Course Outline: 2018-19

Church History 5104A & Religious Studies 2126F

The Early Church to the Late Middle Ages
Fall 2018

Location: W102
Day(s): Thursdays
Time: 9.30-12.20

Instructor: Stephen McClatchie

Contact Information:
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 519-438-7224 ext. 208
Office: A320A (take staircase near Theology office)
Office Hours: drop in (or make an appointment)

Course Description:

The course will trace the social, cultural, political, spiritual, and theological history of the
Christian Church from its apostolic beginnings to the early sixteenth century, just before Luther
sets in motion the events that led to the various ecclesial reformations of that century. The
material will be addressed largely through lectures, class discussion, and assigned reading.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the origin, expansion, and development of the

Christian Church; its doctrines and conflicts; and its relationship to the wider world from
its origins to the early 16th century;
• Identify and explain the significance of key historical figures in church history (lay and
ordained leaders, emperors and monarchs, theologians etc.);
• Explain the origin and impact of the principal heresies and heretical movements
condemned by the Church;
• Identify the conditions and problems in the Church that led to the reformations of the
16th century;
• Draw connections between selected aspects of church history (such as forms of catechesis,
piety, and devotion; anti-Semitism; the Crusades) and contemporary practices and issues;
• Understand the difference between and interrelationship of church history and theology;
• Demonstrate an ability to read, interpret, and assess historical documents and sources;
• Articulate the relevance of historical study to contemporary issues.
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Required Texts:

Bettenson, Henry and Chris Maunder. Documents of the Christian Church. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2011. [Will also be required for 5106B/2127G in Winter Term.]

Chadwick, Henry. The Early Church. Rev. ed. London: Penguin Books, 1993.

Madigan, Kevin. Medieval Christianity : A New History. New Haven & London: Yale University
Press, 2015.

These texts are available at the Western Bookstore.

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Course Syllabus:
1 6 September The Building of Christendom (to 5th century)
2 13 September Roman, Greek, and Jewish Contexts
Beginnings of Christianity
Encounters with the Empire: Persecution, Conversion, Apologetic
Constantine

Chadwick, Early Church: chapters 1, 3, 7

Bettenson & Maunder: Part I, Section I: I, III
3 20 September The Ante-Nicene Church (to 325 AD)
Church Order
Orthodoxy and Gnosticism
Apostolic and Church Fathers

Chadwick, Early Church: chapters 2, 4, 5

Bettenson & Maunder: Part I, Section I: II; Section III; Section VII
4 27 September Creeds, Councils, and Conflict (352-451 AD)
** The Arian Controversy and the Council of Nicaea
5 18 October Aftermath and Continued Conflict
The Nestorian Controversy and the Council of Chalcedon

Chadwick, Early Church: chapters 6, 8, 9-11, 14 (to p. 205)

Bettenson & Maunder: Part I, Section IV: I-IV, VII; Section V

** No class on 4 October (instructor away) or 11 October (Thanksgiving Monday) **

Document Study due 5 October

6 25 October The Church in the East after Chalcedon (451 AD to 1054 AD)
Aftermath of Chalcedon
Heresy Assignment Saint John Chrystostom
due Iconoclasm
Great Schism
Church-State Relations

Chadwick, Early Church: chapter 14 (p. 205-end)

Bettenson & Maunder: Part II, Section I
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7 1 November The Latin Church Before and After Chalcedon (4th-5th centuries)
Rise of the Papacy
Saints Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome
Donatist Schism
Pelagian Controversy
Conversion of the West & the Frankish Kingdom
Celtic Christianity

Chadwick, Early Church: chapter 15

Madigan, Medieval Christianity: chapters 2-3
8 8 November Early Medieval Christianity (6th-11th centuries)
9 15 November Monasticism
Gregory the Great
Anglo-Saxon Mission
Charlemagne
11th & 12th century Reform
Gregory VII & the Investiture Controversy
Islam and Crusade

Madigan, Medieval Christianity: chapters 4, 8-9

Bettenson & Maunder: Part II, Section II: II-V; Section VI: I, III a, b,
d
10 22 November High and Late Medieval Christianity (12th-early 16th centuries)
11 29 November Monks, Nuns, & Friars
Scholasticism & the University
Research Essay due Papal Monarchy
29 November Popes & Councils
Christians & Jews
Heresy & Heretics

Madigan, Medieval Christianity: chapters 6-7, 10-14, 17-20

Bettenson & Maunder: Part II, Section II: VI, VII; Sections III, IV, V,
VII: XI
12 6 December Medieval Devotion: Mary, Saints, Relics, Pilgrimage
Parochial Life
Liturgy & Sacraments
Catechesis
Devotion & Piety
Pilgrimage
Mysticism

Madigan, Medieval Christianity: chapters 5, 15-16, 21

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Assignments & Method of Evaluation of Assignments:

Summary:

10% Document Study

20% Heresy Assignment
25% Research Essay
35% Take-Home Final Examination
10% Attendance and Participation

Description of Assignments and Method of Evaluation:

(1) Document Study: on documents from Bettenson & Maunder

Length: 500 words (2 pages, double-spaced)
Due: By e-mail or via Dropbox on OWL by 5:00 p.m. Friday, 5 October
Weight: 10% final grade

Choose one document from the list below and write a brief summary of its significance,
considering (as appropriate) the following:
• When, why, and by whom it was written;
• What is the problem (historical, political, theological, ecclesial, social etc.) addressed
by the document;
• Why did it matter? Does it still?

The Martyrdom of Polycarp [pp. 9-13]

Justin, Apology (c.150) [pp. 70-71]
Irenaeus, Adversus haereses (end 2nd c) [pp. 72-74]
The Tome of Leo (449) [pp. 52-54]
The Didache [pp. 68-70]
Cyprian, De catholicae ecclesiae unitate [pp. 76-8]

(2) Heresy Assignment

Length: 1000-1500 words (4-6 pages, double-spaced)
Due: In class, Thursday, 25 October
Weight: 20% of final grade

Instructions: to be distributed in class 27 September.

(3) Research Essay: on a topic of your choice, relevant to the class.

Length: 1500-2000 words (6-8 pages, double-spaced, plus bibliography)
Due: In class, Thursday, 29 November (and via Dropbox on OWL)
Weight: 25% of final grade
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Instructions: Topics should be approved by the instructor. The paper must include notes and
bibliography, formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style [see also here].

(4) Take-home Final Examination: on assigned readings in Chadwick and Madigan and in-
class lectures. The question sheet will be distributed at the last class
Due: By e-mail or via Dropbox on OWL by 5:00 p.m. Monday, 10 December
Format: short essays on selected topics
Weight: 35% of final grade

(5) Attendance and Participation: an assessment of your attendance in class and over-all
participation in the course. More than two absences will result in a grade of zero out of ten.
Weight: 10% of final grade

By “over-all participation in the course,” is meant participating in class discussions,

demonstrating that you have done the readings, asking appropriate questions in class, and
seeking guidance from me if help is needed.

A word about the textbooks and assigned reading:

There is a lot of reading in this course. Do your best to keep up! We will read most of
Chadwick’s The Early Church and all of Madigan’s Medieval Christianity. Chadwick’s book, in
particular, is difficult because he assumes a certain amount of historical knowledge by the reader,
which allows him to take some chronological liberties; it’s easy to get confused so don’t be
discouraged. It is also very detailed. I will work hard in the lectures to indicate what is important.
Madigan’s book is more straight forward.

The Bettenson & Maunder book is a collection of primary sources that should be read to
supplement the primary texts. Many of the important documents referred to in Chadwick and
Madigan will be found, usually in excerpt, in it.
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Additional Statements:
1. Statement on Use of Electronic Devices:
It is not appropriate to use technology (such as, but not limited, to laptops, PDAs, cell phones) in the
classroom for non-classroom activities. Such activity is disruptive and is distracting to other students and to the
instructor, and can inhibit learning. Students are expected to respect the classroom environment and to refrain
from inappropriate use of technology and other electronic devices in class.

2. Statement on Academic Offences:

Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the
definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following web site:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2014/pg113.html

3. Plagiarism-detecting Software/Computer Marking:

All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism
detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such
checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism
of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement,
currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).

4. Support Services:
• UWO Registrar’s Office: http://www.registrar.uwo.ca
• Huron’s Faculty of Theology, Office of the Dean:
http://www.huronuc.on.ca/faculty_of_theology/info_for_current_students
• Faculty of Theology office: [email protected], 519-438-7224, ext. 289
• Bachelor’s Academic Advising at Huron:
http://www.huronuc.ca/CurrentStudents/AcademicAdvisorsandServices
• Huron’s Writing Skills Centre: http://www.huronuc.on.ca/student_life/writing_services
• UWO’s Mental Health website: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ Students who are in
emotional/mental distress should refer to this website for a complete list of options about how to obtain
help.
• UWO Student Support and Development Services:
http://communications.uwo.ca/current_students/student_services.htm
• Services provided by Western University Student Council: http://westernusc.ca/services/

5. Accommodation for absences:

a) Non-medical absences:
Documentation and a request for relief must be submitted to the Dean of Theology’s Office (A227) in
order for accommodation for non-medical absences to be considered.

b) Medical absences:
See also the Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness—Undergraduate Students, at
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf

For work representing 10% or more of the overall grade for the course, a student must present
documentation indicating that the student was seriously affected by illness and could not reasonably be
expected to meet his/her academic responsibilities. Documentation must be submitted as soon as possible
to your Faculty Dean’s office (Huron Arts & Social Science students should take their documentation to
the Academic Counsellor, through the Academic Services Centre at Huron), together with a Request for
Relief specifying the nature of the accommodation requested. The request and documentation will be
assessed and appropriate accommodation will be determined by the Dean’s office in consultation with the
instructor(s.) Academic accommodation will be granted ONLY where the documentation indicates that
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the onset, duration and severity of the illness are such that the student could not reasonably be expected to
complete his/her academic responsibilities.

The UWO Student Medical Certificate (SMC) and Request for Relief are available at the Student Centre
website (https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm), Huron University College Academic
Counselling website (http://www.huronuc.on.ca) or from the Dean’s Office or Academic Services Centre
at Huron.

Work submitted late and without accommodation will be penalized 5% per day or part thereof. If
submitted after the last day of classes (Friday, 8 December 2017), it will not be accepted and will be
assigned a mark of zero.

6. Grading Rubric:

One could scarcely expect better from a student at this

A+ 90-100
level
A 80-89 Superior work which is clearly above average
Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently
B 70-79
satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail

7. Contacting the Instructor:

E-mail is preferred. I will normally only respond between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Please write professionally and respectfully. When addressing the instructor, the use of “Dr.” or “Prof.” is
appreciated, particularly in writing or in public.

8. Instructor’s Quirk:

We live in Canada and so your written assignments must use the preferred Canadian spelling for words: e.g.,
colour, not color; theatre, not theater.