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MDVL 101: Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Class meeting: T/Th 10:05-11:30

Professor: Bridget Whearty Office: L11!"

#mail:$%hearty&$inghamton'ed( Office )o(rs: T:11:30-1* Th: 3-!Classroom: ++ 10, rader: Carolyn .ota%

Boethi(s* The Consolation of Philosophy, with prologue by Jean de Meun,c'135-13,0

Bi$lioth(e ationale de 2rance* 4artement des 6an(scrits* 2ran7ais 1",* fol' ""1r

This class is a srint across time and sace' 8n three and a half months* %e %ill range %idely across theglo$e from the 300s to the 1900s* st(dying art* history* literat(re* religion* and architect(re in rigoro(sly

m(lti-discilinary and interdiscilinary %ays'1

18n other %ords: %e %ill aroach these toics* laces* eole* and times from m(ltile discilinary ersecties;

incl(ding history* literat(re* art history* olitics* hilosohy* religio(s st(dies* and others'

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mailto:bwhearty@binghamton.edumailto:bwhearty@binghamton.edu

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We %ill learn a$o(t =ey eents* eole* social and olitical instit(tions* ideas* science* and %ays of life

$et%een the decline of the >oman #mire in the West and the adent of the #arly 6odern era' )o%eer*

%e see= to do more than s%allo% facts' We %ill send a great deal of time thin=ing a$o(t ho% it is %e

concet(ali?e eents* eole* instit(tions* and ideas* in order to create $road and rich understanding'

@s %e attemt to do A(stice to more than 1*000 years across the glo$e* o(r elorations %ill $e drien $y

a series of (estions:

- What is the aroriate relationshi %ith the ast

o )o% did the eole %e st(dy ie% their relationshi to the asts they

inherited

o )o% do %e (nderstand o(r relationshis to these asts that %eDe

inherited and that %e no% st(dy together in this class

- )o% is the relationshi $et%een today and the 6iddle @ges and >enaissance one of

contin(ity

o Where do %e see real threads $inding (s today to all that came $efore

- )o% is the relationshi $et%een today and the 6iddle @ges and >enaissance one of

r(t(re

o What has changed )o%o When do changes haen in a single* $la?ing moment and %hen are they

the res(lt of slo%* grad(al* s($tle forces

o )o% do %e $est determine %hich changes are ca(sed $y %hich sort ofeents and forces

- )o% is the story of the ast made

o What tools are (sed What so(rces do %e hae

o )o% do %e (se those tools resonsi$ly to reconstr(ct Eas $est %e canF

ho% the ast Greally %asH

o )o% are those tools (sed deli$erately irresponsibly and to %hat ends

- )o% is the ast leeraged to sere olitical* social* religio(s* or artistic goals

Co(rse tets:"

Bar$ara )' >osen%ein*A Short History of the Middle Ages* 4thed'

Bar$ara )' >osen%ein* ed'*Reading the Middle Ages: Sources fro !urope, "y#antiu,

and the $slaic %orld* 2nded'

Larry onic=* Cartoon History of the &ni'erse $$$: (ro the Rise of Arabia to the

Renaissance

Larry onic=* The Cartoon of the Modern %orld, Part ): (ro Colubus to the &*S*

Constitution

Io( %ill also $e reg(larly reading and/or listening to selections from t%o free internet reso(rces:

Artifacts fro Medie'al !urope* an e$oo= in Bartle Li$rary that 8 tr(st yo( %ill $e a$le to

find (sing the li$rary catalog(e

2Io( are strongly encouragedto o$tain these secific editions' Whether yo( $(y the $oo=s or rent them at the

$oo=store or ot for cheaer coies ia @ma?on or else%here* it is imortant that yo( buy the correct editions'

8f yo( choose to go against this adice and ot for a different edition* itDs on yo( to ma=e s(re that yo( find and

reare all re(ired materials'

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@rtifacts from medieal e(roe* an e$oo= in $artle li$rary that 8 tr(st yo( %ill $e sa$le to

find (sing the

The History of the %orld in )++ b-ects * a odcast/BBC radio series that 8 tr(st yo( %ill

$e a$le to find and naigate thro(gh (sing yo(r s(erior oogle s=ills

Other re(ired readings are osted to o(r Blac=$oard site in the JContentK section'

o re-re(isites' Oen to non-maAors'

>e(ired for 6edieal/#arly 6odern maAors and minors'

eneral #d(cation < GH >e(irement:

This co(rse satisfies the GH en-#d re(irement' @s %e st(dy the medieal and early modern %orlds*

%e %ill $e considering the role that increasing interactions layed $et%een the three s(ccessors to the

>oman #mire;Western Christendom* By?anti(m* and ar al-8slam Ethe )o(se of 8slamF' We %ill

consider oints of conflict Ee'g'* the Cr(sadesF and oints of more constr(ctie interaction Escience*

hilosohy* commerceF from a ariety of ersecties' We %ill also occasionally consider the role that

other arts of the glo$e;s(ch as #ast @sia* Central @sia* and the @mericas;layed in the history of themedieal and early modern 6editerranean' 8n all of this* %e shall consider ho% these ario(s %orld

regions hae infl(enced and interacted %ith one another and ho% these interactions hae $een informed

$y their resectie c(lt(res'

Boethi(s* The Consolation of Philosophy, with prologue by Jean de Meun,c'135-13,0

Bi$lioth(e ationale de 2rance* 4artement des 6an(scrits* 2ran7ais 1",* fol' ""1r

Learning O$Aecties and #ectations:

Learning O$Aecties:

By the end of this semester* yo( %ill hae:

1' gained a familiarity %ith =ey eents* eole* str(ct(res* and instit(tions of the medieal

and early modern %orlds

"' ac(ired an (nderstanding of the ariety of %ays in %hich scholars from a ariety of

discilines aroach the 6iddle @ges

3' learned ho% to assess and analy?e a ariety of rimary so(rces* literary tets* and is(al

images

!' honed yo(r a$ility to artic(late interretations of the medieal and early modern ast in$oth %riting and in sea=ing and

5' racticed and deeloed research s=ills aroriate to a 100-leel (niersity co(rse'

#ectations:

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%or.load

@ccording to B+ g(idelines* yo( sho(ld eect to send around 10-12 hours every

ee!o(tside of class on %or= for this co(rse: reading* ta=ing notes* reie%ing* and %riting'

Io( need to do the assigned re %or= for each class be"orecoming to class that day'

onDt rocrastinate' @oid last-min(te $inges' Be discilined a$o(t yo(r %or= and yo(

sho(ld $e fine'

Participation and Attendance

Class $egins at 10'05 $e in yo(r seats and settled $efore then* lease'

Io(r actie articiation in class is eected and %ill ma=e the class more enAoya$le'

@dice on managing yo(r reading:

1' >eading is a s=ill that can $e ac(ired and honed'

"' There is no s(ch thing as one tye of reading' >eading is an endlessly adata$le and

flei$le tool: a' There is (ic= reading leas(re reading %or= reading close reading

slo% and caref(l reading eha(stie reading Ei'e' ta=ing notes and loo=ing ( (n=no%n

%ords and eentsF s=imming targeted and etractie reading Ei'e' (sing chater headings

or the inde to drill do%n for %hat yo( are see=ingF* among many* many other %ays ofreadingM

3' 8n all cases* read Elisten* ie%* and eloreF caref(lly and tho(ghtf(lly' What are the most

imortant eents or c(lt(ral manifestations of each eriod What general trends or changes do

they reflect!' Io( %ill notice that the readings Earticles* $oo= chaters* etc'F differ greatly from each

other' This means that yo( %ill need to deelo different aroaches to the %or= of reading to

learn from them s(ccessf(lly'

a' Nome of the readings are created rimarily for st(dents* i'e' yo(' Io( %ill

li=ely find their style friendly and not too oer%helming'

$' Others %rite for a dedicated reader' These so(rces do not necessarily

elain eery single thing $(t can ery informatie' They %ill $e more informatie and

(sef(l for yo( if yo( %or= to fill in the $lan=s' +se these so(rces to $egin to as=;and

ans%er;yo(r o%n (estions'

c' Ntill other readings %ill $e %ritten $y and for eerts' This means that

their style %ill $e dense' They %ill $e filled %ith information and they %ill gie yo( ery

little $ac=gro(nd material'

5' The tric= in all these is not to lose trac= of the larger ict(re Ei'e' donDt get lost in the

detailF'9' Consider the a(thorDs rhetorical situation and %or= to (ncoer the str(ct(re according to

%hich the a(thor %rote his/her/their iece

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Research %rite1&ps 50

(inal: Course Capstone Research Pro-ect 30 >esearch Proosal E"5F @nnotated Bi$liograhy E"5F

2inal Gay in the LifeH >esearch Paer E50F

(inal p1!d: %hat use is any of this2 5

#tra Credit Oort(nities:

Perfect attendance 1'5 oints

3Reading a real edie'al boo.4 ( to 1'5 oints

C!M!RS tal. 5 response paper ( to 1'5 oints

67C Medie'al field trip 5 response paper ( to 1'5 oints

#ota bene: These oints are added to yo(r oerall co(rse grade' Io( may earn a maim(m of 3 etra creditoints'

rades:

@ Q3-100

@- Q0-Q"

BR Q-,QB ,3-,9

B- ,0-,"

CR -Q

C 3-9C- 0-"

90-9Q

2 0-5Q

Policies:8 %ill not rely to (eries a$o(t grades $y email' 8 %ill not disc(ss grades %ith yo( in front of yo(r eers'

8f yo( %ish to disc(ss yo(r grade* yo( m(st come to my office d(ring office ho(rs'

$ reser'e the right to consider borderline grades as falling on either side of the di'ide that sees ostappropriate gi'en all grading circustances 8i*e*, a 9*; or e'en a 9*9 cannot autoatically be assued

to round up, though $ ay deterine that a student

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Co(rse Policies:

@ttendance:

Io( are ermitted t%o a$sences Ei'e'* the e(ialent of 1 %ee= or 9', of termF %itho(tany reerc(ssions'

2or each a$sence thereafter* yo(r overall grade %ill $e lo%ered $y one-third letter grade

per each additional absence'

o 8'e'* N(ose yo( earn a final* oerall grade of an G@-H' 8f yo( miss

3 days < yo(r final grade for the co(rse %o(ld dro to a

GBRH

! days < yo(r final grade for the co(rse %o(ld dro to a

GBH

5 days < yo(r final grade for the co(rse %o(ld dro to a

GB-H and so onM

o

Binghamton +niersity olicy3

allo%s me to $ar anyone %ho has missedmore than '"5 class meetings Ei'e'* the e(ialent of 3'5 %ee=s or "5 of the co(rseF

from ta=ing the final or to rescri$e other ro(ghly e(ialent academic enalties'

Io( donDt hae a final eam' Io( hae a co(rse castone

research roAect %orth 30 of yo(r final grade'

6iss more than "5 of this class and* in addition to the

haoc that %ill %rea= on yo(r attendance and articiation grade* yo(r final

castone roAect %ill not $e graded'

8 $egin trac=ing a$sences from Wee= 1* ay 1' 8f yo( add class late* =no% that those

earlier missed days co(nt'

8f yo( miss class $eca(se yo( are ill* yo( %ill need to roide a medical ec(se for yo(ra$sence to $e co(nted as ec(sed'

Tardy arrials and early deart(res co(nt as a$sences' Io( sho(ld email me ell in

advanceif yo( hae to leae early < donDt sring it on me at the $eginning of class'

8 hae little atience for eole %ho oerslee Ealarm-cloc= malf(nction* hangoer* etc'F*%ho are a$sentminded Ei'e' someho% fail to =ee trac= of class- and assignment-sched(lesF* %ho

hae car ro$lems and the li=e Erelia$le transortation is yo(r resonsi$ilityF* and those %ho miss

class for long %ee=ends and/or acation Getenders'H @lso* airline reserations* car-ool* etc' for

the (rose of acation trael or similar do not co(nt as ec(sa$le a$sence'

8f yo( miss class* yo( are resonsi$le for finding o(t "ro$ class$ates%hat yo( hae missed* incl(ding

anno(ncements regarding assignments* eams* and so on' To hel yo( in this* 8De created the Blac=$oard disc(ssion for(m ?ood Citi#en'

o @s=ing and ans%ering (estions in this for(m co(nts to%ard yo(r

articiation grade for the co(rse'

3Ginstr(ctors hae the right to deny a st(dent the riilege of ta=ing the final eamination or of receiing credit for

the co(rse* or may rescri$e other academic enalties if the st(dent misses more than "5 ercent of the total class

sessions'H"inghaton &ni'ersity "ulletin'

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o Please note that 8 do not micromanage that sace' Io( are ad(lts' Be

=ind' Particiation in this sace sho(ld adhere to the same standards of $ehaior yo(

ractice in class and face-to-face'

Particiation: 8 al(e articiation highly' 8 see it f(nctioning in seeral different* interconnected %ays:

Spea.ing, listening, and responding:

o Io( are eected to sea= in class'

o When yo(r colleag(es sea= in class* yo( are eected to actiely listenand tho(ghtf(lly resond'The health of o(r term-long conersation deends on it

Tools:

o Bring yo(r co(rse tet$oo=s and all additional tets;in hard co%y;toeery class'

o 8f yo( do not $ring yo(r tet* yo( may $e co(nted as a$sent and as=ed to

leae the room'

o On a near-daily $asis* yo( %ill need to refer $ac= to tets %eDe read

earlier $eca(se$ a fanatical about taking it to the textin class discussion* 8nest in a

strong folder or 3-ring $inder so that yo( may immediately access all co(rse tets in an

easily naiga$le fashion'

6issed Wor= and Late @ssignments:

8f yo( miss a class;incl(ding those yo(De missed if yo( add the co(rse after instr(ction

has $eg(n;yo( are resonsi$le for discoering and ma=ing ( that %or=' Io( sho(ld research*

as= classmates* and ost to ?ood Citi#enbe"ore yo( email me' E>emem$er* the first t%o co(nt

to%ard yo(r articiation' The last does not'F

8 am not entirely (nreasona$le %hen it comes to granting etensions:

o 8f yo( roide me %ith a comelling and real reason for as=ing for a littleetra time in order to do yo(r $est %or=* yo( sho(ld $e fine'

Real reasonsincl(de: medical emergency Eyo(r o%n or

someone in yo(r immediate familyF* serio(s illness or death in the family* and

terrifying d(e date ile-(s noticed at least t%o %ee=s in adance'

Real reasons do OT incl(de: fail(re to lan ahead or

manage yo(r o%n sched(le general sloiness and/or ag(e or (ndoc(mented

com(ter emergencies'

o @s=ing for an etension is an imortant life-s=ill' Io( %ill need to as=

for etensions thro(gho(t yo(r career' Practice no%' 8f yo( %rite something li=e G)ey

Professor: 8Dmsooer%helmedM can 8 hae an etension* leaseH EOr G7o@ $ need to

ta.e an etensionHF* eect me to demand that yo( re%rite yo(r re(est $efore 8 $egin to

consider it'! #tensions m(st $e aroed at least 2 "ull days &4' hours( )*+,R*the d(e date' o

not sho% ( to class aerless and eect to get a no-fa(lt etension' o not email me at "am themorning an assignment is d(e and eect to get a no-fa(lt etension'

4Thin. of writing to e as practicing for how you/ll approach your future boss, or your client* Carefully consider

your rhetorical situation* %hat do $ need to .now to see that it/s in both our best interests to gi'e you an etension2

Alternately, what should you not say or share2

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Late assignments made %ill $e doc=ed . %oints %er calendar day &24 hours(they are

late' The cloc= starts tic=ing immediately after the stated deadline'

Ncreens in Class / Class technology olicy: Please ma=e s(re that yo(r hones are on silent and yo(r com(ter is m(tedS

8f yo( hae a lato or ta$let o(t* yo( %ill $e called on to (se it for the good of the gro(' @ll lato* ta$let* or otherscreen (se m(st $e resonsi$le* resecta$le* and for thisclassDs

%or='

o Why

8tDs not for me: st(dents hae $een day-dreaming and

scre%ing aro(nd in class for as long as there hae $een st(dents and classes'

8tDs not for yo(: see a$oe'

8tDs for all the other eole in the room'

o 8rresonsi$le (se of technologyin the classroom loers grades o" your

%eers and coor!ers by as $uch as 1/.

o What this means is that in-class teting* chec=ing email or 2ace$oo=*

doing home%or= for other co(rses* etc' is an attac= yo(r classmatesD a$ility to learn' 8

%ill OT tolerate this'

>ecording in the Classroom:

Io( may not record/hotograh me or yo(r colleag(es %itho(t o(r =no%ledge and

ermission'

>ecording is not li=e initing a amire across yo(r threshold: ermission m(st $e as=ed

for and o$tained for each instance of recording'

Plagiarism and @cademic )onesty: Io( are resonsi$le for ma=ing yo(rself a%are of* (nderstanding* and a$iding $y the

Binghamton +niersity Nt(dent @cademic )onesty Code'

These olicies incl(de* $(t are not limited to* lagiarism* cheating on eaminations*m(ltile s($mission* (na(thori?ed colla$oration* fa$rication and misreresentation* forgery*

sa$otage* and $ri$ery'

@ll %or= that is resented as original m(st act(ally beoriginal: it m(st $e yo(r o%n %or=* and it

m(st not hae $een rod(ced for another co(rse'

2alsifying citations* $orro%ing lang(age or ideas from so(rces %itho(t ac=no%ledging them* and

other iolations of academic integrity constit(te stealing' Whether intentional or accidental* lagiarism of

any form %ill not $e tolerated'

@ny Category 8 iolation %ill res(lt in a failing grade Ei'e' ?ero ointsF for that assignment'

" Category 8 iolations %ill res(lt in a failing grade for the class* as %ill any single Category 88

iolation'

@nyone %ho iolates these olicies %ill $e systematically reorted to the )ar(r College

@cademic )onesty Committee* as %ell as the Chair of the #nglish eartment and all other releant

deartment and rogram chairs'

Claiming ignorance is no ec(se' No if yo( hae any(estions* @NS

58f yo(Dre interested in learning more* go read Nana* Weston* Ceeda* GLato 6(ltitas=ing )inders Classroom

Learning for Both +sers and ear$y Peers*H Coputers 5 !ducation9" E6ar "013F: "!-31'

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@LL %ritten %or= to $e t(rned in for a grade m(st $e accomanied $y a tyed and signed ledge

affirming yo(r adherence to the Nt(dent @cademic )onesty Code'

>eso(rces and >ights:

isa$ility Policy and N(ort Nerices: 8f yo( need academic accommodations or s(ort $eca(se of a doc(mented disa$ility*

lease contact Nerices for Nt(dents %ith isa$ilities and register %ith them iediately'

Nt(dents %ith disa$ility-related accommodations m(st roide me %ith a c(rrent

@ccommodation @(thori?ation Letter from NN'

@lso* $eca(se each learner is (ni(e* yo( need to meet %ith me in erson* in the "irst 2

ee!s o" class* so %e can co-create create yo(r indiid(ali?ed accommodation lan'

Writing Center: This is thelace to go %hether yo( are str(ggling %ith any stage of yo(r %riting or A(st

need another air of eyes to loo= things oer and hel yo( achiee a final olish'

8 strongly recommend that all of yo( < %hateer yo(r leel as a %riter < ta=e f(lladantage of this reso(rce'

2#>P@ E2amily #d(cation >ights and Priacy @ctF: 2#>P@ offers strict g(idelines on ho% graded materials may $e t(rned in and ret(rned to

yo('

o 8f yo( need to t(rn in a hardcoy of yo(r %or= o(tside of class* lease

sli it (nder my office door or ma=e similarly sec(re arrangements %ith o(r fa$(lo(s

grader'

o Leaing yo(r %or= in my office mail$o or other (nsec(red location is a

iolation of federal la% and a iolation of yo(r federally-rotected ciil rights'

8n accordance %ith 2#>P@* 8 do not sea= to third arties Ei'e'* anyone other than school

officials %ith legitimate ed(cational interestF a$o(t yo(r co(rse grade and class standing'

iersity: 8 am committed to cond(cting this co(rse in a %ay that ac=no%ledges and affirms the

dierse identities of Binghamton +niersity st(dents'

O(r co(rse at times engages %ith iss(es yo( may find dist(r$ing or diffic(lt' Neism and

se(al assa(lt* racism* anti-Nemitism* and 8slamoho$ia Eamong many other iss(esF all rear their

(gly heads at one oint or another' 8 %ill do my $est to aroach all of these %ith comassion and

n(ance as %ell as rigor' Please* yo( do the same'

Please ma=e s(re that yo( hae the s(orts in lace to ta=e care of yo(rself so that this

class is a rigoro(s* historically-acc(rate* and intellect(ally f(lfilling eerience Edare 8 say een

enAoya$leSF for yo('

8f yo( %o(ld li=e to $e identified $y a name and/or rono(n not aarent on the co(rseroster* lease contact me to share yo(r referred name and/or rono(n'

8 %ill honor yo(r stated gender identity in all official and (nofficial comm(nications and

in all classroom actiities* and 8 %ill do all that 8 can to hel others in o(r co(rse do so as %ell'

8nstr(ctor @aila$ility:

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Office ho(rs: 8 am aaila$le and hay to tal= %ith yo( a$o(t yo(r (estions and concerns d(ring my

office ho(rs' Please come $y and chatS

#mail:

Please (se yo(r official Binghamton email'

+se all standard elements of a letter: roer sal(tation EGear Prof' WheartyMH

G)elloMHF* closing* etc'o #mloyers fre(ently comlain that ne% %or=ers %rite emails as tho(gh

they %ere echanging tets %ith close friends' The tr(th is that yo( %ill hae to %rite

rofessional* %or=-oriented comm(nications for the rest of yo(r lies'

o 8 strongly enco(rage yo( to (se all comm(nications in this class E%ith me

and %ith each otherF as oort(nities to hone yo(r rofessional oice: resectf(l andgracio(s as %ell as honest and to-the-oint'

,ne i$%ortant caveat: 8 try to $e aaila$le oer email* $(t 8Dll admit to getting s%amed and sometimes

losing sight of messages yo( send'

(ring the %ee=* it may ta=e ( to "! ho(rs for me to resond to emails;altho(gh 8 do

try to resond to all %ee=day emails %ithin "! ho(rs' On the %ee=ends* it may %ell ta=e me more

than "! ho(rs to resond' This is one of the reasons 8 created ?ood Citi#enfor yo(' When yo(Dre doing yo(r $est

%or= at 3am and need some adice or a (ic= ans%er* 8Dm aslee'

onDt oerloo= one of yo(r greatest reso(rces;each other'

The orleston Psalter* c'1310-13"!

British Li$rary* @dditional 6N !Q9"* fol' 3r

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