Readings: Hollister 1-15
          Geary: Theodosian Code, 1-27

January 18: SNOW DAY
January 20: Christianity I: the Martyrs
     Readings: Hollister, 15-23
          Geary, the Passions of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, pp. 58-64

January 25: SNOW DAY
January 27: SNOW DAY

February 1: Christianity II: the Latin Doctors
     Readings: Hollister, 23-27
          Geary: St Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, pp. 28-46, but focus on 28-38
          Geary: St Augustine, City of God, pp. 46-57
February 3: Germanic Society
     Readings: Hollister, 31-37
          Beowulf, pp. 3-81 (you must purchase this at the bookstore)
     Optional Reading:
          Geary: Tacitus, Germania, pp. 65-77

February 8: Barbarians and Romans/World of the Franks
     Readings: Hollister 28-41 (you've already read 31-37; skim them again), 56-65, 71-72
          Geary: "Tomb of Childeric, Father of Clovis", pp. 113-121 [make sure to examine and try to
                    interpret the images (pictures) presented in this section]
          Geary: Letters to Clovis, 129-130
          Geary: Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, pp. 131-145
          Geary: Salic Law, 122-128
February 10: Monasticism
     Readings: Hollister, 65-70
          Geary: Saint Benedict, Rule for Monasteries (ie., Benedictine Rule), pp. 158-187

February 15:  Saints and Miracles
     Readings: Geary: Life of Balthild, 152-157
          Geary: Dialogues of Gregory Great, 188-208
February 17: Charlemagne
     Readings: Hollister, 87-100
          Geary: Einhard, Life of Charles the Great (ie., Charlemagne), 267-280

February 22: Carolingian Civilization
     Readings: Hollister 100-108
          Geary: Selected Capitularies, pp. 281-303
February 24:  EXAMINATION

(back to regular schedule of classes - click here)

II. Assignments for the Course
I have dropped the first paper assignment and distributed its value among other assignments for the semester. The revised schedule of assignments is as follows:
     Attendance and Discussion    10%
     Midterm                                25%
     Paper                                    25%
     Final                                      40%

III. First Homework Assignment
a. Due: in class, Thursday February 3
b. Assigment: write a 1 page typed response to one of the following questions:
        i. Contrast methods of enforcing law and order in the world of Beowulf with what we found in the Theodosian Code.
                        Are the same principles at work?
        ii. Discuss kingship as presented in Beowulf. What makes for a good king? A bad one? Are Germanic kings comparable
                        to Roman emperors?

back to History 221 Syllabus

back to my homepage