Medieval London
MVST 4654: Medieval London
Prof. Maryanne Kowaleski
Fordham London Centre: Spring 2015
Required Texts:
- Barron, Caroline. Medieval London: Government and the People, 1200-1500. Oxford University Press, 2011
- FitzStephen, William. Norman London. New York: Italica Press, 1990, 2nd edn 2008
- McIntosh, Jane R. The Practical Archaeologist: How We Know What We Know about the Past. New York: Checkmark Books, second edition only, 1999
- John Schofield. London 1100-1600: The Archaeology of a Capital City. Equinox Publishing, 2011
- Primary Source Reader on Medieval London: will be made available a week in advance of each assignment
- Other Texts:Other reading assignments will be available on ERes (marked with *) or Google Drive (marked with +) in Readings).
Medieval Object and Site Reports: Each student is required to post on the course online exhibition website, using the Omeka digital platform, two short (c. 500-750 words) reports. See the Report instructions and bibliography for more information. The website is at http://medievallondon.ace.fordham.edu
Quizzes: Two to four 10 minute pop quizzes will be given based on the lectures and readings.
Presentations: Each student is required to do one 8-10 minute oral presentation on topics related to but not covered in depth during a particular class. See the Presentation instructions for more information.
Final Paper: Students will be given a choice of four questions to address, each of which requires you to compare and contrast archaeological and documentary evidence on some aspect of medieval London. You will need to draw on at least six different sources (most will be available online) and the final paper should be 8-10 double-spaced pages long excluding footnotes and bibliography of works cited). Further guidelines about the questions, readings, and format of the final paper will be distributed in class.
Lectures, Discussion Sections, Presentations, and Excursions:
Jan. 13 Discussion Groups: William FitzStephen's A Description of London
Jan. 14: The Topographical Development of London from Roman to Medieval Times
Jan. 16: Friday excursion: Museum of London, tour of the medieval gallery. Meet at 10 a.m. at the entrance
Jan. 20: Excursion: Museum of London Archaeological Data Service, 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Jan. 21: Introduction to Archaeological Techniques and Assessment
Jan. 27 Discussion Groups: Interpreting Archaeological Finds: Methods and Techniques
Presentation: Faunal Analysis: How it Works
Presentation: DNA Analysis: How it Works
Jan. 28: Domesticity in Medieval London: The Material Culture of Everyday Life
Feb. 3 Discussion Groups: Documentary Evidence for Everyday Life in Medieval London
Presentation: Stable Isotope Analysis
Presentation: Diet in Medieval London
Feb. 4: London and the Crown
Feb. 10 Discussion Groups: City and Crown: The Reality of Royal Power
Presentation: The Manufacture of Arms and Armor
Presentation: Chronicles of Medieval London
Feb 11: Excursion to the Tower of London
Feb. 17 Discussion Groups: London as the Capital
Presentation: Who Murdered the Princes in the Tower?
Feb.18: Governing London: Mayors, Aldermen, the Common Council, and Wards
Feb. 24 Discussion Groups: Government and the Civic Bureaucracy
Presentation: The 1381 Revolt in London
Feb. 25: Making Money in Medieval London: Guilds, Trade, and Finance
Mar. 3 - 4: Mid-semester break (no classes)
Mar. 10 Discussion Groups: The Merchant Class of Medieval London
Presentation: Geoffrey Chaucer as a Londoner
Presentation: Education in Medieval London
Mar. 11: Working in Medieval London: The Other 90%
Mar. 17 Discussion Groups: The Manufacturing, Retail, and Service Sectors of the London Economy
Presentation: Children in Medieval London
Mar. 18: The Urban Environment: Buildings, Pollution, and Sanitation
Mar. 24 Discussion Groups: The Urban Environment
Presentation: The Suburb of Southwark
Presentation: The Inns and Houses of the Wealthy in Medieval London
Mar. 25: Worshiping in Medieval London: The Clergy, Laity and Medieval Devotion
Mar. 31 Discussion Groups: Religion in Medieval London
Presentation: Entertainment and Social Life in the Medieval Parish
Presentation: The Jews in Medieval London
Apr. 1: Excursion to Westminster Abbey
Apr. 7 Discussion Groups: Monasteries and Hospitals in Medieval London
Presentation: Almshouses and Changing Attitudes towards Poverty
Apr. 8: Living and Dying in Medieval London: Reading Human Bones
Apr. 17, Friday: Excursion to Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral
Apr. 21 Discussion Groups: Living and Dying in Medieval London
Presentation: Medieval Burial Practices
Presentation: Determining if the Bubonic Plague was Yersina Pestis
Apr. 22: Crime and the Underworld in Medieval London (Lecture and Discussion)
Apr. 28: Discussion Groups: London and the Thames
Presentation: London Bridge in History and Archaeology
Apr. 29: Excursion: Thames River cruise
To be followed by a Farewell Dinner at a restaurant to be determined.