History 276 - From Constantine to Charlemagne

This page will be regularly updated as assignments or due dates change in any ways. Please check it regularly. In addition, the materials for each class will be linked off this page, though most will require you use your Dominican login to view them. If you have trouble, check with I.T.

The readings for this course are of two kinds - primary and secondary. Often, we will primary texts for Monday and Tuesday and selections from secondary material on Friday. Organize your time well. Reading is at the core of your success for this class. You will want to develop comprehensive reading notes in order to do well with the exams.

For all primary readings, in addition, you will be required to come to class with about a page of written material in response to questions posted a few days before.

Part I - The Reorganization of the Roman World

Week I: Introduction

F 1/15- Introduction
- History of the Mediterranean and Rome until 200 or so.

Week II: Rome in the third century

M 1/18 Rome and the Barbarian World
- Primary Source Reading (1):
  - Tacitus - Germania (Geary: 69-83).
  - Come to class with thoughts on the following:
    - What do we learn about the German peoples from Tactitus' Germania?
W 1/20 Early Roman Christianity
- Primary Source Reading (2):
  - St. Perpetua - The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas (Geary, 61-68)
F 1/22 Diocletian, the 'Recovery,' and the Persecution
- Secondary Reading:
  - Brown 1-69.
- Quiz #1 on Brown.
  - This quiz will test whether you have done the reading and whether you have understood the reading. I will ask you short-answer questions about each of the five sections that you are reading for today. The questions will focus on major themes and the examples that Brown uses to illustrate the major themes.
  - The quiz will be OPEN NOTE but not open book. You may hand-write or type YOUR OWN reading notes and use them during the quiz. The goal is to see your ability to read a large chunk of text and comprehend it.

Week III: Constantine, Normative Christianity, and Early Heresies

M 1/25 The new emperor and his city
- Primary Source Reading (3)
  - Eusebius - Excerpts from - Life of Emperor Constantine (Online resource)
    - Questions to consider
      - What themes discussed by Brown appear in this primary source?
      - How can you tell Rome is changing during the life of Constantine? How is it changing? Is it in "decline?"
      - How do you assess this text by Eusebius as a primary source? For what ends is it useful?
W 1/27 Council of Nicaea
- Primary Source Reading (4)
  - Canons of the Council of Nicaea (online resource)
    - Questions to consider
      - What problems was the church trying to solve by passing these laws?
F 1/29 The heirs of Constantine to Julian the Apostate (links to another course site)
- Secondary Reading
  - Brown 70-114

Week IV: The Creation of the Christian World

M 2/1 Brown Discssuion Day.
- Monasticism in the East
  - Primary Source Reading (5)
  - The Life of St. Anthony (online resource).
  - See notes in the class-specific day for more.
W 2/3 Monasticism in the West
- Primary Source Reading (6)
  - The Rule of St. Benedict (Geary, 168-198)
- Classplan - discuss St. Anthony
F 2/5 The End of the Pagan World
- NO READING WORK ON PAPERS
- Classplan - discuss St. Benedict.

Week V: Invasions/Migrations

M 2/8 Adrianople and the Goths
- Primary Source Reading (7)
  - Jordanes (Geary, 83-117).
  - Procopius of Caesaria - Alaric's sack of Rome, Vandal Conquest of North Africa
- Paper #1 - Essay comparing eastern and western monasticism. More details.
W 2/10 The Huns
- Primary Source Reading (8)
  - Letter of Sidonius, Further letters of Sidonius (Print)
  - Priscus - Palace of Atilla the Hun (Print)
  - Leo and Atilla the Hun (Print)
F 2/12 The Huns continued.
- Secondary Reading
  - Brown 115-136

Week VI: St. Augustine and the end of the Roman World

M 2/15 On Christian Doctrine
- Primary Source Reading (9)
  - St. Augustine, On Christian Doctrine (Geary, 29-47).
- Helpful notes for On Christian Doctrine
W 2/17 City of God
- Primary Source Reading (10)
  - St. Augustine, City of God (Geary, 48-60)
F 2/19 NO CLASS. MEDIEVAL CONFERENCE ON CAMPUS. EXTRA CREDIT AVAILABLE
- Read ahead. We are reading all of 428 C.E. next week.

Week VII: 428 CE - Click for essential supplemental readings.

M 2/22 428 CE Pages 1-48
W 2/24 428 CE Pages 48-105
F 2/26 428 CE Pages 105-132

Week VIII: The Mediterranean at 500

M 3/1 St. Daniel and Byzantium Rising
- Primary Source Reading (11)
  - St. Daniel the Stylite (Print)
  - Theodosian Code (Geary, 1-28)
- Secondary Reading
  - Brown 137-149
W 3/3 Lecture – Ostrogoths, Lombards, Vandals and Visigoths
- TAKE HOME MIDTERM POSTED BEFORE CLASS.
- Primary Source Reading (12)
  - Letters of Theodoric (Print)
F 3/5 NO CLASS. TAKE HOME MIDTERM DUE

Week IX

M 3/8 Spring Break
W 3/10 Spring Break
F 3/12 Spring Break

PART II Legacies

Week X: Justinian's Dreams

M 3/15 Justinian’s conquests
- Primary Source Reading (13)
  - Procopius - History of the Wars - Online source.PRINT OUT.
  - Questions are on this page.
- Secondary Reading
  - Brown 150-171
W 3/17 Justinian’s city
- Primary Source Reading (14)
  - Procopius - De Aedificiis (Print)
F 3/19 Justinian’s smutty personal life
- Primary Source Reading (15)
  - Procopius - Secret History - Skim the whole thing. THIS IS A BIG ASSIGNMENT, START EARLY.

Week XI: The New Latin World

M 3/22 The Franks
- Primary Source Reading: (16)
  - Salic Law, 129-136 (Geary)
  - Letters to Clovis, 137-138. (Geary)
W 3/24 Lecture - The Merovingian Kings
- Secondary Readings
  - Brown 172-188
F 3/26 The World of Gregory of Tours
- Primary Source Reading: (17)
  - Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, 139-161 (Geary)

Week XII The Papacy

M 3/29 Gregory the Great
- Primary Source Reading (18)
  - Dialogues of Gregory the Great
  - Discussion Questions and Resources
W 3/31 Far-Flung Remnants of Rome - England
- Debate groups assigned. Miss this class at your peril.
F 4/2 Good Friday

Week XIII DEBATE PREPARATION. LIMITED CLASS THIS WEEK.

M 4/5 St. Jerome and the Latin Fathers - Richard Woods visit
- Reading - Chapter on "The Age of Augustine."
W 4/7 Attend URCI. You will be asked to fill out a form detailing your experiences.
- Schedule is here.
- Review form is here. Also handed out in class.
F 4/9 NO CLASS - Debate Prep

Week XIV Islam - A new world begins

M 4/12 DEBATE - HEIRS TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE
W 4/14 Lecture - Heraclius and Persia
- DUE - Paper #2 - DEBATE ESSAY
F 4/16 Muhammad
- Secondary Reading
  - Brown (189-203)

Week XV The Islamic World

M 4/19 The Islamic Caliphate
- Primary Source Reading (19) - Print All. For your response, you will need to engage with both "battles" and "traditions."
  - Battles:
    - Al-Baladhuri: The Battle of The Yarmuk (636 CE) and After
      The Byzantines lost control of Syria at Yarmuk.
    - Accounts of the Arab Conquest of Egypt, 642 CE
      The Coptic account from The History of The Patriarchs of Alexandria and an Arab account - Al-Baladhuri: The Conquest of Alexandria
    - Ibn Abd-el-Hakem: The Islamic Conquest of Spain
  - Non-believers
    - Pact of Umar
  - Traditions
    - Ibn Ishaq (d. c. 773 CE): Selections from the Life of Muhammad
    - The Qu'ran: Surahs 1 and 47
    - Hadith Selections, short excerpts.(Sayings of the Prophet)
    - The Sunnah, (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), excerpts.
W 4/21 Byzantium after Islam - class notes.
- For Class (Primary Source 20)
  - Iconoclasm (you will be assigned to read one or the other part and come to class prepared to discuss). In your PSR, write about the position and how it is supported.
    - John of Damascus: In Defence of Icons, c 730, extracts from On the Holy Icons and the Fount of Wisdom.
    - Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754, full text.
  - The Byzantine Commonwealth - Skim. We'll look at them in class.
    - Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
    - An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century).
- Well also look at the writings of Constantine VII Porphygenitus located here.
F 4/23 The rise of the Carolingians
- Readings (PS 21) - Print all but the letters of Boniface.
  - Charles Martel
    - Anonymous Arab Chronicler: The Battle of Tours (Poitiers), 732.
    - Arabs, Franks, and the Battle of Tours (Poitiers): Three Accounts, 732
    - [Tierney 24.2] Gregory III: Letter to Charles Martel , 739.
  - Pepin
    - [Tierney 24.3] Annals of Lorsch: The Pope makes Pepin king.
    - [Tierney 25.2] The Donation of Constantine , full text.
    - The Correspondence of St. Boniface (read letters 9, 10, 37, 38, 45). Skim some others for flavor!

Week XVI The Holy Roman Empire

M 4/26 Constantine
- Primary Source Readings (22)
  - Einhard (Geary, 282-296)
  - Questions
    - So we have this detailed account of how great Charlemagne was - how can we use it? What do we trust? What do we distrust, and why?
    - Reading past Einhard's praise, what can we say about Charles' motivations or desires?
    - Do we see evidence of a "Carolingian Renaissance" here? What would such a thing look like?
W 4/28 Charlemagne's Empire
- Primary Source Readings (23)
  - Capitularies (Geary, 297-321)
  - Questions
    - 297-299: This is much like a law code. Compare it to others we have read.
    - 299-303: These are new laws for a newly conquered pagan land. Read them with that in mind. Find examples of how the laws are used to try and establish both religion and legitimacy.
    - "The synod of Frankfurt" - Skip the material on the Greeks, then look at the new church laws on pages 305-308. What's going on here?
    - "De Villis" - What do we learn about daily life from this document, a management manual for people running royal estates?
    - Finally, 315-320, The Missi. The missi were all-purpose servants of the king. What do we learn about them from these documents? What were their jobs? Why would the emperor have found it necessary to have these people?
F 4/30 Final discussion, debate re-assessment, final take-home exam posted.


This page will be regularly updated as assignments or due dates change in any ways. Please check it regularly. In addition, the materials for each class will be linked off this page, though most will require you use your Dominican login to view them. If you have trouble, check with I.T. The readings for this course are of two kinds - primary and secondary. Often, we will primary texts for Monday and Tuesday and selections from secondary material on Friday. Organize your time well. Reading is at the core of your success for this class. You will want to develop comprehensive reading notes in order to do well with the exams. For all primary readings, in addition, you will be required to come to class with about a page of written material in response to questions posted a few days before. Part I - The Reorganization of the Roman World Week I: Introduction F 1/15- Introduction History of the Mediterranean and Rome until 200 or so. Week II: Rome in the third century M 1/18 Rome and the Barbarian World Primary Source Reading (1): Tacitus - Germania (Geary: 69-83). Come to class with thoughts on the following: What do we learn about the German peoples from Tactitus' Germania? W 1/20 Early Roman Christianity Primary Source Reading (2): St. Perpetua - The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas (Geary, 61-68) F 1/22 Diocletian, the 'Recovery,' and the Persecution Secondary Reading: Brown 1-69. Quiz #1 on Brown. This quiz will test whether you have done the reading and whether you have understood the reading. I will ask you short-answer questions about each of the five sections that you are reading for today. The questions will focus on major themes and the examples that Brown uses to illustrate the major themes. The quiz will be OPEN NOTE but not open book. You may hand-write or type YOUR OWN reading notes and use them during the quiz. The goal is to see your ability to read a large chunk of text and comprehend it. Week III: Constantine, Normative Christianity, and Early Heresies M 1/25 The new emperor and his city Primary Source Reading (3) Eusebius - Excerpts from - Life of Emperor Constantine (Online resource) Questions to consider What themes discussed by Brown appear in this primary source? How can you tell Rome is changing during the life of Constantine? How is it changing? Is it in "decline?" How do you assess this text by Eusebius as a primary source? For what ends is it useful? W 1/27 Council of Nicaea Primary Source Reading (4) Canons of the Council of Nicaea (online resource) Questions to consider What problems was the church trying to solve by passing these laws? F 1/29 The heirs of Constantine to Julian the Apostate (links to another course site) Secondary Reading Brown 70-114 Week IV: The Creation of the Christian World M 2/1 Brown Discssuion Day. Monasticism in the East Primary Source Reading (5) The Life of St. Anthony (online resource). See notes in the class-specific day for more. W 2/3 Monasticism in the West Primary Source Reading (6) The Rule of St. Benedict (Geary, 168-198) Classplan - discuss St. Anthony F 2/5 The End of the Pagan World NO READING WORK ON PAPERS Classplan - discuss St. Benedict. Week V: Invasions/Migrations M 2/8 Adrianople and the Goths Primary Source Reading (7) Jordanes (Geary, 83-117). Procopius of Caesaria - Alaric's sack of Rome, Vandal Conquest of North Africa Paper #1 - Essay comparing eastern and western monasticism. More details. W 2/10 The Huns Primary Source Reading (8) Letter of Sidonius, Further letters of Sidonius (Print) Priscus - Palace of Atilla the Hun (Print) Leo and Atilla the Hun (Print) F 2/12 The Huns continued. Secondary Reading Brown 115-136 Week VI: St. Augustine and the end of the Roman World M 2/15 On Christian Doctrine Primary Source Reading (9) St. Augustine, On Christian Doctrine (Geary, 29-47). Helpful notes for On Christian Doctrine W 2/17 City of God Primary Source Reading (10) St. Augustine, City of God (Geary, 48-60) F 2/19 NO CLASS. MEDIEVAL CONFERENCE ON CAMPUS. EXTRA CREDIT AVAILABLE Read ahead. We are reading all of 428 C.E. next week. Week VII: 428 CE - Click for essential supplemental readings. M 2/22 428 CE Pages 1-48 W 2/24 428 CE Pages 48-105 F 2/26 428 CE Pages 105-132 Week VIII: The Mediterranean at 500 M 3/1 St. Daniel and Byzantium Rising Primary Source Reading (11) St. Daniel the Stylite (Print) Theodosian Code (Geary, 1-28) Secondary Reading Brown 137-149 W 3/3 Lecture – Ostrogoths, Lombards, Vandals and Visigoths TAKE HOME MIDTERM POSTED BEFORE CLASS. Primary Source Reading (12) Letters of Theodoric (Print) F 3/5 NO CLASS. TAKE HOME MIDTERM DUE Week IX M 3/8 Spring Break W 3/10 Spring Break F 3/12 Spring Break PART II Legacies Week X: Justinian's Dreams M 3/15 Justinian’s conquests Primary Source Reading (13) Procopius - History of the Wars - Online source.PRINT OUT. Questions are on this page. Secondary Reading Brown 150-171 W 3/17 Justinian’s city Primary Source Reading (14) Procopius - De Aedificiis (Print) F 3/19 Justinian’s smutty personal life Primary Source Reading (15) Procopius - Secret History - Skim the whole thing. THIS IS A BIG ASSIGNMENT, START EARLY. Week XI: The New Latin World M 3/22 The Franks Primary Source Reading: (16) Salic Law, 129-136 (Geary) Letters to Clovis, 137-138. (Geary) W 3/24 Lecture - The Merovingian Kings Secondary Readings Brown 172-188 F 3/26 The World of Gregory of Tours Primary Source Reading: (17) Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, 139-161 (Geary) Week XII The Papacy M 3/29 Gregory the Great Primary Source Reading (18) Dialogues of Gregory the Great Discussion Questions and Resources W 3/31 Far-Flung Remnants of Rome - England Debate groups assigned. Miss this class at your peril. F 4/2 Good Friday Week XIII DEBATE PREPARATION. LIMITED CLASS THIS WEEK. M 4/5 St. Jerome and the Latin Fathers - Richard Woods visit Reading - Chapter on "The Age of Augustine." W 4/7 Attend URCI. You will be asked to fill out a form detailing your experiences. Schedule is here. Review form is here. Also handed out in class. F 4/9 NO CLASS - Debate Prep Week XIV Islam - A new world begins M 4/12 DEBATE - HEIRS TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE W 4/14 Lecture - Heraclius and Persia DUE - Paper #2 - DEBATE ESSAY F 4/16 Muhammad Secondary Reading Brown (189-203) Week XV The Islamic World M 4/19 The Islamic Caliphate Primary Source Reading (19) - Print All. For your response, you will need to engage with both "battles" and "traditions." Battles: Al-Baladhuri: The Battle of The Yarmuk (636 CE) and After The Byzantines lost control of Syria at Yarmuk. Accounts of the Arab Conquest of Egypt, 642 CE The Coptic account from The History of The Patriarchs of Alexandria and an Arab account - Al-Baladhuri: The Conquest of Alexandria Ibn Abd-el-Hakem: The Islamic Conquest of Spain Non-believers Pact of Umar Traditions Ibn Ishaq (d. c. 773 CE): Selections from the Life of Muhammad The Qu'ran: Surahs 1 and 47 Hadith Selections, short excerpts.(Sayings of the Prophet) The Sunnah, (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), excerpts. W 4/21 Byzantium after Islam - class notes. For Class (Primary Source 20) Iconoclasm (you will be assigned to read one or the other part and come to class prepared to discuss). In your PSR, write about the position and how it is supported. John of Damascus: In Defence of Icons, c 730, extracts from On the Holy Icons and the Fount of Wisdom. Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754, full text. The Byzantine Commonwealth - Skim. We'll look at them in class. Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts. An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century). Well also look at the writings of Constantine VII Porphygenitus located here. F 4/23 The rise of the Carolingians Readings (PS 21) - Print all but the letters of Boniface. Charles Martel Anonymous Arab Chronicler: The Battle of Tours (Poitiers), 732. Arabs, Franks, and the Battle of Tours (Poitiers): Three Accounts, 732 [Tierney 24.2] Gregory III: Letter to Charles Martel , 739. Pepin [Tierney 24.3] Annals of Lorsch: The Pope makes Pepin king. [Tierney 25.2] The Donation of Constantine , full text. The Correspondence of St. Boniface (read letters 9, 10, 37, 38, 45). Skim some others for flavor! Week XVI The Holy Roman Empire M 4/26 Constantine Primary Source Readings (22) Einhard (Geary, 282-296) Questions So we have this detailed account of how great Charlemagne was - how can we use it? What do we trust? What do we distrust, and why? Reading past Einhard's praise, what can we say about Charles' motivations or desires? Do we see evidence of a "Carolingian Renaissance" here? What would such a thing look like? W 4/28 Charlemagne's Empire Primary Source Readings (23) Capitularies (Geary, 297-321) Questions 297-299: This is much like a law code. Compare it to others we have read. 299-303: These are new laws for a newly conquered pagan land. Read them with that in mind. Find examples of how the laws are used to try and establish both religion and legitimacy. "The synod of Frankfurt" - Skip the material on the Greeks, then look at the new church laws on pages 305-308. What's going on here? "De Villis" - What do we learn about daily life from this document, a management manual for people running royal estates? Finally, 315-320, The Missi. The missi were all-purpose servants of the king. What do we learn about them from these documents? What were their jobs? Why would the emperor have found it necessary to have these people? F 4/30 Final discussion, debate re-assessment, final take-home exam posted.
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This site last updated: 1/19/06 Comments to: David Perry Homepage URL: http://domin.dom.edu/faculty/dperry/hist276fall/ © 2010 by David Perry and Dominican University. All rights reserved.