SYLLABUS

History 2202
Introduction to Medieval
History:
the Popular Middle Ages

Instructor: Prof. Alison I. Beach The Ohio State University

Office: 257 Dulles Hall Fall Semester 2016
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:45-2:45 Tuesday & Thursday 12:45-2:05
Telephone: 292-6594 Townshend Hall 255
email: beach.174@osu.edu

This course offers an introduction to Medieval History through the use and critique of popular
representations of the period and its people in contemporary media (including historical fiction,
film, and games). In pairing these popular interpretations with the traditional sources of the
academic study of the Middle Ages, students are introduced to the basics of medieval political,
social, economic, and religious history.

Course Objectives
Content:
1. To understand the complex and interacting historical factors that led to the
transformation of the early medieval world and the birth of early modern Europe …
2. To become familiar with the political, economic, spiritual, intellectual, and
institutional dimensions of European civilization...
3. To study in the causes and impact of demographic and economic change at the end of
the Middle Ages.
Skills:
1. To read and think critically about the sources of the history of medieval History…
2. To speak thoughtfully and coherently about primary and secondary course readings in
class discussions…
3. To think critically about the nature of history and how we understand and represent
people and events in the past.

Historical Study Expected Learning Outcomes:

History courses develop students’ knowledge of how past events influence today’s society and
help them understand how human beings view themselves.

1. Students acquire a perspective on history and an understanding of the factors that shape
human activity.
2. Students display knowledge about the origins and nature of contemporary issues and
develop a foundation for future comparative understanding.
3. Students think, speak, and write critically about primary and secondary historical sources
by examining diverse interpretations of past events and ideas in their historical contexts.
General Education Expected Learning Outcomes:
History 2202 fulfills the GE Global Studies requirement, the goal of which is “to foster an
understanding of the pluralistic nature of institutions, society, and culture across the world in
order to help the student become an educated, productive, and principled citizen.”
1. Students construct an integrated perspective on history and the factors that shape human
activity.
2. Students describe and analyze the origins and nature of contemporary issues.
3. Students speak and write critically about primary and secondary historical sources by
examining diverse interpretations of past events and ideas in their historical contexts.

Course Requirements
Required to Purchase (additional readings on Carmen):
John Aberth, The Black Death: the Great Mortality of 1348-1350
Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom
Lucy Pick, Pilgrimage
Angus A. Somerville & R. Andrew McDonald, eds, The Viking Age: A Reader
Connie Willis, The Doomsday Book

Graded Elements:
Attendance and Class Participation (5% of final grade)
Three Online Quizzes (5% of final grade)
Three Short Writing Assignments (30% of final grade)
Three Film Responses (10% of final grade)
Two Midterm Exams (30% of final grade)
Final Exam (20% of final grade)

Grading Scale:
From To Letter Grade
100% 93% A
92% 90% A-
89% 87% B+
86% 83% B
82% 80% B-
79% 77% C+
76% 73% C
72% 70% C-
69% 67% D+
66% 63% D
62% 60% D-
59% and Below F

2
Schedule of Classes & Readings
Class Date Topic Reading Assignment Due
1 8/23 Course Introduction: Begin Cornwell, The Last
The Middle Ages Kingdom
Part One: The Age of the Vikings
2 8/25 Lecture: Life in Continue Cornwell, The Last
Western Europe in the Kingdom (continue until
Year 793 finished by 9/15)
3 8/30 Viewing: Vikings Viewer’s Guide (pdf)
(The History Channel)
4 9/1 Lecture: the Sources Introduction to The Viking
of Viking History Age: a Reader
5 9/6 Lecture: Women in Sources 20-26 in The Viking
the Viking World Age: a Reader
6 9/8 Lecture: Ships & Sources 32-37 in The Viking Response to Vikings due
Weaponry Age: a Reader on Carmen by 12:45 pm
7 9/13 Lecture: Viking Sources 7-19 in The Viking
Religion and the Age: a Reader
Conversion to
Christianity
8 9/15 Discussion: The Last Complete Cornwell, The Last Online reading quiz on
Kingdom (focus on Kingdom Carmen due by 12:45 pm
the genre of historical
fiction)
9 9/20 Lecture: The Birth of Sources 38-50 in The Viking
England Age: a Reader
10 9/22 Lecture: the Writing Assignment 1 due
Economic, Cultural, on Carmen by 12:45 pm
and Popular Legacy of
the Vikings
11 9/27
Exam 1

Part Two: Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Middle Ages

12 9/29 Lecture: the Medieval Hamilton, Part I, Religion in
Church around 1000 the Medieval West (pdf);
Begin Pick, Pilgrimage
13 10/4 Viewing: The Continue Pick, Pilgrimage
Physician (continue until finished on
10/18); Viewer’s Guide (pdf)
14 10/6 Lecture: Sources for Introduction to Shinners,
the Study of Medieval Medieval Popular Religion
Popular Religion
15 10/11 Lecture: Medieval Hamilton, Part II, the Practice Response to The
Europe’s Jewish of Christian Life, in Religion Physician due on Carmen
Communities in the Medieval West (pdf) by 12:45 pm
16 10/18 Lecture: the Complete Pick, Pilgrimage Online reading quiz on
Emergence of Carmen due by 12:45 pm
Medieval Islam
17 10/20 Lecture: Medieval Selections from medieval
Medicine medical texts (pdf)

3
18 10//25 Lecture: Relics & Shinners, Enthusiasm (pdf)
Pilgrims
19 10/27 Lecture: the Crusades Selections from Latin, Writing Assignment 2 due
Byzantine, and Muslim on Carmen 12:45 pm
accounts of the First Crusade
(pdf)
20
11/1 Exam 2

Part Three: The Black Death

21 11/3 Simulation Game: Game Handout;
Esslingen 1350 (Day Begin Willis, The Doomsday
1) Book

22 11/8 Simulation Game: Continue Willis, The

Esslingen 1350 (Day Doomsday Book (continue
2) until finished by 11/29)

23 11/10 Viewing: Black Death Viewer’s Guide (pdf)

24 11/15 Lecture: The Problem Aberth, Introduction & The Response to The Black
of Imagining the Arrival and Spread of the Death (film) due on
Unimaginable Plague Carmen by 12:45 pm

25 11/17 Lecture: Religious Aberth, Religious Mentalities

Responses to the and the Psyche of Hysteria
Plague

26 11/29 Lecture: Medical Aberth, Medical and Public Online reading quiz on
Responses to the Health Responses; Aberth, Carmen due by 12:45pm
Plague The Artistic Response
27 12/1 Lecture: Societal Aberth, Societal and Writing Assignment 3 due
Change in the Wake Economic Impact on Carmen by 12:45 pm
of the Disaster
28 12/6 Course Conclusion
and Exam Review
Session
Exam 3 (Final Exam)

4
Course Policy on Laptop and Technology Use
Recent studies have shown convincingly that the use of laptops in academic lecture halls hinders
learning, not only for the user, but for all of the students around them. Please refrain from
using the following in class: cell phones, smart phones, iPads and other tablets, laptop
computers. If you fail to abide by this policy I will ask you (politely) to leave the classroom.
Please see me if you have special physical or learning-based need to use technology in class,
please see me to make appropriate arrangements.

University Policies
Official Enrollment
All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the
semester. No requests to add the course will be approved by the Chair after that time. Enrolling
officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.
Academic Misconduct
It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish
procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term
“academic misconduct” includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed;
illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with
examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the
committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student
Conduct (http://sja.osu.edu/page.asp?id=1).
Statement on Disability Services
Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for
Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should
inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for
Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue;
telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901 (http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu)