NOTE: This course was last offered in 1995. The syllabus will undergo revision when I offer it again.
HISTORY 181
 WESTERN SOCIETY AND THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES
Fall 1995
Instructor: Bruce L. Venarde Office hours: Fridays, 2:30-4 in East Hall 001
Email: bvenarde@emerald.tufts.edu
THE COURSE AND ITS GOALS
  Through common readings of various description and individual reports on key texts, events, and figures, we will explore the relations of Christianity to the social environments in which it evolved from late antiquity to the thirteenth century. Topics include conversion, monasticism, sanctity and hagiography, miracles and relics, the papacy, crusade, pilgrimage, and education. There will be special attention to the roles and achievements of women in medieval Christian life.
  Each week will begin with 60-90 minutes of focussed discussion on the common readings. The remainder of the time will be spent in student reports, which will range from 10-20 minutes depending on the scope of the assignment. There will be no formal lectures. Therefore your individual preparation and your readiness to discuss the common readings and the topics on which you agree to report will determine the success of the course meetings. Written assignments are cumulative, meant to develop skills in source analysis, research, and expository writing.
REQUIREMENTS
  • Active participation in discussions of common reading
  • 2 (undergraduate) or 3 (graduate) oral reports on texts and topics
  • Midterm source paper, 5-6 pages, due by October 25th
  • Final research paper, 12-15 pages (undergraduate) or 15-20 pages (graduate): proposal due by November 22nd, optional drafts on or before December 11th, final version due December 18th
   For bibliographic help with reports and formulation of research topics, you will find the New Catholic Encyclopedia and The Dictionary of the Middle Ages , both in the reference section in Tisch Library, good places to begin. (Like any other reference works, they make poor places to begin and end.) The Lynch textbook also has a good bibliography. Your instructor wants to help you however possible, and will usually be able to answer email queries promptly.
BOOKS
The following titles are available at the bookstore; you are strongly urged to purchase them all, since our discussions will center around reading of the medieval source materials.
  • Joseph Lynch, The Medieval Church: A Brief History
  • Augustine,Confessions
  • The Rule of Saint Benedict
  • JoAnn McNamara et al., Sainted Women of the Dark Ages
  • Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People
  • The Plays of Hrotswitha of Gandersheim
  • Patrick Geary, Furta Sacra
  • Brian Tierney, ed., The Crisis of Church and State, 1050-1300
  • Pauline Matarasso, ed., The Cistercian World
  • The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
  • William Melczer, ed., The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela
  • The Complete Writings of Francis and Clare
PROJECTED SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND REPORTS
PART I. THE CONVERSION(S) OF EUROPE
9/13  Common reading: Joseph Lynch, The Medieval Church: A Brief History , pp. 1-18

9/20   Common reading: Augustine, Confessions , Books I-X
Reports: Emperor Julian; Pelagius and Pelagianism

9/27  Common reading: Rule of Saint Benedict; Sulpicius Severus, Life of Saint Martin; Lynch, pp. 19-34
Reports: Athanasius, Life of Saint Antony; Early Irish Christianity

10/4  Common reading: Sainted Women of the Dark Ages , pp. 1-111, 176-234, 264-278; Lynch, pp. 35-96
Reports: Clovis; The expansion of Islam to ca.750

10/11   Common reading: Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Report: Charlemagne and the church

PART II. RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT
10/18  Common reading: The Plays of Hrotswitha of Gandersheim , pp. 34-54, 79-180; Lynch, pp. 97-135
Reports: Cluny; The Peace and Truce of God

10/25  Common reading: Patrick Geary, Furta Sacra
*Source paper due today*

PART III. THE MAKING OF THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH
11/1   Common reading: Brian Tierney, The Crisis of Church and State , pp. 1-95; Lynch, pp. 136-182
Reports: Wipo, Life of Conrad II; The First Crusade

11/8 Common reading: The Cistercian World, pp. xi-xvi, 15-18, 42-58, 93-103, 149-151, 169- 190; William Melczer, The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela , pp. 83-133 (and, optionally, skim pp. 1-82); Lynch, pp. 183-215
Reports: Gilbertines; Bernard of Clairvaux, Five Books on Consideration

11/15 Common reading: The Letters of Abelard and Heloise , pp. 57-179; Lynch, pp. 239-272
Reports: Abelard, Dialogue of a Philosopher with a Jew and a Christian ; Canon law in the twelfth century

11/22   No class meeting: proposal for final paper due. At minimum, this should be a paragraph about the topic chosen and questions to be investigated plus significant bibliography. Talk to me; talk to the reference librarians at Tisch; do serious work now.

11/29 Common reading: The Complete Writings of Francis and Clare; Lynch, pp. 216-238
Reports: Origins of the Universities; The Fourth Crusade; The Fourth Lateran Council

There will be extra office hours after Thanksgiving. I will read and return with suggestions research paper drafts submitted by Monday, December 11th; please take advantage of this option if you possibly can. Final papers are due at noon on Monday, December 18th.