History (HIST) 371

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:

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

The print materials also include a Reading File.

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 Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they 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 for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge 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).

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form