HIST 103  INTRODUCTION TO THE MEDIEVAL WORLD

Fall 2025

Location:

Meeting Days: T-TH 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm

Professor Silvia Z. Mitchell

Email: mitch131@purdue.edu

Virtual office hours, by appointment

https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/4382740154?pwd=ZkU0UXI0cHhMSlVHOEtQTkFzT2NtUT09

Meeting ID: 438 274 0154

Passcode: 977590

Graduate Teaching Assistant  Stafano Palermo

Course Description

This course is an overview of medieval history from the late Roman Empire to the birth of Renaissance Europe, encompassing the millennium from about 300 AD to 1500 AD. The course will explore political, religious, and social changes as well as economic, technological, and cultural developments.

By the end of the course, students will gain a sophisticated understanding of the large historical processes that took place during the period and identify those that have been formative in the development of European Civilization. As we explore the themes of the course, students will also develop an awareness of the complexity of human experience of the men and women who inhabited the medieval world.

Required Texts:

Barbara Rosenwein, A Short History of the Middle Ages, Volume II: From c.900 to c.1500 6th edition (University of Toronto, 2023).

Patrick Geary, Readings in Medieval History, 5th edition (University of Toronto, 2015).

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and assess the large historical processes that transformed the European world from 300 AD to 1500 AD.

1.Explain the geopolitical shift in the Mediterranean world after the dissolution of the Roman Empire in the West.

2. Identify the three main civilizations that emerged by c. 700 A.D. and their political, cultural, and social characteristics.
3. Identify the “Nations” that populated Western Europe from 500 A.D. to 900 A.D. and their political, cultural, and social characteristics.
4. Articulate the causes and nature of the transformations that swept Europe after the 11th century and that culminated with the Renaissance in the 15th century.
5. describe certain historical events of the period that had been formative to the development of Western Europe.

1.Understand the causes and consequences of the first Crusade

2. Identify the positive and negative impact of the Black Plague.
3. Contextualize the so-called “Commercial Revolution.”
4. identify at least three consequences of the rise of universities.
5. become familiar with the techniques and skills historians utilize to interpret the past.
6. Understand change over time (a major tenet of the discipline) as it applies to European civilization from 300 A.D. to 1500 A.D.
7. Understand the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources

Assignments and Evaluation:

Assignments for this course provide students the opportunity to build, improve, and expand their analytical skills and historical knowledge. Assessment, therefore, has been designed to evaluate content knowledge, critical writing ability, and engagement with the material as follows:

A Midterm and a Final—essay format. You will be given the exam questions one week in advance.

NOTE: I understand that there might be instances in which students will be unable to take the exam during the assigned date (see attendance policy below) either due to illness, academic, or family emergencies. If that is the case, you have ten days to make up the Exams. It is your responsibility to request a date for retaking it. Only justified absences will be considered.

2. Evidence-based writing assignments (EBWA); two paragraphs or more. Over the course of the semester, you will engage with critical analysis of the material; this could be answering a question I will pose or analyze a primary source. This will prepare you for the exams and will help you become familiar with the methodology used by historians. The purpose is to utilize “evidence” to understand the historical context that you are getting from the class lectures and the textbook.

I will post a prompt in the form of a question, or a statement and you will answer utilizing the “evidence” in the source. The Prompt will be posted a few days before the assignment is due. Only the material assigned for the course is allowed.

3. Participation/Discussion Forums (DF): Each week, as we move through the material for the class, you will engage with a primary source, class lectures, readings, and your classmates’ responses. The DF are similar to the EBWA with the difference that you will also engage with your classmates’ ideas. You will get credit for this activity, so it will add points to your overall grade.
4. Information Literacy Assignment: An information literacy assignment with an annotated bibliography of secondary sources submitted in the proper format and conforming to the tenets of peer reviewed academic publications for the discipline of history and other related humanities (i.e. art history, literature, etc.). Instructions and expectations will be made available with plenty of time. This assignment will deepen your research skills in the humanities.

WARNING: Even if you have the numerical grade to pass the course; missing a major assignment is an automatic failure. Major assignments are Exams, Information Literacy Assignment, and missing 50% or more of the EBWA.

Grading Scale—I have a policy of NOT rounding up grades. If you get 89.7, for example, you will earn a B+. To get the A- your total number of points would have had to add up to 90 and above.

100-98 = A+ 97-93 = A 92-90 = A- 89-88 = B+ 87-83 = B 82-80 = B-

79-78 = C+ 77-73 = C 72-70 = C- 69-68 = D+ 67-63 = D 62-60 = D-

59-0 = F

How to do well in class

Learning is a complex and gradual development. Historical processes are complex phenomena that cannot be comprehended by a simple date or event. The best way to approach the material is to engage in active learning techniques. Note taking is the best way to consolidate knowledge and keeping up with reading assignments as well. Working through the material progressively is the best way to learn.

How to communicate with your professor and TA (and this applies to all your professors, so you may want to pay attention and evaluate yourself):

Your ability to function in whatever professional world you will enter upon graduation has to do with communication. What better way to start learning than with your professors and instructors. I expect the use of proper email etiquette and proper titles when emailing myself or the TAs. When addressing me, use Dr. or Professor follow by my last name. Your email should begin with a salutation such as “Dear Professor Mitchell” or “Dear Ms. Fish” or “Dear Mr. Huber.” A “Hello Dr. Mitchell” is acceptable. A hi without anything else is not. End with a proper closing, such as “Sincerely,” or “Yours.” Include your full name and do not give any personal information in your email such as your student number. Use an identifiable subject in your email: i.e. HIST 103, question about the exam.

Attendance and Make-Up Work Policy

We will take attendance, which is mandatory, and will excuse absences according to Purdue’s policies   https://catalog.purdue.edu/content.php?catoid=17&navoid=21832#classes .

Missing class will affect your grade as follows:

1-2 unexcused absences: no deduction

2-4 unexcused absences: 2 points deduction

4-6 unexcused absences: 5 points deduction

More than 6 unexcused absences: 10 points deduction

Late work and Extensions Policy: Extensions will be granted when circumstances outside your control prevent you from submitting an assignment. You should talk to me if that is the case, hopefully in advance (although I understand that is not always possible). Late work without any sort of communication will be penalized or, in some cases, will not be accepted. If you miss a major assignment due to illness or an emergency, it is your responsibility to contact us and make alternative plans to complete the work.

Even if you have a numerical grade to pass the class, you must complete all major assignments. Missing a midterm or the final, for example, is an automatic failure. Missing more than two EBWA is also an automatic failure. Get in touch with me if your semester has been disrupted due to circumstances outside your control.

CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND LAST-MINUTE COMMUNICATIONS (IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES) WILL BE DONE THROUGH BRIGHSTPACE. ENABLE NOTIFICATIONS.

Please, make sure you check the course website or allow notifications sent to you. This is the medium I will use to communicate with the class should some unforeseen circumstance comes up.

Academic Integrity:

I take Academic Integrity very seriously and will not hesitate to refer students to the Deans of Students Office if necessary.

Purdue Honor Pledge: “As a boilermaker pursuing academic excellence, I pledge to be honest and true in all that I do. Accountable together—we are Purdue.”

Plagiarism or any sort of cheating will result in a failing grade for the entire course. Cheating can take many forms, including, but not limited to, passing someone else’s work for one’s own, copying from another student’s work during an exam, or using unauthorized material.

STATEMENT ON AI

In this course, students are responsible for their learning and will not develop the skills they need to achieve the learning outcomes of this course by relying on AI to do the work. For this reason, the use of AI is prohibited in this course.

ONLY MATERIAL FROM THIS COURSE SHOULD BE CONSULTED FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENTS.

Academic integrity is one of the highest values that Purdue University holds. Individuals are encouraged to alert university officials to potential breaches of this value by either emailing integrity@purdue.edu or by calling 765-494-8778. While information may be submitted anonymously, the more information that is submitted provides the greatest opportunity for the university to investigate the concern.”

Diversity & Inclusion

Purdue University is committed to maintaining a community which recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her own potential. In pursuit of its goal of academic excellence, the University seeks to develop and nurture diversity. The University believes that diversity among its many members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. Purdue’s nondiscrimination policy can be found at: http://www.purdue.edu/purdue/ea_eou_statement.html.

Disclaimer:

In the event of a major emergency, the requirements, deadlines and grading policies are subject to changes that may be required by a revised semester calendar. Any such changes in this course will be posted on Blackboard once the course resumes or can be obtained by contacting the professor via email.

Course Schedule:

PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THIS SCHEDULE WITH YOU AND REFER TO IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.