HISTORY 123: ENGLAND TO 1688

FALL SEMESTER, 2007

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11-11:50, 1641 Humanities.

email: jsommerv@wisc.edu

This course deals with more than sixteen hundred years of British history, from the coming of the Romans to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. It focuses on the major events and most momentous social changes which shaped the development of the English people. The objectives of the course are (i) to investigate how a small island off the coast of Continental Europe came to be a world power which exercised an incalculable influence on history and culture around the globe; (ii) to foster an understanding of societies very different from our own; and (iii) to enhance critical and analytical thinking, and communication skills.

The first part of the course examines the impact of the successive invasions of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Topics covered include the evolution of the English church and state during the Middle Ages, the nature of feudalism, the troubled reign of King John, and the effects of the Black Death and other plagues on English life in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

The second part of the course starts with the Wars of the Roses and deals with the last phase of the Middle Ages and the beginnings of modern England. Topics discussed will include the dissolution of the monasteries and the destruction of the church's independence, reforms in government under the Tudors, the steep growth of population, and resulting economic stresses. Particular attention will be given to the reign of Elizabeth I, and to the origins of the English Civil War in the 1640s. The course ends with an analysis of the significance of the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Instructor: Johann Sommerville
Email: jsommerv@wisc.edu
Office: 5214 Humanities
Mailbox: 5032
Office Hours: Mondays, 1:15-3:15, and by appointment.

Teaching Assistant:  Kerry Dobbins
Email: kedobbins@wisc.edu
Office: 4271 Humanities
Mailbox: 4115 Humanities
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 12-2, and by appointment.
(For a message from Kerry Dobbins about Discussion Sections, scroll down this page.)

Required texts:

	C. Warren Hollister, The Making of England 55 B.C. to 1399.
	Lacey Baldwin Smith, This Realm of England: 1399 to 1688.

In addition, some documents will be assigned each week to read in preparation for the weekly discussion session. For details, click Course schedule.

Required tasks:

3 credit students will:

	attend lectures;
	attend and participate in discussion section;
	take two mid-term exams (10/10 and 11/19) and a final exam (05:05 PM on Friday 12/21; place to be announced.)
	explore the lecture outlines by clicking here.

4 credit students will have the same tasks, and in addition will write a term paper. The term paper should be in 10-12 point font, double-spaced, and about 5-6 pages in length; in addition to the 5-6 pages of text, the paper should also include a bibliography, and references to things you have read, giving your sources, and it should show familiarity with at least two books or articles in addition to the course reading. See The Writing Center site on how to cite references in your paper.
You can either arrange a topic with me or your T.A., or write on one of the following topics:
(i) To what extent were King John's problems of his own making, and to what extent did he inherit them from his predecessors?
(ii) What were the most serious problems which faced Elizabeth I, and how successful was she in overcoming them?

If you cannot complete the fourth credit paper by November 2, make sure to drop the fourth credit in good time! To do this please visit your MyUW site and follow the links to update your current course information.

Honors students: as 3 or 4 credit students, but you will write an additional paper (due 12/14.)

You are responsible for keeping up with the readings and preparing for weekly discussion sections. Click on Course schedule to link to details of each week's reading; you will also be given details of these in discussion section.

How much are the exams (etc.) worth?
3 credit students: classroom participation 20%; each mid-term 20%; final 40%
4 credit students: classroom participation 20%; term paper 25%; each mid-term 13.75%; final 27.5%
3 credit honors students: classroom participation 20%; term paper 25%; each mid-term 13.75%; final 27.5%
4 credit honors students: classroom participation 20%; each term paper 15%; each mid-term 12.5%; final 25%

A Message from Kerry Dobbins about Discussion Sections: Introduction For many of us, our perception of British history and culture is shaped by popular media. How accurate is our understanding? When an opening shot of Big Ben appears on a movie screen, we instantly know the setting is London, but how much do we really know about what happens inside the Houses of Parliament? The aim of this class is to deepen your understanding of a nation you might think you already know. The materials from our lectures will provide the framework for our discussions, but won’t limit them. Along the way, we will explore some of the questions and nagging problems which all historians have to contend with in any field. Class Requirements (Discussion Sections) The most important part of discussion is to be here, both physically and mentally. Because of this, the attendance policy is strict, make sure you know it! There will be occasions when you must miss discussion due to illness, family emergency, or other pressing matters. For this reason, you may be absent twice without penalty. If you are absent three or four times, your section letter grade will be lowered by half a letter grade. If you are absent on five occasions, it will be lowered a full letter. If you have an emergency that requires you to miss a number of sections, please speak to me. There is very little that cannot be solved by clear and frequent communication. Class Writing (Discussion Sections) From time to time we will have in class writings in addition to our normal large and small group work. These are not quizzes, tests or psychological profiles! Writing is an important aspect to our communication skills and it only improves with practice. Feel free to be candid in any writing I give you. They are used for class work checks and attendance only. Plagiarism Plagiarism is the use, citation, or paraphrase of someone else’s words or ideas without attribution. Plagiarism is covered under the university’s policy on academic dishonesty, and may result in failure of the class, a disciplinary hearing before the Dean of Students, expulsion, or some combination of these. If you are uncertain what constitutes plagiarism or academic dishonesty, please ask me. Closing Words If you have any questions about any of the above, please feel free to ask, either in section or privately. This semester marks the start of my sixth year teaching and I have grown as a scholar every semester as my students give me new insights into my own field. While we are together this semester, we are a scholarly community and I look forward to learning from you. Kerry Dobbins