Class 1.: Introduction
and practicalities, timeline, origins of civilization
I. Introduction A. Practicalities 1. Name Cards 1. Name (last name first. 2. Address + tel. no. 3. Year 4. Major 5. Previous history courses B. Syllabus 1. Office + office hours + Contact outside hours 2. The Course 3. Class Texts 4. Course structure 5. Requirements 6. Calendar 7. Class Rules II. Geography III. Music A. Four pieces Byzantine Chant (modern version. Gregorian Chant Hildegard of Bingen Allegri B. Sound - typical of middle ages ? Monodic - single melodic line Liturgical\ecclesiastical Different from modern - beat - who performs Similarities - we still sing hymns - Christianity remains dominant - note structure Change over the period, and over area. POINT: We are dealing with a very different civilization, but one upon which the modern West is largely based. IV. Why study Medieval History? A. What is History? Types of history? Political, economic, social, legal, religious, women's etc. POINT it's about everything. Etymology `histoire' (French) = story ``istoria' (Greek) = inquiries The `past' and `history' - we make history from the past, that's why its interesting to study. B. Why study History? Nature of education 1.-Skills - computer studies 2.-Why things are as they are - Physics History - the science of the fourth dimension it tells you where you are in time. C. Problems of Periodization We think in Years Other civilizations often think thought in generations or reigns [An example - OT and NT] Few other civilizations are as history conscious - they do not see themselves as successors to a whole string of earlier cultures. Modern chronology developed from need to calculate date of Easter. What we mean by `ancient', `classical'. `medieval', `early modern' and `modern' D. The Middle Ages as a Period 1. Intrinsic value and interest 2. Background of many people in US. 3. Value of its art 4. Origin of Western world predominance. Modern dominance of western thought in world culture. Look at situation in 1500 China - missions to Africa, gunpowder Turkey - Controls whole Islamic world India - important, but not very mobile Europe - divided and squabbling Why did Europe dominate in following centuries? -need to look at its history i.e. its medieval history IV. Questions and Answers
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© Paul Halsall, 1996.
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