Medieval Warfare
Fordham
University: Fall 2002
Dr.
Maryanne Kowaleski
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the social, economic, and political history of
warfare from the fall of the Roman Empire to the fifteenth century.
Several themes are emphasized: 1) the impact of technological
developments in weaponry, fortifications, and armor on the conduct of war and
society; 2) the influence of the Christian Church on warfare; 3) the
relationship between social stratification and the conduct of war; and 4) the
social consequences and economic costs of warfare.
The course is divided into units of lectures accompanied by a Discussion
period that focuses on primary sources relevant to the topics covered in the
lectures. Students are expected to
contribute actively to class discussions. There
will be a midterm exam on Tuesday, Oct. 15, an essay of about 2500 words (10-12
pages) due on Thursday, Nov. 21, and
a final exam on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at
9:30 a.m.
II.
GRADING
Midterm
Exam
25%
Essay
30%
Discussion
15%
Final
Exam
30%
Note
that attendance is required at all class meetings.
The Discussion grade will be reduced by one whole grade for every three
unexcused absences. To receive an
excused absence, students must show evidence of a good reason for their absence;
for example, a note in writing from a doctor if they miss class because of
illness, or advance notice in writing
from the Athletic Department if they miss class because of participation in an
athletic event. Assignments for the
essay will be handed out at a later date.
III.
REQUIRED READINGS:
The
following can be purchased from the Fordham Bookstore. They are also on reserve
in Walsh Library. They are abbreviated by the word enclosed in square brackets
on the syallbus READINGS, below.
·
Kelly DeVries. Medieval
Military Technology. Lewiston, NY: Broadview Press, 1992. [DeVries]
·
Trevor Cairns. Medieval Knights. Cambridge University Press, 1992. [Knights]
·
Maurice Keen, ed. Medieval Warfare: A History. Oxford University Press, 1999. [Warfare]
·
Philip Warner. The Medieval Castle: Life in a Fortress in Peace and War. 1971;
Penguin, 2001 [Warner}
The
following readings are on reserve at Walsh and on ERES.
Students are strongly advised
to have copies of all of these readings well
in advance of when the syllabus requires they be read.
·
Sources, Nos. 1-8, are selections from primary sources that serve as the
basis of Discussions [Sources]
Students MUST bring a copy of
the assigned Source to the appropriate DISCUSSION period.
·
Malcolm Todd, "Weapons and Warfare," The
Barbarians, 1972, pp. 96-122. [Todd]
·
Richard Barber, “The Knight on the Battlefield,” in The
Knight and Chivalry, rev. edn. Boydell and Brewer, 1995, pp. 225-46.
[Barber]
·
John Keegan. “Agincourt, 25 October 1415,” in The
Face of Battle. Penguin Books, 1978. Chapter 2, pp. 78-116. [Keegan]
·
John Barnie, "The Popular Response," in War
in Medieval English Society: Social Values in the Hundred Years War 1337-99.
Cornell Univ. Press,1974; Chapter 2, pp. 32-55. [Barnie]
·
Michael Prestwich. “Infantry,” in Armies
and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience. Yale University
Press, 1996, pp. 115-45. [Prestwich I]
·
Michael Prestwich I. “Rewards,” in Armies
and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience. Yale University
Press, 1996, pp. 83-113. [Prestwich II]
·
Williams, Paul L. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Crusades. Alpha, 2002. [Also
available at bookstore as a recommended text].
[Williams
I]: “First Crusade,” pp. 25-35, 51-87
[Williams
II]: “Military Orders; and Fourth Crusade,” pp. 103-8, 209-34
[Williams
III]: “Christians and Moslems,” pp. 109-14, 146-56, 162-70
IV.
LECTURES AND READINGS:
LECTURE
READINGS
Aug. 29:
Introduction
Warfare (Keen):
1-9
Sep.
3:
Rome and the Barbarian Invasions
DeVries: 7-11, 50-8,
125-32, 174-87
Sep.
5:
Barbarian Warfare, 400-700
Knights: 4-8; Todd: 96-122
Sep. 9:
The
Byzantine Military System
DeVries, 140-2
Sep. 10:
DISCUSSION
Sources #1 and Readings
Sep. 12:
The Carolingian Empire and the Rise of Cavalry
Knights: 9-20; DeVries: 11-24, 59-66;
Warfare (Reuter): 13-35
Sep. 16:
The Feudal Military System
DeVries: 95-110, 187-201
Sep. 17:
The Norman Conquest and English Military Organization
Knights: 48-52
Sep. 19:
Diversity in Feudal Society and Military Organization
Warfare (Gillingham): 59-88
Sep. 23:
DISCUSSION
Sources #2 and Readings
Sep. 24:
Castles and Military Architecture
Warner:
1-14, 29-46; DeVries: 235-49
Sep. 26:
Sieges and Siege Techniques
Warner, 47-91,
218-24;
DeVries: 133-40
Sep. 30:
Movie: Castle
Warner, 134-65, 230-6
Oct. 1:
Slides and DISCUSSION
Warfare
(Jones): 163-85
Sources #3 and Readings
Oct. 3:
The Knight: Equipment and Training
DeVries:16-28,
44-9, 60-85;
Warner, 92-113, 225-9;
Oct. 7:
Knighthood and Chivalry
Knights:
30-47, 53-64
Warfare
(Ayton):186-208
Oct. 8:
The Knight in Battle
Barber: 225-46
Oct. 10:
DISCUSSION
Sources #4 and Readings
Oct. 14:
No Class. Columbus Day
Oct. 15:
(Monday schedule: 12:30 class)
Midterm Exam
Oct. 17:
Movie
Oct. 21:
The Church and Warfare
Knights: 21-29;
Williams I: 26-35, 51-87
Oct. 22:
The Crusades and Military Orders in the Holy Land
Williams II: 103-8,
209-34;
Warfare
(Edbury): 89-112
Oct. 24:
Other Crusades and The Teutonic Knights
Oct. 28:
The Islamic Military System
Williams II: 109-24, 146-56,
162-70
Oct. 29:
DISCUSSION
Sources #5 and Readings
Oct. 31:
The Foot Soldier: Equipment and Training
DeVries: 28-44, 85-94
Nov. 4:
The Foot Soldier in Battle
Prestwich I: 115-45
Nov. 5:
The Hundred Years War
Warfare (Rogers): 136-60
Nov. 7:
Tactics and Strategy
Keegan: 78-116
Nov. 11:
Slide Lecture: The Medieval Infantry
Nov. 12:
DISCUSSION
Sources #6 and Readings
Nov. 14:
The Mongol Military System
Nov. 18:
Mercenaries
Warfare (Mallett):
209-29
Nov. 19:
Diplomacy, War Propaganda, and Spies
Barnie:
32-55
Nov.
21:
The War at Sea ESSAY DUE
Warfare (Fernández-Armesto): 230-52
DeVries: 283-308
Nov. 25:
DISCUSSION
Sources #7 and Readings
Nov. 26:
The Costs of War and the Non-Combatant
Warfare (Allmand):
253-72
Nov. 28:
No Class. Thanksgiving.
Dec. 2:
The
Profits of War
Prestwich
II: 83-113
Dec. 3:
Late
Medieval Warfare: Infantry and the Rise of Artillery
Warfare
(Keen): 273-91;
DeVries: 143-63, 263-70
Dec. 5:
DISCUSSION
Sources #8 and Readings