Course Syllabus
Instructor Contact Info:
Professor Urbanski (urbanski@uw.edu)
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11-noon via Zoom (links to Office Hours are in the Zoom tab) or by appointment
TA: Resem Makan (resmakan@uw.edu)
Office Hours: Mondays 3-4 pm via Zoom (links to Office Hours are in the Zoom tab)
General Rules for Contacting Instructors:
- Please check the syllabus and/or assignment handout to see if they contain the information you need before emailing instructors with questions.
- You can email us for quick questions that are not answered in the syllabus and/or assignment handouts, but you should see us during office hours for anything that requires more than a one or two sentence response.
- Office hours are periods that we set aside specifically to meet with students. You should come to office hours if you need help with an assignment or have questions that require a detailed response.
- We check our email regularly during normal business hours (M-F between 8 am and 5 pm).
- We will reply to emails within a reasonable time-frame (within 24 hours during the week and by the afternoon of the next business day for emails received over the weekend or on holidays)
PAPER TOPICS AND EXAM STUDY GUIDES (links will appear when these items are available)
Midterm Study Guide (the midterm exam will be available on Canvas from Friday, October 22 at 8 am to Tuesday, October 26 at 11:59 pm)
First Paper Topics (the first paper is due Tuesday, November 2, by 11:59 pm)
Second Paper Topics (the second paper is due Tuesday, November 23, by 11:59 pm)
Final Exam Study Guide (the final exam will be available on Canvas from Friday, December 10 at 8 am to Tuesday, December 14 at 11:59 pm)
SOME OTHER USEFUL STUFF
Glossary
Timeline
Norman Genealogy
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
The schedule of classes is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
This is a hybrid course
- We will only meet in person on Thursdays during our scheduled class time from 2:30 to 4:20 in 304 Smith.
- Tuesday lectures will be recorded and posted to the course website where you can view them at your convenience (just watch them before class on Thursdays). Links will be embedded in the syllabus below.
- I will also be recording the Thursday in person lectures/discussions and posting them to the course website after class so they will be available if you have to miss class for any reason. Links will be embedded in the syllabus below.
If you feel comfortable coming to class in person, please join us on Thursdays. If you do not feel comfortable coming to class, you can watch the Thursday sessions online afterward. Also note that there is no penalty for missed classes this quarter and that all assignments and exams will be online.
WEEK 1
LECTURES
Th 9/30 Introduction
WEEK 2
LECTURES
T 10/5 England before the Normans
Th 10/7 The Norman Conquest (This lecture got split into two parts due to a glitch in class. Please use the Panopto Recordings tab at the top left of your screen to view both parts of the lecture.)
Horrible Histories, News at Hastings (this is the video that did not get recorded by Panopto)
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
William of Poitiers, The Deeds of William the Conqueror, pp. 69-79 and 100-187
William of Malmesbury on the English and the Normans, pp. 314-316
READING GUIDE
- Some quick tips for reading primary sources. Always make sure to skim the introduction, if there is one (Google the author/source if there isn't one), so you know who the author is, when they were writing, and what kind of access they had to accurate information. Think about what kind of bias each author has, what they are trying to convince you of and why they would bother to do so, and whether you should believe their version of events. Hint: in the case of a highly contested event like the Norman Conquest, there will be both pro- and anti-conqueror accounts, each will probably contain some truths and some exaggerations or even lies. Our job as historians is to determine what is most likely to have happened (and which elements are contested) by assessing the reliability of each author and noting where different authors agree and where they contradict one another.
- Who is William of Poitiers and why is he writing? Can we expect him to be impartial?
- How does William of Poitiers portray William the Conqueror and the Normans? How does he present William the Conqueror’s claim to the English throne? How does he portray Harold Godwin? How does he portray the Conquest and its aftermath?
- Who is William of Malmesbury (google him), when was he writing, and how does his account of the Conquest compare to William of Poitiers' version? How do you account for the differences between the two versions?
WEEK 3
LECTURES
T 10/12 Continuity and Innovation under the Normans (in the Panopto Recordings tab)
Th 10/14 Domesday England (this lecture has no sound due to a Panopto malfunction so I'm providing my lecture notes as well as my discussion notes)
Horrible Histories, Domesday Book
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
Clanchy, pp. 39-54, 83-98 [3rd ed. 39-53, 81-95]
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an 1066-1100 (read “D” column to 1080, then read “E”), pp. 144-185
The Laws of William the Conqueror, pp. 431-432
Penances Imposed for Various Sins, pp. 649-650
Domesday Book (202-205), pp. 914-917
Orderic Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History, Death of William, pp. 305-314
William of Malmesbury, Death of William Rufus, pp. 316-318
READING GUIDE
- Pay close attention to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Orderic’s account of William the Conqueror's death in the Ecclesiastical History. How do these English depictions of William the Conqueror and the Norman Conquest differ from William of Poitiers’ pro-Norman account that we read last week?
- What types of laws does William the Conqueror establish? What is he trying to do with these laws? Are the laws the same for both English and French/Normans?
- Why are penances imposed on the conquerors? What types of penances do they have to perform? What does this tell us about how the Church viewed warfare in the late 11th century?
- What is William is trying to achieve with Domesday Book (i.e., why would the king try to create a record of every landholder in England and their possessions)?
- How does William of Malmesbury present the death of William Rufus (and the king generally)? What are we to make of the omens surrounding his death and the prophetic dreams regarding it? What happens when William dies (how do people behave)?
WEEK 4
THE MIDTERM EXAM WILL BE AVAILABLE ON CANVAS FROM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 AT 8 AM TO TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT 11:59 PM
LECTURES
T 10/19 Henry I
Th 10/21 Stephen, Matilda, and the Anarchy
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
Clanchy, pp. 54-64, 99-113 [3rd ed. 53-62, 97-111]
William of Malmesbury, Historia Novella, pp. 1-77
Coronation Charter of Henry I, p. 432-434
READING GUIDE
- What kinds of promises does Henry make to the nobles in his coronation charter? Why does he issue this charter at all? What does this tell us about the limitations of kingship?
- How does William of Malmesbury portray Henry I, Robert of Gloucester, Empress Matilda, and King Stephen? Who does he favor?
- What role do the nobles play in starting the civil war and during the war?
- Why doesn’t Empress Matilda ever become queen?
- Why doesn’t Robert of Gloucester become king? What has changed since William the Conqueror’s time?
WEEK 5
LECTURES
T 10/26 Church and Crown
Th 10/28 Monasticism
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
Clanchy, pp. 65-82 [3rd ed. 63-80]
Jocelin of Brakelond, Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds (REQUIRED BOOK)
READING GUIDE
- Who is Jocelin and why is he writing?
- What is life like inside the abbey? What are relations like between the abbot and his monks? What roles do the abbot and abbey play in the town of St. Edmunds?
- How important is St. Edmund (the actual saint)?
- What role does the abbot play in the life of the abbey, in royal government, in the community?
- What does Samson spend most of his time doing as abbot?
- What is Samson’s Kalendar and why is it important?
- Why is Samson so concerned with protecting the liberties of St. Edmund? What are some of these liberties?
- What does Jocelin think are Samson’s virtues, what are his faults?
- What can this source tell us about monastic life?
WEEK 6
FIRST PAPER DUE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, BY 11:59 PM
LECTURES
T 11/2 Henry II and the Restoration of Royal Authority
Th 11/4 Rebellions and the Succession
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
Clanchy, pp. 113-139 [3rd ed. 111-137]
William of Newburgh, The History of English Affairs, pp. 14-157
Constitutions of Clarendon, pp. 766-770
READING GUIDE
- What is Henry trying to do with the Constitutions of Clarendon and why does this provoke a fight with Thomas Becket and the church?
- Who is William of Newburgh and why is he writing?
- Whose side does William of Newburgh take in the dispute between Henry and Becket?
- What causes Henry’s sons to rebel against him? Who joins them? How does Newburgh portray Henry in this conflict?
- What cultural attitudes and assumptions does William of Newburgh reveal? For instance, how does he describe the Welsh, Scots, Irish, rustics, heretics, etc.? What assumptions does he make about clerical behavior, human nature, about how and when war is waged, etc.?
WEEK 7
LECTURES
T 11/9 Richard I and the Third Crusade
Read: Clanchy, pp. 140-181 [3rd ed. 138-177]
Th 11/11 NO CLASS - VETERANS' DAY HOLIDAY
WEEK 8
LECTURES
T 11/16 John I and Philip Augustus
Th 11/18 Magna Carta
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
Clanchy, pp. 183-214 [3rd ed. 178-194]
Matthew of Westminster, Flowers of History, pp. 82-133
Charter of Liberties, pp. 310-311
Articles of the Barons, p. 311-316
READING GUIDE
- How does Matthew portray John and his reign? How does this compare with the way he portrays Richard?
- What has John done to upset his subjects?
- What classes are demanding redress in Magna Carta? What are some of their specific grievances and what do they propose to address them? How do they plan to ensure that their demands are met?
WEEK 9
SECOND PAPER DUE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, BY 11:59 PM
LECTURES
T 11/23 Video: Time Watch: The Greatest Knight (50 mins),
A version of the video with closed captioning can be found here https://plugin.3playmedia.com/host?mf=6936020&p3sdk_version=1.10.6&p=20413&pt=358&video_id=yEX21WgJzA8&video_target=tpm-plugin-emqzdk6w-yEX21WgJzA8
Th 11/25 NO CLASS OR READING - THANKSGIVING
WEEK 10
LECTURES
T 11/30 William Marshall
Th 12/2 Henry III and the Accumulation of Grievances
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY AND SUBMIT WRITING ASSIGNMENT ON CANVAS)
Clanchy, pp. 214-247 [3rd ed. 194-227]
Georges Duby, William Marshal (REQUIRED BOOK)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mKaV3zuXF_pQp093lRnTZyaRX7PqFgvUvIhuHxqH6c0/edit?usp=sharing
READING GUIDE
- How is William Marshal’s death portrayed? How does this compare to other deaths we have seen portrayed by medieval authors (e.g. William the Conqueror and William Rufus)?
- Pay attention to how William Marshal rises to prominence and how his rise is connected to his chivalry. Are there points when William fails to exhibit chivalry?
- How does William practice chivalry when he is a knight, as opposed to when he becomes a baron? Why is there a difference?
- Why is William trusted by a succession of kings?
WEEK 11
LECTURES
T 12/7 Simon de Montfort’s Rebellion
Th 12/9 Edward I
READING (COMPLETE BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY - THERE IS NO WRITING ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK)
Clanchy, pp. 248-330 [3rd ed. 228-306]
THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE AVAILABLE ON CANVAS FROM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 8 AM TO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 11:59 PM
Course Summary:
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