Instructor | Class information | Assignments/schedule | Grading | Useful sources |
Instructor: Kathy Payne,
Ph.D.
office: 145 Stewart Library
phone: 626-6511
email:
KLPayne@weber.edu
website:
http://faculty.weber.edu/klpayne/Honors
class blog:
http://legioilynx.wordpress.com
Class meets: Tuesday/Thursday 10:30am - 11:45pm, Library 138 (Middle level, north)
Office hours: I’m usually around the Reference area or in my office, but if you want a guaranteed time, catch me after class, call or email to set up an appointment.
Reminders and other notices are posted on my twitter site: http://twitter.com/profpayne. You do not need have an account to read the tweets.
Students with Disabilities: Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
Description: We'll take a multidisciplinary and slightly irreverent approach to warfare - and all that goes with it - in the classical and medieval eras.
Learning objectives:
I use Canvas to post any Powerpoints, the Daily Dis, for grades, etc. To access, go to: http://canvas.weber.edu and log in using your WSU user name and password. (http://canvas.weber.edu usually works even if eWeber is down.)
It's good practice to set your communication stream on Canvas to forward emails, etc. to the email address you actually check. See: http://departments.weber.edu/ce/distancelearning/CanvasFAQ.aspx for directions
Reminders and other notices are also posted on my twitter site: http://twitter.com/profpayne. You do not need have an account to read the tweets.
I finally got a Facebook page for my classes, but am still learning how to use it. If that happens this semester, I'll put the address up.
Class etiquette: I am intolerant of students who act in a manner that disturbs me or other students.
You may eat and drink in class IF: you don't bother anyone AND you don't make a mess.
Cell phones are a pet peeve of mine.
Consider yourself warned.
Attendance:
Class participation is expected. Students
will receive points based on regular class participation. Unexcused absences
will have a negative effect on your grade. While I do not plan on giving
quizzes, I reserve the right to do so without warning.
I give extensions on assignments only for medical and similarly urgent problems. I define what's "urgent".
You may need to provide documentation such as a letter from your health care provider or deployment orders.
Group work: Group work is acceptable when I give specific permission. Otherwise, group work is considered cheating and dealt with accordingly.
Academic Integrity: It is assumed that students will act in an ethical manner. Students engaging in unethical conduct will be subject to academic discipline, including the imposition of University sanctions, as described in the WSU Student Code of Conduct. Examples of unethical conduct include, but are not limited to: willful damage of materials, theft, hiding of library materials, plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized use of computers and computer accounts, and intentionally spreading viruses.
Texts:
Required: A copy of each book will be on reserve in the library.
Matyszak, Philip. (2009). Legionary. The Roman Soldier's Unofficial Manual. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN: 0500251517
Prestwich, Michael. (2010). Knight. The Medieval Warrior's Unofficial Manual. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN: 0500251606
There will also be readings from primary sources. These will be available online and/or on reserve in the library.
Not familiar with Roman
numerals or forgotten what you knew? Check out this chart from the Cincinnati City
Schools:
http://literacy.kent.edu/Minigrants/Cinci/romanchart.htm
In-class assignments: 25 pts each
Epigraphy
3 in-class exercises - 5 pts each
To be chosen from: Hannibal's route through the Alps, Vindolanda, Trajan's Legions - R&R, Dura Europos, Song of Roland, Knights & Castles - R & R
Blogging:
You will be required to blog on class readings and/or other topics either assigned by me or chosen by you. You will also be required to comment on the posts of others. We will negotiate the total number of required & graded blog posts in class. In the event of any dissent, I win.
Blog: http://legioilynx.wordpress.com
Blogs
Assignment instructions.
Blogs must be at least 300 words
each.
Each post is worth 25 points.
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|
Final Project - 150 pts
In consultation with Professor Payne, pick a topic related to warfare from the time periods covered in class.
You may do a project, a series of blog posts, etc. Those doing projects will be required to do a single blog discussing their project.
You may work as groups, but each person must have a clearly defined area of responsibility that they will be graded on.
To paraphrase Captain Barbossa, this schedule is more what you'd call "guidelines," then an actual set-in-stone schedule.
I've purposefully kept the schedule vague to allow for changes based on class interests.
Links to specific excerpts will be added later. N.B. Excerpts will range in length from a paragraph to several pages.
Date | Topic | Readings & Assignments |
vv |
Arma virumque cano (I sing of arms & the man)
You're in
the Legion now: |
Social media and cohort setup |
Thursday Jan. 9 |
Honor/Shame Societies |
Motel of the Mysteries pre-test Mater tua caligas gerit. (Your mother
wears army boots) |
Tuesday Jan. 14 |
Sources: primary & other | Epigraphy & other primary sources assignment |
Thursday Jan. 16 |
Background | An extremely brief introduction to Greek history |
Tuesday Jan. 21
MLK Jr. Day, Monday, |
|
Organization, training, tactics (Blog post 1 topic) (Herodotus & Xenophon) |
Thursday Jan. 23 |
The Greeks at war | Organization, training, tactics |
Tuesday Jan. 28 |
The Greeks at war | Organization, training, tactics |
Thursday Jan. 30 |
Alexander the Great |
To ends of the earth and back: Tactics & terrain |
Tuesday Feb. 4 |
Alexander the Great | Tactics & terrain, continued |
Thursday Feb. 6 |
Background
|
An extremely brief introduction to Roman history |
Tuesday Feb. 11 |
Background - the Roman Republic | Student's choice: what do you think was the most likely route and why? Blog 1: Greek organization, training & tactics due |
Thursday Feb. 13 |
The Punic Wars |
Hannibal's route over the Alps - in class
|
Tuesday Feb. 18 President's Day, Monday, Feb. 17 |
The Legionary Life | Vindolanda - life on the frontier & the archaeology of war - in class |
Thursday Feb. 20 |
The Legionary Life |
Trajan's legions - how to conquer the world |
Tuesday Feb. 25 |
The Legionary Life | Dura Europos - life on the frontier & the archaeology of war - in class |
Thursday Feb. 27 |
Transitions: the later Roman Empire | Changes in the army
|
Tuesday Mar. 4 |
Transitions: the later Roman Empire |
Putting together the
pieces:
|
Thursday Mar. 6 |
Transitions: the West |
In search of King Arthur in class Blog 2: Alexander the Great: Tactics & terrain due |
Tuesday Mar. 11 Spring Break |
||
Thursday Mar. 13 Spring Break |
|
|
Tuesday Mar. 18 |
Transitions: the West |
Using
literature as an historical source: The Song of Roland & the Battle of Roncesvalles - in class |
Thursday Mar. 20 |
Background | An extremely brief introduction to the Middle Ages |
Tuesday Mar. 25 |
William the Conqueror |
Using art as an historical source: The
Bayeux Tapestries
Turn in final project outline/plan with short bibliography |
Thursday Mar. 27 |
The Battle of Hastings | Work on Bayeux tapestry blog |
Tuesday Apr. 1 |
How to fight like a knight |
The best defense is a good offense & vice versa
Blog 3: Bayeux Tapestry blog due (Note: for reasons of copyright, this assignment may need to be submitted as a word processor document) |
Thursday Apr. 3 |
The Crusades | The worthy enemy: Saladin and the Crusades through Arab eyes |
Tuesday Apr. 8 |
The Crusades | Tactics |
Thursday Apr. 10 |
Battle of Crécy | Things change again - technology - in class |
Tuesday Apr. 15 |
Finishing things up | Motel
of the Mysteries post test
|
Thursday April 17 Mon., Apr. 21 - last day of classes |
Feasting 101 |
Short presentations on final projects - by everyone Feast (because armies march on their stomachs) |
April 22-24 Finals |
Final projects/blogs due by midnight, April 24, MDT | |
April 25 |
Commencement |
Total points =
95 - 100% A
90 - 94% A-
87 - 89% B+
84 - 86% B
80 - 83% B-
77 - 79% C+
74 - 76% C
70 - 73% C-
67 - 69% D+
64 - 66% D
60 - 63% D -
<= 59% E
Useful Sources
Print:
Websites:
from Fordham University