HIST 380B The Capetian Dynasty: A Survey of Medieval France in the High Middle Ages
In the year 987 AD, the kingdom of France experienced a dynastic shift from the long-standing royal family, the Carolingians, to the new Capetian dynasty that would reign for over three hundred years. During this formative period in French history, the kingdom and its inhabitants experienced a number of changes and challenges. This course will trace chronologically the history of medieval France in the High Middle Ages (950-1350) and introduce students to such broad themes as the centralization of royal authority; the feudal structure; the culture of chivalry; the rise of medieval towns; the appearance of medieval universities; the renaissance of the twelfth century; and the role of the Church in society, and themes unique to France, including the foreign conquests of England, Sicily, and the Crusades; the innovation of Gothic architecture; the Albigensian Crusade in southern France; and the Avignon Papacy. Readings will emphasize primary sources in translation. No previous knowledge of the Middle Ages is assumed.