N.B. THIS SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE--CHECK THIS WEBSITE REGULARLY!!
History 308 - Fall 2007
(T/Th 11-12.20, Thh 214)
Britain and Ireland to 1200
Prof. Lisa Bitel
office: SOS 282
office hours: Monday 10-12 and by appointment
email: bitel@usc.edu
office telephone: 213-821-2150
webpage: http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~bitel
This course is designed to introduce students to major trends in the history of Britain and
Ireland from the late Bronze Age to the brink of Norman invasions. The course moves
thematically as well as chronologically. Principal themes include: invasion and immigration;
ethnicity and identity; concept and practice of kingship; kinship structures; religious change;
gender; and literature of heroes. Class sessions are devoted to informal lectures, multimedia
presentations, and discussions of readings.
Assignments:
1. Readings completed before class, including those on syllabus and those assigned on
WWW; along with occasional brief assignments; participation in all discussions; lead one
discussion (=20% grade)
2. Blog (6 posts total) (= 10% of grade)
2. Two in-class examinations (each = 10% of grade)
3. Paper of approx. 8-10 pages or equivalent project (discuss with professor) (=30% of
grade)
4. Final examination (=30% of grade)
(Discussion leaders listed HERE)
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is, according to the Random House Dictionary of the English Language, "the
appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas, and thoughts of another author,
and representation of them as one's original work." Plagiarism on any exam or paper
will result in a failing grade on that assignment and possible disciplinary action.
NOTE:
2 ABSENCES WITHOUT PROOF OF MEDICAL OR OTHER EMERGENCY
RESULT IN LOWER CLASS GRADE.
3 ABSENCES OF ANY KIND WILL RESULT IN LOWER CLASS GRADE.
ADDITIONAL ABSENCES WILL RESULT IN EVEN LOWER GRADE.
* Blog: Each week, I will post a question about the readings to the blog. During the
semester you are required to make 6 responses total. Postings will be graded on
thoughtful quality, not quantity. You must post to blog before 5.00 p.m. of day before
class or your posting will NOT COUNT for credit--BUT feel free to make additional
postings of questions or comments at any time.
**Discussion leading: Everyone will sign up to lead one discussion session; some
weeks will have more than one discussion leader. You are expected to prepare for
discussion (with the others who have signed up, if any) for your approximately 10minute presentation on the subject and texts under discussion. Your presentation
SHOULD NOT be simply a rehearsal of the contents of the readings--it should put the
readings in context, or present related materials, or help direct the discussion in some
other useful way. You should be able to suggest GENERAL (not specific or yes-andno) directions and questions for our discussion. BUT you should know who wrote the
texts, when, why, and where, and what the texts are about. Base your presentation on
scholarly resources in the library and/or online, as well as books or other materials
assigned for class. Feel free to include images or other additional materials to help
explain the assigned readings. Don't hesitate to ask the instructor or reference
librarians for assistance!
***Papers: Papers must be based on assigned texts, to be posted later in
the semester.
NOTE: Readings and homework MUST be completed by class for which they are
assigned.
Late assignments WILL BE GRADED WITH PENALTY.
Books available for purchase:
T. Charles-Edwards, After Rome
J. Gantz, Early Irish Myths and Sagas
Tacitus, Germania and Agricola
T. Kinsella, The Tain
S. Heaney, Beowulf
K. Crossley-Holland, The Anglo-Saxon World
Other sources used in class may be found online or in Leavey or Doheny libraries.
CLASS MEETINGS:
(8-28) Introduction
I. Britain and Ireland before and after Humans
(8-30) Reading:
Find an atlas in library or online, study the physical geography of Britain and Ireland--be
ready for in-class investigations.
Ritual sites: Avebury and Avebury
Stonehenge and Stonehenge
Newgrange and Newgrange
also check the British Museum education site, Compass - search under Amesbury
Archer
Some MAPS and timelines available here:
Prehistoric and Celtic Ireland resources
British prehistory
http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuengl/mainmaps.html
Prehistoric sites:
Cheddar Caves
Céide fields, Co. Mayo
II. Celts and Celticity
(9-4/6) Reading:
Maryon McDonald et al., " Celtic Ethnic Kinship and the Problem of Being English
[and Comments and Replies]" [via JSTOR]
Michael Sundermeier, "The Archaeology of Ancient Ireland"
Simon James, "Peoples of Britain"
If you want some info about the Celts, see these links AND/OR the links at end of
syllabus:
Encyclopedia of the Celts
Stone Pages
III. The Iron Age
NOTE: NO CLASS 9-13 or 9-18, so READ AHEAD!! You'll be glad you did. No,
really, I mean it. Some of those weeks ahead have what seems like quite a lot of reading,
so this would be a great time to settle down and get through Tacitus's Agricola or maybe
the Tain...I mean, even next week has a fair number of pages...and who are all those
gods and goddesses and shapeshifters and druids anyway? Honestly.
(9-11/20) Reading:
Gantz, Early Irish Myths, 1-106.
Julian Richards, Overview: Iron Age, 800 B. C. to 43 A. D.
More Celts:
Iron Age Celts--this is a totally cool interactive site.
Archaeological evidence/Images of Celtic art
Periods in Celtic art/archaeology (Metropolitan Museum timeline)
Celtic mythology: Mythography and Searc's Guide
British Museum education site, Compass (search under La Tène)
How to make an Iron age "Celtic" house
IV. Romanization/Romanitas
(9-25/27) Reading:
Tacitus, Agricola
Charles-Edwards, After Rome, xvi- 58
Get an idea of when the Romans invaded, why they did it, where they went,
and how they changed the island: Roman Britain
WHAT did the ancients think about Britain? Check out what Caesar said:
Julius Caesar, Gallic Wars Book V : see Book V, chapters 12-26
HOW ABOUT the early medieval English themselves? See:
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Part I : skim beginning to year 449
Bede, Ecclesiastical History Book I : skim chapters 1-12.
Also, have a look at these:
Romano-British Sites and Museums
Roman Inscriptions in Britain
Villas (and other R-B sites) - e.g.
Chedworth
Fishbourne Villa (courtesy of the Dirt Bros.)
Go to the Roman Britain site for town plans and changing maps of the province
Go to British Museum Compass for silver hoards, sculpture, mosacis, forts, and tablets from
Vindolanda
Go to Bath for a Romano-British temple
V. Christianitas
(10-2/4) Reading:
Charles-Edwards, After Rome, 103-139
St. Patrick, Confession
Muirchú, Life of Patrick [on reserve at Leavey library in L. Bieler, ed., Patrician Texts in the
Book of Armagh]
Browse: Celtic Inscribed Stones Project
Irish Annals at CELT : explore early sections
VI. Heroic Age: Arthur v. the Anglo-Saxons
(10-9/11) Reading:
Gildas, from the Ruin of Britain
Nennius, History of Britain, Arthur selection
Bede, Ecclesiastical History Book I : read chapters 13-16
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Part I : see years 449-597
The Annals of Wales : see up through 595
For more Arthurian-era fun:
Visit Post-Roman Britain and track the Anglo-Saxon conquest!
Arthur in History
Vortigern Studies
Heinrich Harke, "Finding Britons in Anglo-Saxon Graves," British Archaeology 10 (1995),
Features
Historicity and Historicisation of Arthur
The Fenian Cycle
Camelot Project
Arthuriana Chronology
A Gazetteer of Arthurian Sites
Arthuriana
10-11: FIRST SHORT EXAMINATION - take home, open book, due in class 1016.
VII: Medieval-ism and Arthuriana
(10-16/18) Reading:
Charles-Edwards, After Rome, 61-101
FILMFEST:
King Arthur (Fuqua, 2004) - See also: Review of King Arthur (2004)
Excalibur (Boorman, 1981)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Gilliam, Jones, 1975)
Camelot (Logan, 1967)
Sword and the Stone (Reitherman, Disney, 1963)
In your spare time, you might also consider:
Mists of Avalon (Edel, 2001)
Merlin (Barron, 1998)
First Knight (Zucker, 1995)
Perceval le Gallois (Rohmer, 1978)
Lancelot du Lac (Bresson, 1974)
Prince Valiant (Hathaway, 1954)
Knights of the Round Table (Thorpe, 1953)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Garnett, 1949)
VIII. Church Establishment: (Re)conversion, monasticism, and saints' cults
(10-23/25) Reading:
Charles-Edwards, After Rome, 140-190
Bethu Brigte (Life of St. Brigit)
Crossley-Holland, The Anglo-Saxon World, 155-206
See also:
Medieval Manuscripts: Paleography on the Web
Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts
IX. Heroic Age Antiquarianism: Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle-raid of Cooley)
(10-30/11-1) Reading:
Kinsella, The Tain (entire, including introduction and pre-tales [rem-scela])
10-30: PAPER TOPICS DUE IN CLASS
X. Heroic Age Antiquarianism: Beowulf
(11-6/8) Reading:
Heaney, trans., Beowulf
For other takes on Beowulf:
Beowulf resources and links
Beowulf in Cyberspace
Beowulf and Grendel
The 13th Warrior (Eaters of the Dead)
Beowulf
XI. Anglo-Saxon and Celtic Societies
(11-13/15) Reading:
Charles-Edwards, After Rome, 61-101
Crossley-Holland, The Anglo-Saxon World, 23-32, 45-60
Cáin Adomnáin
Irish laws: Críth Gablach [class handout]
Wendy Davies, "Land and Power in Early Wales" [access via JSTOR]
See also:
Anglo-Saxon Charms
Sutton Hoo Organization
British Museum: Sutton Hoo
Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries
Deer Park Farms
11-13: OUTLINE AND BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR RESEARCH PAPER DUE IN CLASS
11-13: SECOND SHORT EXAMINATION - take home, open book, due in class 11-15.
NOTE: NO CLASS 11-20: Optional individual meetings to discuss papers.
Reading:
Charles-Edwards, After Rome, 221-70.
NO CLASS 11-22: Thanksgiving.
11-20: OPTIONAL ROUGH DRAFTS OF FINAL PAPER DUE (returned by 11-27)
XI. Kings and Vikings
(11-27/29) Reading:
Crossley-Holland, The Anglo-Saxon World, 208-33, 292-99
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: on the Viking Raids and on Alfred
The Laws of King Alfred
Tecosca Cormaic
Lebor na Cert (Book of Rights), sec. 1: Rights of the king of Cashel
Stephen Driscoll, " Picts and Prehistory: Cultural Resource Management in Early Medieval
Scotland" [access via JSTOR]
See also:
The Alfred Jewel
The Battle of Maldon
Battle of Brunanburh
Ask the Viking Answer Lady
Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga
Norse Runes (click on English!)
Jelling Runic Stones
The Viking Ship Museum and Skuldelev
The Cuerdale hoard and Gosforth Cross
The Viking Age in Ireland : focus on Dublin Archaeology
Jorvik: The Viking City
Angelcynn
Wulfstan, Sermon to the English at: http://english3.fsu.edu/~wulfstan/noframes.html
XII. (Post) Viking Islands
(12-4/6) Reading: (all available electronically)
Richard Hall, "Jórvík: a Viking-age city," in Land, Sea and Home ed. John Hines et al.
(2004) [on electronic reserve]
Andrew Wareham, "The Transofrmation of Kingship and the Family in late Anglo-Saxon
England," Early Medieval Europe 10 (2001), 375-99. [online via USC Libraries Synergy]
Paul Holm, "Between Apathy and Antipathy, the Vikings in Irish and Scandinavian
History," Peritia 8 (1994), 151-69. [on electronic reserve]
Matthew Innes, "Danelaw Identities," in Dawn Hadley et al., eds., Cultures in Contact:
Scandinavian Settlement in England in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries (2000), 65-88. [on
electronic reserve]
PAPER DUE IN LAST CLASS, 12-6
FINAL EXAM HANDED OUT IN LAST CLASS 12-6
DUE DECEMBER 11, HISTORY OFFICE (SOS) BY 5 P.M.
Additional resources:
PRIMARY SOURCES
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Internet Medieval Sourcebook
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Early Medieval Resources for Britian, Ireland, and Brittany
Celtic Studies resources
Celtic Literature Collective
CELT
Celtic Christianity E-Library
Irish Studies: Irish Literature and Verse
The Celtic Christianity e-Library
Old English Pages : Historical Contexts
Richard Rawlinson Center for Anglo-Saxon Studies
Anglo-Saxon Studies: A Select Bibliography
Anglo-Saxon Charters
Book of Kells
Wulfstan, Sermon to the English
Late Celtic/Anglo-Saxon sources
Irish Script Online
LANGUAGE
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Pronunciation Guide to Irish Gaelic
Ogham
More Ogham
Word of the Day
MAPS, etc.
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Britannia : Historical Maps
Irish Resources in the Humanities : Ireland's History in Maps
Maps of Great Britain and Map of Anglo-Saxon England
Maps of Ireland : counties ; in relation to Britain ; with Europe ; modern
Celtic invasions
Anglo-Saxon invasions
CELTS (general)
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Encyclopedia of the Celts
List of Celtic tribes
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Celtic timeline
ARCHAEOLOGY/ART
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Council for British Archaeology
The British Museum and The British Library
National Museum of Ireland and The National Library of Ireland
Irish Archaeological Sites
Resources in Irish Archaeology
IRQAS
Megalithomania
The Ulster Museum
The National Museum of Scotland
National Museums and Galleries of Wales and Gathering the Jewels
Manx National Heritage Site
Stonehenge
Stonehenge Project
Stones of England
Irish Shrines and Reliquaries
Book of Durrow
Lindisfarne
Book of Kells
High crosses
More high crosses
Spoilheap (British archaeology)
ROMANS
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Roman Britian
ANGLO-SAXONS
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Anglo-Saxons (BBC eduction)
Firsby village
VIKINGS
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The Early Middle Ages: The Viking Experience syllabus
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Museum of London : Treasures of a Saxon King , Reconstruction , and FAQ (see AP
article )
Another find: Viking Burial and Treasure Hunters find possible Viking burial boat
with picture
Vikings (BBC)
Ask the Viking Answer Lady
Gorm the Wired Viking
COOL STUFF
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New and Bizarre: Pickled Dragon
New and Interesting Book: Anglo-Saxon Perceptions of the Islamic World : read
sample pages
BBC News: "Teeth Unravel Anglo-Saxon Legacy"
Celtic genes
REFERENCE SOURCES:
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IBIS links - this is a metasite for British and Irish history hosted by our own USC!
Society for Early English and Norse
Simon Keynes Anglo-Saxon History Bibliography
CSANA bibliography
Digital Medievalist resources for Ireland
The ORB Encyclopedia : Sub-Roman Britain ; The Celtic Fringe ; Anglo-Saxon
England