History
Practicum – The Middle Ages
HIS3942.4960
& HIS3942.4969
Dr. Nina Caputo
email: ncaputo@ufl.edu
phone: (352) 392-0271 ex. 253
office: 216 Keene-Flint Hall
office hours: Monday 3:00-4:30, Tuesday 11:00-12:30 or by appointment
website: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ncaputo/
Monday 7th period (1:55-2:45)
@ 119 Keene-Flint
4960 - Wednesday 7th period (1:55-2:45) @ 119 Keene-Flint
4969 - Wednesday 8th
period (3:00-3:50) @ 119 Keene-Flint
Jean
Victor Schnetz (1787-1870), Alcuin presenting manuscripts to Charlemagne, Paris, Musée du Louvre
The History
Practicum – Purpose and structure of the class
What is history? What
is the difference between popular history and professional history? What skills
and resources do historians need to do their work? This class is intended to
introduce students to the basic goals of historical study and to the
fundamental skills necessary for historical research, analysis, and writing.
Our work this semester
will be divided into two parts. Half of the class hours will focus on a
specific historical theme; namely, the meaning and content of medieval history
and imagery in western culture. What is medieval history? How does western
society understand and use this past? What does this history mean to us today
and why is it compelling? We will consider primary documents from the middle
ages, as well as contemporary historical writing, film, literature, and
political discourse. The class content is intended as an introduction to
significant themes in medieval historiography, not as a comprehensive survey.
During the remaining course hours you will develop the practical skills
necessary for succeeding in other history classes, completing the major, and
conducting historical research.
Format
Students will attend
two classes each week: a common lecture every Monday at 1:55 (7th
period) and a precept section (Wednesdays, 7th and 8th
periods). While the practicum is listed as a two-credit class, students should
expect a workload comparable to that of a three-credit history class (the
Department decreased the overall number of credits required for the major-from
36 to 35-to account for this.)
Attendance policy
and expectations
Students are expected to
attend class regularly and arrive for lecture or section promptly. A heavy
penalty will be imposed on students who arrive late for class. Attendance is
mandatory for all sections. Unexcused absences will be penalized in the
following manner: you will be permitted one absence in the lecture and one in
the precept without penalty, every absence thereafter will lower your grade by
one third.
History classes are most
rewarding when students interact with the texts, each other, and the instructor
on a sustained basis. Readings provide the raw material for class discussion,
where much of the learning takes place. Effective class participation is
therefore essential. Students can expect a respectful atmosphere in which to
express their opinions.
Late work will not be
accepted without penalty. Please make every effort to apprise the
instructor of adverse circumstances that affect your ability to attend class or
complete assignments on time. Official documentation is required to
excuse an absence and to schedule make-up assignments. Unless otherwise noted,
assignments will be collected at the end of the precept session for which they
are assigned. Do not submit your work to via email – written work must be
presented in hard-copy.
In writing papers, be
certain to give proper credit whenever you use words, phrases, ideas,
arguments, and conclusions drawn from someone else¹s work. Failure to
give credit by quoting and/or footnoting is PLAGIARISM and is unacceptable.
Please review the University¹s honesty policy at www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/.
Please do not hesitate to
contact the instructor during the semester if you have any individual concerns
or issues that need to be discussed. Students requesting classroom
accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office (www.dso.ufl.edu/drp/). The Dean of Students Office will provide
documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the
instructor when requesting accommodation.
Please turn off your cell
phones. If your cell phone rings, you will be asked to leave the class.
Required Texts
Course reader available at the University Copy Center, 1620 West
University Ave.
Veronica Ortenberg, In
Search of the Holy Grail (Hambledon
& London; New Edition, 2007) – at Goerings Books, 1717 NW 1st
Ave.
Mary Rampolla, A
Pocket Guide to Writing in History
(Bedford/St. Martins; 5th edition, 2006) - at Goerings Books, 1717
NW 1st Ave.
There are also
readings that are available on the internet or on the course WebCT site. You
are responsible for printing those and bringing them to class
Grades
- Research
project/annotated bibliography 20%
- Precept
assignments 35%
- Class
participation and attendance 20%
- Midterm
exam 10%
- Final
exam 15%
Course schedule
– subject to change
Week I Introduction
27 August What
is history and (why) is it important?
29 August Discussion
of the historian's craft
Reading: Rampolla, pp. 1-5; Sam Wineburg, "Historical
Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts" (http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/kwin9903.htm); Lynn Cheney "Politics in the Classroom" (http://www.historyplace.com/pointsofview/cheney.htm)
Week II When and Where Were the
Middle Ages?
3 September Labor Day, no classes
5 September Working
with and against the standard narrative
Reading: Rampolla,
25-42; Janet
L. Nelson "The Dark Ages"; The Dictionary of the History
of Ideas: Periodization (http://etext.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv3-58)
Week III What do we know about the middle ages and
how do we know it?
10 September Sources
and interpretation
12 September Analysis
and reconstruction based on primary sources.
Reading: Rampolla, pp. 6-24; "How To Read A Primary Source", by Mark
Kishlansky; Ortenberg,
Chapter 1
Week IV Charlemagne: Father of Europe?
17 September Defining
Europe
19 September Examining
Laws
Reading: Course Reader, pp. 1-6.
Week V Kings and Princes: The Image
of Medieval Royal Power
24 September Models
of Authority
26 September Discussion:
Charlemagne and Louis IX, two examples
Reading: Course Reader, 7-15.
Week VI Learning Research Techniques
1 October Library Session
3 October Library Session
Reading: Review Rampolla, pp. 9-24; Course Reader, pp. 16-27.
Week VII Law and Order: Kings, Popes, and Knights
8 October Feudalism,
The Problems of a Paradigm
10 October Discussion:
Oaths and hierarchy
Reading: Course Reader, 28-40; Ortenberg, Chapter 4
Week VIII How
Christian was the Medieval West?
15 October Finding
Minorities in Christendom
17 October Discussion:
Jews and Heretics
Reading: Course Reader, 40-45; R.J. Barendse "The Feudal Mutation"; Rampolla 43-68.
Week IX Chivalry – Knights and Warfare
22 October Courtesy
and Loyalty among Men at Arms
24 October In class Midterm Exam – bring
blue books!
Reading: Course Reader, 46-53; Ortenberg, Chapter 6
Week X Fighting for peace –
War in the Name of God
29 October The
Crusades
31 October Discussion:
Europe and the East - Then and Now
Reading: Course Reader, 54-58; Napoleoni "Modern Jihad"; Rampolla, 69-87
Week XI Love and
Marriage – Domestic Life
5 November Sex
and Gender in Medieval Society
7 November Discussion:
The Role of Women
Reading: Course Reader, 59-73.
Week XII Love and Marriage –
The Romance
12 November Veterans Day – no classes
14 November Discussion:
Using Literature as a Historical Source
Reading: Course Reader, 74-83; Ortenberg, Chapter 2
Week XIII Castles,
Cathedrals, and Courts
19 November The
Human Landscape
21 November Discussion:
Interpreting Material Culture
Reading: Course Reader, 84-87; http://www.castlewales.com/life.html
(read through this website and be prepared to discuss it; you don't need to
print it out); Ortenberg, Chapter 3
Week XIV Cities and
Urban Life
26 November Urbanization
and Urbanity
28 November Discussion:
Reading and Analyzing Secondary Sources
Reading: Lorraine Attreed "Urban Identity in Medieval
English Towns"; Rampolla, 96-100
Week XV The middle
ages now
3 December The
Presence of the Past
5 December Discussion:
Medieval Holdovers
annotated bibliography due
Reading: Ortenberg, Chapter 8
Final exam: Code 11b
11 December, 10:00-12:00