#5 The 14th Century

Monday – 1:00 p.m.                                                         Winter 2009 (14 Weeks)
Coordinator:  Linda Rohrer                                          Co-coordinator:  Ginger Leibovitz

Course Description
The calamitous 14th century was a time of great change.  The modern world emerged out of this crucible of pain, and brought with it the new belief in the worth of the individual, and a life not necessarily focused on God.
Capitalism also emerged as respectable and, as a result of the Black Death which greatly reduced Europe’s population, peasants were able to negotiate wages.  In June of 1381, in England, the peasants revolted and saw that change was possible.
We’ll be using Barbara Tuchman’s classic A Distant Mirror as our core book. Join us on our trip through that distant mirror.  We promise you a safe return.

Topics
1.      Introduction.  Chapter 1 “I Am the Sire de Coucy”:  The Dynasty
2.      The Black Death.  Chapter 5:  “This is the End of the World”
3.      “Born to Woe:  The Century” – Chapter 2
4.      Youth and Chivalry – Chapter 3
5.      “Decapitated France:  the Bourgeois Rising and the Jacquerie” – Chapter 5
6.      “The Guilded Shroud” – Chapter 11
7.      “England’s Turmoil” – Chapter 14
8.      “The Emperor in Paris” – Chapter 15
9.      “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions” – Chapter 18
10.    ”The Siege of Barbary” – Chapter 22
11.    “Dance Macabre” – Chapter 24
12.    “Lost Opportunity” – Chapter 25
13.    “Nicopolis” – Chapter 26
14.    “Hung Be the Heavens With Black” – Chapter 27

Bibliography
Core Book: 
Tuchman, Barbara.  A Distant Mirror.  Knopf 1978.

Pre-Meeting:  Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 11:30 a.m.