Medievil England

Course Details

Course Number: 3103  Section Number: 101

Fall 2010

Location: Prothro-Yeager Hall

Classroom Number: 202

Days & Times:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10 AM

Course Attachments

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. James R. King   
view Profile »

Course Expectations

Instructor:

James R. King

Office: 214 O’Donohoe

Phone: 397-4151

Textbook:

C. Warren Hollister, Robert C. Stacey, and Robin Chapman Stacey, The Making of England to 1399 (Boston, 2001), Eighth Edition.

Requirements:

All students registered for the course are responsible for class attendance and all scheduled examinations. Examinations will cover the assigned reading in the textbook and the material covered in the lectures. The lectures will focus on the most significant institutions and developments which shaped English society in the Middle Ages. Their will be two examinations, a mid-term and the final. In addition each student must submit a 1-2 page summary of the additional readings which are on reserve at the circulation desk of Moffett Library. Furthermore each student is required to submit a critique of a major work relating to the period. The summaries and critiques will be due on November 29. Each student must also hand in two examination books by September 10. The examination books (bluebooks) can be purchased in bookstore. Students are required to attend class unless they are excused because of authorized university activities. Excessive absences as well as regular tardiness can result in lowering of letter grades or in being dropped from the course.

 

Course Outline and Reading Assignments:

Introduction (August 23)

Roman Britain and the English Settlement (August 25-27)

Read: Hollister, et al., pp. 1-32.

Anglo-Saxon England (September 1-15)

The early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the Heptarchy.

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons.

The coming of the Northmen.

The Danish invasions and the house of Wessex.

The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England.

Anglo-Saxon institutions.

Read: Hollister, et al., pp. 33-107

 

 

2

Anglo-Norman England (September 17-27)

The Danish monarchy of the early Eleventh Century.

Edward the Confessor and the Norman Conquest.

Lanfranc and the restructuring of the Church.

The reigns of the later Anglo-Norman kings.

Read: Hollister, et al., pp. 108-178.

The Angevins (September 29 - October 8)

Henry II and the Angevin Succession.

The Becket Controversy.

The development of the royal court system and the Common Law.

The reigns of Richard I and John.

Magna Carta and the succession of Henry III.

Read: Hollister, et al., pp. 179-212.

Mid-Term Examination (October 11)

The Thirteenth Century (October 13-22)

The reign of Henry III and the Barons’ War.

Edward I and the era of Statute Making.

The early development of Parliament.

The Scottish Crisis.

Read: Hollister, et al., pp. 213-300.

English Historical Documents, v III, ed. Henry Rothwell (New York: Oxford University Press, 1975), "Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forests, pp. 341-349.

The Fourteenth Century (October 25 - November 5)

The reign of Edward II.

Edward III and the origins of the Hundred-Years War.

The Black Death and the Peasants War.

The reign of Richard II.

Read: Hollister, et al., pp. 303-360.

The Fifteenth Century (November 8 - December 3)

The Lancastrian Monarchy.

The revival of the war with France.

The reign of Henry VI and the outbreak of the War of the Roses.

Edward IV and Richard III (the Yorkist Monarchy).

Henry Tudor and the Tudor seizure of power.

Read: George Holmes, The Later Middle Ages, 1272-1485 (Edinburgh:

Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1962), pp. 210-226

Final Examination: December 8 (10:30-12:30) 


Final Exam12/8/2010  10:30 AM

Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.