History 102 - Late Antiquity

Fall 2015, Denison University

Professor Adam J. Davis (davisaj@denison.edu)
Office hours (Fellows 426): Mondays 3:30-5pm, Fridays 1:30-3pm
and by appointment

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course traces the cultural and political legacy of the Roman Empire in its
successor states in the Latin West, in the Byzantine Empire in the East, and in the
early Islamic world. This is a broad historical survey covering an enormous
expanse of time (roughly 800 years, from the late Roman Empire to the
Christianization of Scandinavia) and space (from the British Isles and continental
Europe, to North Africa, Turkey, and the Arabian Peninsula). A sweeping course
such as this one can be extremely rewarding it permits one to study continuity
and change over the long dure. From week to week, you should ask yourself
questions that are of a comparative nature: how is this text similar or different
from the text we read last week, or five weeks ago? What are the motivations of
this author? How would I describe this culture and this mentalit? How does
Christianity mean something different for Emperor Charlemagne than it did for
Emperor Constantine? A central objective of this course is helping you further
develop your analytical skills, particularly the skill of analyzing a historical
document. You will be studying a wide variety of historical documents in this
course: theological works, legal texts, chronicles, biographies, works of literature,
saints lives, and monastic rules. Many of these texts will not be easy to make
sense of they were all written many hundreds of years ago in a different
language (Greek, Latin, Arabic, Old English, even Old Church Slavonic!) and in a
very different world. The challenge facing us is to squeeze as much historical
meaning as we possibly can from these texts. As a famous British historian once
put it, I read and re-read the evidence until I can overhear the people in it
talking. Your enjoyment of this course depends largely upon your ability to
eavesdrop on an ancient world. Read these sources not only to learn what
happened in Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages; pay equal attention to the
writers tone and style of writing. How does a Roman describe his villa? How
does a monk relate a miracle? How does an epic poet write about dragons?
In addition to studying broad themes and questions, however, this course will
necessarily involve a substantial amount of historical information, much of it
1

probably new to you. Without a firm grasp of the who what when and
where, it is impossible to answer the why and how that is so central to
historical inquiry. Thus, it is essential that you stay on top of the reading and
lectures. Although the reading assignments in the short textbook by Rosenwein
are coordinated with lecture topics and the primary source readings, the lectures
will supplement (not repeat) what is covered in the textbook. You should have
done all readings before each corresponding class. We will generally not be
discussing the Rosenwein textbook, but rather devote our discussions to the
primary texts. Most class sessions will feature a mixture of lecture and
discussion, but we will also devote some class sessions entirely to discussion. It is
essential that you complete the assigned readings on time and that you come to
class with notes of your observations and questions so that you can participate in
class discussions.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
*Barbara Rosenwein, ed., Reading the Middle Ages, Volume 1: Sources from Europe,
Byzantium and the Islamic World, vol. 1, 4th ed. (U Toronto Press, Higher Education
Division) (sourcebook = SR)
*Barbara Rosenwein, A Short History of the Middle Ages, vol. 1, 4th ed. (U Toronto
Press, Higher Education Division) (textbook)
*Augustine, Confessions, trans. Chadwick (Oxford UP) - 978-0199537822
*Beowulf: A New Verse Translation, trans. Heaney (Norton Classics) - 9780393320978
*Procopius, Secret History (Penguin Classics) - 978-0140455281
*Charlemagne and Louis the Pious: Lives by Einhard, Notker, Ermoldus, Thegan and the
Astronomer, ed. Thomas Noble (Penn State UP) - 978-0271037158
REQUIREMENTS:

One midterm exam (15%)

Three papers analyzing primary source texts topics to be distributed

in advance (first paper, 2-3 pages, worth 8%) (second and third papers,
5-6 pages, each worth 16%)

Final exam (20%)

Quality of in-class participation (including quality of postings on

Blackboard Discussion) (15%)

Several unannounced quizzes on the reading. Lowest quiz grade will be

dropped, but there will be no make-up quizzes for absences. (10%
combined)

SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS:
Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the
impact of a disability should contact me privately as soon as possible to discuss
his or her specific needs. I rely on the Office of Academic Support in 104 Doane to
verify the need for reasonable accommodations based on documentation on file
in their office.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Proposed and developed by Denison students, passed unanimously by DCGA
and Denisons faculty, the Code of Academic Integrity requires that instructors
notify the Associate Provost of cases of academic dishonesty, and it requires that
cases be heard by the Academic Integrity Board. Further, the code makes
students responsible for promoting a culture of integrity on campus and acting in
instances in which integrity is violated. Academic honesty, the cornerstone of
teaching and learning, lays the foundation for lifelong integrity. Academic
dishonesty is intellectual theft. It includes, but is not limited to, providing or
receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the instructor in the creation
of work to be submitted for evaluation. This standard applies to all work ranging
from daily homework assignments to major exams. Students must clearly cite any
sources consultednot only for quoted phrases but also for ideas and
information that are not common knowledge. Neither ignorance nor carelessness
is an acceptable defense in cases of plagiarism. It is the students responsibility to
follow the appropriate format for citations. Students should ask their instructors
for assistance in determining what sorts of materials and assistance are
appropriate for assignments and for guidance in citing such materials clearly.
ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance is a requirement of this course. There is no
grade per se for attendance, but more than three absences will begin to hurt your
final course grade, and numerous absences could result in a failing final grade
for the course. No distinction will be made between excused and unexcused
absences (except in exceptional cases, such as major surgery or family
emergencies), so it is not necessary to inform the professor if and why you will be
absent. I understand that there may be one or two days when you are unable to
be in class, but irregular attendance will be penalized.
TECHNOLOGICAL DISRUPTIONS: Before coming to class, please ensure that all cell
phones are turned completely off (vibrating cell phones are disruptive as well). I
do not tolerate texting during class anyone texting will be asked to leave. Please
3

do not use a laptop computer during class (if special circumstances require your
using a computer, please see me). These rules are meant to allow everyone to be
fully engaged while in the classroom.
PARTICIPATION: Regular attendance does not constitute active participation in
class discussion. Your participation grade will be based on the quality of your
contributions to class discussion and to the discussions on Blackboard. I want to
hear each of your reactions to the readings. It is essential that you complete the
reading assignments on time and come to class with written notes on the
readings and written questions and comments you wish to bring up in class
discussion.

Week 1
F 8/28 Myths and Counter Myths about Rome and the Rise of Christianity
M 8/31 Keeping the Empire Together: Rome in the Third Century
Aelius Aristides, In Praise of Rome (Blackboard Reading)
Pliny the Younger, On his Villa (Blackboard Reading)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 1-21
W 9/2 From Center to Periphery: Governing the Provinces
Suetonius, Life of Augustus (Blackboard reading)
Ammianus Marcellinus on Emperor Constantius II (Blackboard reading)
Valentinian I, as described by Ammianus Marcellinus (Blackboard
reading)
F 9/4 Christianity and Empire before Constantine
Plinys letter (Bk 10, Letter 96) to Emperor Trajan on the Christians
(Blackboard Reading)
M 9/7 St. Perpetua
Passion of Sts Perpetua and Felicity (Blackboard Reading)
W 9/9 A Christian Empire
The Edict of Milan (SR, 1-4)
Nicene Creed (SR, 13)
Eusebius, History of the Church (Blackboard)
F 9/11 The Challenge of Heterodoxy
Symmachus, Relatio 3 (Blackboard Reading)
A Donatist Sermon (SR, 10-13)

The Theodosian Code (SR, 4-9)

M 9/14 No class due to Rosh Hashanah

Short first paper (2-3pp.) due in my mailbox (4th floor of Fellows) by
12:30pm
W 9/16 Saintly Models
Jerome, Letter 24 to Marcella (SR, 26-27)
Athanasius, Life of St Antony of Egypt (SR, 27-34)
Sulpicius Severus, Life of St Martin of Tours (SR, 34-38)
F 9/18 St Augustine: Sinner and Saint
Augustines Confessions (Bks I-III)
M 9/21 St Augustine
Augustines Confessions (Bks IV-VI)
W 9/23 No class due to Yom Kippur
F 9/25 St Augustine (Bks VII-IX)
M9/28 - Romans and Barbarians
Augustine, The City of God (SR, 14-17)
Sidonius Apollinaris: A Civilized Barbarian and a Barbarous Roman
(Blackboard Reading)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 21-28
W 9/30 Barbarian Kingdoms I
Cassiodorus, Variae (SR, 46-49)
The Third Council of Toledo (SR, 49-52)
F 10/2 Barbarian Kingdoms II: Clovis and the Franks
Gregory of Tours, The Conversion of Clovis, in The History of the Franks
(Blackboard Reading)
Bishop Avitus of Vienne, Letter of Clovis (Blackboard)
Gregory of Tours, History (SR, 53-57)
M 10/5 Justinian and Byzantium
Procopius, The Secret History
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 29-50
W 10/7 Procopius
Procopius, The Secret History
Life of St Theodore of Sykeon (SR, 59-63)

 Second paper (5-6pp) due in class

F 10/9 No class
M10/12 Iconoclastic controversy
The argument for icons: John of Damascus, On Holy Images (SR, 63-65)
The iconoclasic argument: The Synod of 754 (SR, 65-69)
Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor (SR, 69-70)
W 10/14 Midterm exam
F 10/16 Fall break
M 10/19 The Rise of Islam and the Arabs
Pre-Islamic Arabic poetry (SR, 70-73)
Quran suras (SR, 73-76)
Compare Gilgamesh, Genesis, and the Quran (Blackboard Reading)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 50-57
W 10/21 The Arab Caliphate
Umayyad diplomacy: The Treaty of Tudmir (SR, 76-77)
Taxation: A Tax Demand in Egypt (SR, 77)
Praising the caliph (SR, 78-80)
F 10/23 The Active and the Contemplative: Different Models of the Religious
Life
St Radegund as ascetic: Venantius Fortunatus, The Life of St Radegund
(SR, 38-43)
St Radegund as relic collector: Baudonivia, The Life of St Radegund (SR,
44-46)
The Rule of St Benedict (SR, 17-25)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 58-75
M 10/26 Pope Gregory the Great
Gregory I: An Activist Pope (Blackboard reading)
W 10/28 British Isles
Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (SR, 94-105)
F 10/30 Beowulf up to line 1061
M 11/2 Beowulf to line 1888
W 11/4 Beowulf to the end
F 11/6 Merovingian Francia and the Border of the Civilized World
The Passion of Leudegar (SR, 83-90)

The Judgment of Childebert III (SR, 90-91)

Reforming the continental church: Letters to Boniface (SR, 91-94)
Isidore of Seville, Etymologies (SR, 80-83)

M 11/9 Carolingians
Pope Stephen II to King Pippin III (SR, 128-35)
Admonitio Generalis (SR, 148-50)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 96-112
W 11/11 Charlemagne
Einhard, Life of Charlemagne, in Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, pp. 7-50
F 11/13 Charlemagne
Notker the Stammerer, Life of Charlemagne, in Charlemagne and Louis the
Pious, pp. 219-302
M 11/16 Carolingian Decline
Dhuoda, Handbook for Her Son (SR, 150-58)
The Astronomer, The Life of Emperor Louis, in Charlemagne and Louis the
Pious, pp. 219-302
W 11/18 Al-Andalus
The minority (=Christian) view: Chronicle of Albelda (SR, 123-26)
An Islamic Andalusian voice: Ibn Abd Rabbihi, I Have Never Seen (SR,
126-27)
A Jewish poet in al-Andalus: Dunash ben Labrat (SR, 127-28)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 87-96, 123-27
F 11/20 Second paper (5-6pp) due in class
Thanksgiving
M 11/30 Post-Iconoclastic Church and Byzantine Society
Liutprand of Cremona: Report of his Mission to Constantinople
(Blackboard Reading)
Byzantine guilds: The Book of the Prefect (SR, 109-12)
The Bulgarian Khan in Byzantine guise: Seal of Boris-Michael (SR 160)
The Bulgarians adopt Christianity: Pope Nicholas I answers the
Bulgarians questions (SR, 161-65)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 79-85, 119-23
W 12/2 The Viking Age
The Accomplishments of a Viking Warrior (Blackboard reading)

Harald Sigurdarsons Splendid Ship (Blackboard reading)

Viking Raids on England, 789-850 (Blackboard reading)
A Muslim Merchant Diplomat Meets Viking Diplomats (Blackboard
reading)
Olaf Tryggvason and the Conversion of Norway (Blackboard reading)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 127-30
F 12/4 Romanitas Persists in Northern and Eastern Europe
Hungary as Heir of Rome: King Stephen, Laws (SR, 205-10)
An Ottonian courtier/bishop: Luotger, Life of Bruno, Archbishop of
Cologne (SR, 216-20)
Literacy: King Alfred, Prefaces to Gregory the Greats Pastoral Care (SR,
220-22)
Law: King Aethelred, Law Code (SR, 222-25)

M 12/7 Regionalism, Ties of Dependency and the Rise of Cluny

Clunys Foundation Charter (SR, 175-81)
Agreement between Count William of the Aquitainians and Hugh IV of
Lusignan (SR, 181-88)
Rosenwein, A Short History, pp. 131-49
W 12/9 A Birds Eye View of Europe in 1000: What Happened to Romanitas?
F 12/11 Review Session
Final Exam Friday, Dec. 18, 9-11am