January 8th Readings and Preparation
Readings:
- A Short History of the Middle Ages (SH), 1-22.
- A Short Medieval Reader (SMR), 1.1 “Toleration or favouritism? The Edict of Milan (313)”; 1.5 “Relating this world to the next: Augustine, City of God (413-426)”
Preparation:
At the beginning of A Short Medieval Reader, Barbara Rosenwein has laid out the central questions that we use to read and analyze medieval historical sources (pages xvii-xviii). Read through these questions and Rosenwein’s explanations for them. Then apply the questions to the two readings from A Short Medieval Reader assigned above. We’ll talk about them in class.
Slides:
#2-Fall of Rome and Christianity
January 10th Readings and Preparation
Readings:
- SH, 23-29; 58-75.
- SMR, 1.8 “Merovingian Gaul’s bishop-historian: Gregory of Tours, Histories (576-594)”; 2.5 “A Model Christian queen: The Life of Queen Balthild (c. 680)”
Preparation:
Use the questions provided by Rosenwein again on these two sources. Make sure to write down or highlight any aspects of the historical sources that are unclear or confusing to you. We can talk about those in class.
Slides:
Assignments and Online Discussion
Assignments:
- Look over the Research Trail Assignment information available here: Research Trail Assignment
- Sign up for an appointment with Dr. Wessell Lightfoot to choose your topic. Appointment schedule here: Research Trail Appointment Schedule
Online Discussion:
- Group One (last name A-G) will do their online discussion engagement by Saturday January 6th at midnight. Please respond to the prompt posted on the chatboard.
- Group Two (last name H-Z) will do their online discussion engagement by Monday January 8th at midnight. Please respond to the prompt posted on the chatboard.
- NOTE: As it’s the first “real” week of classes, the online discussion posts are practice. We’ll get started with those that count on January 13th (for the class on the 15th).