Time Schedule:
Jennifer A. Price
HIST 498
Seattle Campus
Each seminar examines a different subject or problem. A quarterly list of the seminars and their instructors is available in the Department of History undergraduate advising office.
Class description
THE FIRST CRUSADE AND THE IDEA OF CRUSADING
In 1095 Pope Urban II initiated what is known today as the First Crusade. This course will examine the origins of the idea of crusading within the larger context of eleventh-century political, relgious and social developments. Attention will be paid to the experience of the event itself - it is hoped that students will come to an appreciation of the First Crusade as it was reported and interpreted by contempories. The impact of the First Crusade and the idea of crusading on the Christian, Jewish and Muslim societies touched by the events of 1095-1101 will also be a topic of discussion.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
We will devote the first weeks of the class to reading and discussion of primary sources and secondary works. Students will be expected to read and engage each week with a variety of texts and come to class prepared for seminar discussion. The last three weeks of the class will be devoted to in-class discussions of rough drafts of the seminar papers.
Recommended preparation
A basic familiarity with medieval history will be helpful. Those who have not taken a relevant survey course (HIST 112, HSTAM 332, etc.) are strongly encouraged to read a text on Europe in this period. (R.I. Moore The First European Revolution, C. 970-1215 and R. Bartlett, The Making of Europe are good options).
Class assignments and grading
The only written assignment for the course is a 15-20 page research paper (a rough draft and a final draft are required, and both will be graded).
Participation is the other requirement. This is measured by 1) in-class participation in the weekly reading and discussion sessions; and 2) oral and written comments on seminar paper rough drafts done by other students.
