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Calendar

CLASS # TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS
1 Disintegration of the Roman Empire Augustine. The City of God, esp. parts I, III, and V. Discussion questions (PDF)
2 Regularization of Monastic Life

Rule of St. Benedict. Chaps. 1-7, 19-33, 39-40, and 48-51.

Saint Gregory the Great. Dialogues.

3 Conversion of the Franks Gregory of Tours. The History of the Franks.
4 Conversion of England and the North

Bede. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. 

Correspondence of St. Boniface

5 Persistence of Nordic Paganism Beowulf.
6 The Carolingian Court Charlemagne's Courtier: The Complete Einhard. Introduction - Life of Charlemagne, Books 1 and 2 - The Miracles of Marcellius and Peter. Preliminary bibliographies   
due for final project.
7 Conflict with Byzantium Liutprand of Cremona. "Report of his Mission to Constantinople."
8 Crusading: or the Making of the Saint Joinville. The Life of St. Louis.
9 Female Saints: Music and the Visionary

Hildegarde of Bingen. Secrets of God, pp. 8-38 ("Scivias"), 103-118 ("Causes and Curses"), and 119-140 ("Symphonia").

Literature review due.
10 Love, Logic, and the Politics of the Intellectual Life Letters of Abelard and Heloise.
11 The Wider Medieval World Dunn. The Adventures of Ibn Battuta.
12 Last Class--scheduling flexible to accomodate a class dinner.
13 Final paper drafts due.