Overview
History 371: Early Medieval Europe, 400−1000, is a three-credit, senior-level course that surveys the most significant political, economic, social, intellectual, and religious events and trends in Europe from the collapse of the ancient Roman Empire in the 400s to about the year 1000. Historians have long debated whether this period was a dark age or the birth of Europe. To engage students with these and other historical questions, the course presents primary source readings from the period as well as current scholarly interpretations of the Early Middle Ages. Through researching a particular historical topic in detail, you will exercise the research, critical thinking, and writing skills you will need for success at university and beyond.
Outline
The online Study Guide contains the thirteen units listed below.
- Unit 1: Introduction
- Unit 2: The Late Roman Empire, 284−476
- Unit 3: The Cultural and Religious Transformation of the Late Roman Empire
- Unit 4: The Barbarian Kingdoms of the Early Middle Ages
- Unit 5: The Byzantine Empire: East Rome Transformed
- Unit 6: Islam: Sibling Civilization of Medieval Europe
- Unit 7: Christianization of Early Medieval Europe
- Unit 8: Early Medieval Economy and Society
- Unit 9: The Carolingian Empire: Part I: The Rise of the Carolingian Franks
- Unit 10: The Carolingian Empire: Part II: Reform, Renaissance, and Decline
- Unit 11: The Vikings, Part I
- Unit 12: The Vikings, Part II
- Unit 13: The Lordship and Kingship at the End of the Early Middle Ages, c. 850−c.1000
Evaluation
To receive credit for HIST 371, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Quiz 1 | 1.25% |
| Quiz 2 | 1.25% |
| Assignment 1 | 5% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Quiz 3 | 1.25% |
| Quiz 4 | 1.25% |
| Assignment 3 | 30% |
| Final Exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Arnold, Martin. The Vikings: Wolves of War. Lanham: MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
Riddle, John M. A History of the Middle Ages, 300-1500. 2nd ed. Lanham: MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.
Online Materials
The online materials include a Course Manual, Study Guide, Student Manual, a Digital Reading Room, and links to external online resources, including streaming videos
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the HIST 371 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent)on each of the three challenge components and a composite grade of at least D (50 percent).
| Activity | Weight |
| Exam 1 | 30% |
| Exam 2 | 30% |
| Research Essay | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form