Medieval England
Course Web Page on Moodle (accessible through the myconcordia portal)
T Th 16:15-17:30
H-429
Instructor: Dr. S. McSheffrey
Office: LB-1001-9
Phone: 514 848-2424 ext. 2417
E-mail: shannon.mcsheffrey@concordia.ca
Office Hours Fall 2012
Tues. 14:45-15:45
Or by appointment
Required texts (at Concordia Bookstore):
Emilie Amt, Selections from Medieval England, 1000-1500: A Reader (Peterborough:
Broadview Books, 2001).
Nigel Saul, ed., The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2000).
[Other required readings can be downloaded from the course webpage, on Moodle.]
Recommended text
John Gillingham and Ralph A. Griffiths, Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000). ISBN 019285402X. Available as an E-Book.
Assignments
During the term students will write, in English or French, two essays, one final
examination, and four one-paragraph reaction papers. For details, see instructions on the
Moodle site.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Norman Conquest Essay (~1500-2000 words).
Primary Source Essay (~1500-2000 words)
Reaction papers (4 x 5%)
Final Examination (based on readings and lectures)
2 5%
2 5%
2 0%
3 0%
LATE PAPERS: Only dire medical emergencies constitute an appropriate reason for late
papers. All others will be penalized at the rate of 1 0% per day
History 350, Medieval England – Lecture Schedule, Winter 2012
KEY: OIHME = Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England
Amt = Emilie Amt, Medieval England, 1000-1500: A Reader
*
= Links on moodle course webpage
Date
Lecture Topic
Readings
4 Sept.
[Class cancelled due to provincial election]
6 Sept.
Introduction
Amt, “Laws of Cnut,” pp. 20-28
Anglo-Saxon
England
OIHME, ch. 2
11
Sept.
The Norman
Conquest and the
Bayeux Tapestry I
Amt, “The Text of the Bayeux Tapestry,” pp. 67-73
13
Sept.
The Norman
Conquest and the
Bayeux Tapestry II
Amt, “The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,” pp. 55-66
18
Sept.
The Norman
Conquest, the
Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle and the
Establishment of
Anglo-Norman
Monarchy
Amt, “Domesday Book,” pp. 74-77
OIHME, ch. 3
Assignments
Date
Lecture Topic
Readings
20
Sept.
Anarchy (and
Monarchy) in the
U.K.: Stephen to
Henry II
Amt, “William of Malmesbury’s History of Recent Events,” pp. 102111
25
Sept.
Twelfth-Century
Religion and
Society
Amt, “The Life of St. William of Norwich by Thomas of Monmouth,”
pp. 163-71
Assignments
Paragraph on William of
Malmesbury's "History," due
19 Sept.; Rewrite due 21 Sept.
Amt, “The Life of St. Godric of Finchale by Reginald of Durham,” pp.
172-76
27
Sept.
Challenges to
Monarchy: Magna
Carta and the
Barons’ Revolt
Amt, “Roger of Wendover’s Account of the Rebellion Against King
John,” pp. 210-13
2 Oct.
Edward I and
Parliament
Amt, “Summonses to Parliament,” pp. 261-63
4 Oct.
England and the
“Celtic Fringe”
*On William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, c. 1307
*The Statute of Kilkenny, 1367
OIHME, ch. 4
9 Oct.
The Countryside:
The Manor
*"A Manorial Court, 1246-49"
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/manor-pleas.asp
11
Oct.
Towns: The
Development of
London
Amt, “London Craft Guild Ordinances,” pp. 312-21
OIHME, ch. 5
Norman Conquest Essay Due
Date
Lecture Topic
Readings
16
Oct.
From Memory to
Written Record
Look at the literacy spreadsheet posted onto Moodle, and consider
the questions posted there
18
Oct.
Law & Order in
Medieval England
Amt, “London Coroners’ Rolls,” 266-73
23
Oct.
Economic Crisis:
Famines and
Plague
Amt, “Accounts of the Black Death and its Effects”
25
Oct.
Edward II, Edward
III, and the
Hundred Years’
War
Amt, “Jean Froissart’s Chronicle: On the Battle of Crécy,” 328-33
30
Oct.
The Peasants’
Revolt
Amt, “Chronicle Accounts of the Peasants’ Revolt,” pp. 350-54
1 Nov.
Late Medieval
Orthodox Religion
Assignments
Paragraph analyzing the literacy
data due 15 Oct.; Rewrite due
17 Oct.
Amt, “Peasants’ Revolt Trials,” pp. 354-56
Amt, “Ordinances of the Guild of St. Katharine at Norwich,” pp. 35860
OIHME, ch. 6
6 Nov.
Late Medieval
Heresy: John
Wyclif and the
Lollards
Amt, “The Lollard Conclusions,” 369-73
Paragraph on the Lollard
Conclusions due 5 Nov;
Rewrite due 7 Nov.
Date
Lecture Topic
Readings
8 Nov.
Late Medieval
Politics:
Usurpation and
Legitimation
13
Nov.
Late Medieval
Politics: The Wars
of the Roses I
15
Nov.
Late Medieval
Politics: The Wars
of the Roses II
20
Nov.
Late Medieval
Society: The
Aristocracy
Amt, “The Plumpton Letters,” 450-64
22
Nov.
Late Medieval
Society: Marriage
and Family in 15thcentury England
Agnes Eston c. John Crosby (a marriage suit at the Consistory Court
of London, 1494), at the Consistory Database:
http://digitalhistory.concordia.ca/consistory/obj.php?p=1694&case_
results_format=full
27
Nov.
The Middle Ages
on Screen I
Watch a film or TV show from the list posted on Moodle
29
Nov.
The Middle Ages
on Screen II
Assignments
Amt, “The Deposition of Richard II,” 374-79
Paragraph on the Plumpton
letters due 19 Nov.; Rewrite due
21 Nov.
Primary Source Essay Due
GENERAL NOTE ON ASSIGNMENTS
Students should be aware of the University policy on plagiarism and cheating as laid out in the Academic Code of
Conduct (see http://registrar.concordia.ca/calendar/17/17.10.html). Anyone contravening the regulations will be reported,
and repercussions in the case of a conviction are serious (including a permanent notation on the student’s record that
he/she has been convicted of a cheating offence and sometimes an F on the course; more than one conviction can result in
eviction from the university). Please note that apart from plagiarism (representing someone else’s work as your own), it is
also an offence to submit the same work in two different courses, unless both instructors are aware of the situation and
have approved it.
Please do not hesitate to consult me should you have any queries or questions about the assignments.