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History 290 |
Michael D. Gordon |
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Spring, 1998 |
Fellows 428 |
The subject of this course will be the feudal nobility as it developed in Europe in the Middle Ages; we will try to understand a culture which valued horses as much as women and yet regarded marriage as more important than war. Thus, specific topics will range from warfare and law to sexuality and marriage. The goal of this course will not, however, be that of gaining knowledge of this particular historical subject (although that may happen incidentally). Rather, the goal will be to develop the critical and analytical skills necessary for a successful major in History.
The following books are available in the bookstore:
Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances
Penny
Gold, The Lady and the Virgin
F. L. Ganshof, Feudalism
Georges Duby, William Marshal: The Flower of Chivalry
Georges
Duby, The Knight, the Lady and the Priest
Constance
Bouchard, Strong of Body, Brave and Noble
The formal requirements for the course will include four short papers, and a bibliographic project.
Paper #1 February 12 20%
Paper #2 March 8 20%
Paper #3 April 2 20%
Paper #4 May 3 20%
Project end of semester 20%
In addition to these requirements there are others: the
success of this type of class is, in large part, dependent on your willingness
to attend class regularly, prepare for class thoughtfully, and participate in
class constructively. Failure to meet these expectations will have an adverse
effect on your final grade. Please note that by departmental policy, more than
two unexcused absences in History 290 will result in a failing grade.
January 18 Bouchard,
Strong of Body
January 25 Bouchard,
Strong of Body
February 1 Arthurian Romances
February 8 The Song of Roland
February 15 Painter, William Marshal
February 22 Duby,
William Marshal
March 1 David Crouch, “Strategies of Lordship
in Angevin England and the Career of William Marshal”
John Gillingham, “War and Chivalry in
the History of William the Marshal”
March 8 Marc Bloch, “Feudalism,” Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences,
VI, 203-10
F. L. Ganshof, Feudalism.
March 22 Elizabeth Brown, “The Tyranny of a
Construct: Feudalism and Historians of Medieval Europe,” American Historical Review, (1974), 1063-88
March 29 R. Southern, “The Bonds of Society”
April 5 Duby, The Knight, the Lady and the Priest
April 12 Duby,
The Knight, the Lady and the Priest
April 19 Holt,
“The Heriess and the Alien”
April 26 Gold,
The Lady and the Virgin