Download Syllabus - Mentis

History 5311
Spring 2012
The history of medicine in early modern Europe
7:00-9:50 p.m., UH 321
Colloquium in early modern Europe
Prof. Elisabeth Cawthon
Wed. nights,
Scope of course:
This is a readings course on medical history in Europe in the early
modern era, broadly defined--taking in both the late 1400s and the long
18th century. We will consider several queries in the class--both as a
group and in writing individual essays. What are the classic sources
that scholars employ? Who are the gray eminences in this field? What
are the trends among scholars who study early modern medicine? In
which sub-fields of medical history is the most exciting new research
taking place? About which issues do medical historians often disagree?
Where do you as a scholar of early modern history fit into the
scholarly debates?
I welcome chats about the assignments or my assessments. Aside from
office hours we can work out ways to chat electronically or by phone,
most days
Learning objectives:
(1) One goal is to familiarize ourselves with recent scholarship in
this field so that we
can name long-time experts and leading new scholars, and describe their
work.
(2) Another expectation is that we will hone our skills in comparing
and contrasting
historians’ views on key topics in the field. We will demonstrate those
skills through written comments and conversation.
(3)We also want to sharpen our ability to assess scholars’ use of both
primary and secondary sources, and to evaluate their argumentative and
stylistic skills. Again, we will show that increased ability in papers
and discussions.
Required books:
We will read 5 books in common, and then each person will read 4 other
books as part of our required writing assignments. Yes, that is 9
books in all!
1. We will discuss only portions of the textbook on our second class
meeting night. Otherwise you will read what you need of it, to assist
you as you complete the other readings.
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Lindemann, Mary. Medicine and Society in Early Modern Europe.
CUP, 2010
[used from $27.15]
Then in successive weeks we will read more specialized books in common.
Each of these is a well-regarded treatment of a foundational topic in
medical history:
2. the physician-biography:
Trevor-Roper, Hugh. Europe’s Physician, Yale, 2006.
[used from
$2.69]
3. presentation of a primary source:
Siegemund, Justine, The Court Midwife (L. Tatlock, trans)
Chicago, 2005. [used $13.99]
4. the historical novel/plague
Brooks, Geraldine. Year of Wonders, 2001.
[used from $.01]
5. the history of a single disease
There is choice on this assignment; you may pick a single disease
on which to read. If you do not have a favorite disease, I
suggest “the French pox” via this book:
Arrizabalaga, Jon, Henderson, John, and French, Roger. The
Great Pox: The French Disease in Renaissance Europe. Yale,
1997.
[used from $18.00]
Writing and other assignments:
There are three major assignments in the course: two essays and a
leading of class discussion:
1. You will complete one essay in the first half of the course,
as a commentary that focuses on one of our shared (common)
readings.
2. Just after midterm (March 21), an essay will be due on one set
of readings concerning a topic that interests you, chosen from
among the topics we will discuss after Spring Break.
3. In the second portion of the course, we will center our
discussion around oral reports from each of you on one set of
readings that you have chosen. These in-class presentations are
required and will be graded. You may NOT lead a discussion on
the same topic that you have written about for your essay that
was turned in on March 21.
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ALL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY, THROUGH THE
UNIVERSITY’S SAFE ASSIGN SYSTEM ON BLACKBOARD. If you have difficulty
in submitting in this manner, then simply email a copy of your paper
and I will submit it to SafeAssign manually. I will acknowledge
receipt as soon as possible, noting in my email the time and day of
your submission per the email or SafeAssign systems.
In addition, you will receive a percentage point for each day that you
attend class—up to 10 possible percentage points during the semester.
We have 12 class meetings. In effect, then, you could miss two class
meetings with no effect on your grade. Please use those “free”
absences wisely; it is best to reserve them for true emergencies and
come to class each week!
Guidelines for writing assignment #1:
Choose one of the assignments that is due between February 1 and Feb.
22. Please note that the assignments are spelled out during the week
before they are due.
Compose a 10-page response to my “prompts” as listed on the syllabus.
You MAY use book reviews to assist you, but please make certain to cite
all sources that you employed, icnluding any reviews.
Use 11-12 point type and sensible margins). Please think carefully
about a title. Please use Turabian/Chicago Manual of Style formatting,
which is what the UT Arlington graduate school requires for theses.
There are several sample forms available, as well as links tostyle
manuals, at:
http://grad.pci.uta.edu/students/services/thesis/
I will evaluate your papers based on their attention to the style
guidelines, grammar, reasoning, use of illustrative detail, selection
of an appropriate title, and accuracy in answering the quesitons I
posed.
Please note that these essays will be due on the day we discuss the
material in question, but they must be submitted BEFORE class.
Guidelines for writing assignment #2:
First, please choose two topics from among the following:
midwifery, the plague, patient perspectives, world history,
madness and medicine, the body.
One of these will be the subject of a written report, due March 21; the
other will be the basis of your leading of a class discussion, between
March 21 and April 25.
How should you get access to the books you chooose? Let me suggest that
you use interlibrary loan to secure any of these books that are not
available in our library. PLEASE do this as early in the semester as
possible! Be aware, though, that the books may arrive all at once and
you will not have access to them for long; once they arrive you will
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need to be ready to read them quickly, take notes on them thoroughly,
and then return them.
Of course you also may purchase the books. Fortunately, online book
sales have made this less expensive than buying new. For your
convenience I have provided some recent prices. Please note that I do
NOT want economics to prohibit your getting access to the books you
need. If cost is an issue, just let me know; I will try to find books
for you to borrow, if necessary, or I will consider substituting one of
the books listed here, for another that is more affordable or
accessible.
Please write 1 essay, of 10 pages (12 point type, sensible margins).
Use Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian formatting for footnotes or
endnotes; I ahve no preference for footnotes over endnotes. Please do
provide a separate bibliography if you go outside the books listed
here. For this assignment I strongly suggest NOT accessing published
or online reviews of the books. They tends to color your reactions and
I would like your fresh views when you are reading and writing.
Please note that these essays will be due on the day we discuss the
material in question, but they must be submitted BEFORE class.
Your foci in the papers should be the following:
*the basic story told by each writer (about 1 page of the paper
for each writer, or about 2 pages total)
*comparisons and contrasts between the two writers in argument
and presentation. (about 2-3 pages total in the paper). In
addition, please include the other items that I mention on the
syllabus, in connection with this assignment.
*observations on the writers’ use of sources (1-2 pages total in
the paper)
how the writers’ works fit into a larger understanding of
European medical history in the early modern era.
*In particular, explain how the books within each assignment dovetail
with (or perhaps contradict) Lindemann’s vision of early modern medical
history. (about 2 pages total; this section should be mostly toward the
paper’s end)
*Begin with a thesis statement or paragraph that mentions your sources,
and end with a concluding statement or paragraph that wraps up your
paper’s argument.
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Guidelines for your leading of class discussion, between March 21 and
April 25 (major assessment #3 in the course):
We will structure these so that (I hope) not too many people are in
charge on any given evening. You may proceed as an individual or work
with yoru colleagues to do a group presentation if you are focused on
the same topic. You will be graded individually, though; if you do a
group presentation I will require that each individual submit a
description of her/his part in the program.
Your goal is to lead the discussion so that class members who have not
read the books for this week will get a thorough exposure to the
material. Creativity counts, as does attention to the two authors’
arguments and their use of sources, as well as their employing of
examples.
You may use handouts and/or computer materials, but they are not
required. Keep in mind that you are the expert on the topic for your
particular evening!
Please do not make substitutions to the listed readings without prior
approval from me.
Here are all of the assessments for the course, listed in table form:
Nature of
assignment
Comment, per
assignments
on syllabus
p. 2, above
Amount to
read
1 book plus
occasional
shorter
readings
Basis of
assessment
Attention to
guidelines,style,
reasoning, use of
detail, title—see
p. 2 above
Compare and
contrast,
per
assignment
on syllabus
p. 2, above
Leading
discussion
on topic
other than
topic for
written
report that
was turned
in on
March 21.
Class
attendance
2 books, as
specified—
substitutions
only with
permission
Attention to
guidelines,style,
reasoning, use of
detail, title
selection
--see p. 3 above
knowledge of
material, poise,
creativity, use
of appropriate
examples see p.
4, jsut above
2 books, as
specified—
substitutions
only with
permission
1% for each class
attended
Date due
Feb. 1 or
Feb. 8 or
Feb. 15 or
Feb. 22
BEFORE class
starts.
March 21,
BEFORE
class
starts
March
March
April
April
April
April
21 or
28 or
4 or
11 or
18 or
25
% of course
grade
30%
30%
30%
10%
maximum
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SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS
Wed. Jan. 18:
of databases such as
introduction to the course, including the use
JSTOR and the Oxford DNB
For next week:
Pick a chapter of Mary Lindemann’s
Medicine and Society
in Early Modern Europe on which to
concentrate.
Be prepared to explain your choice to the
class.
Be ready to put forward Lindemann’s key
points in your
chapter, for the class.
Pay special attention to Lindemann’s
summary of major themes in medical
history,
use of sources, both primary and
secondary.
Wed. Jan. 25:
discussion of Lindemann’s text
For next week:
Read Europe’s Physician, by Hugh Trevor-
Roper.
Find two reviews of this book in scholarly journals
using JSTOR
Explain what the reviewers emphasize
about the place of this book in TrevorRoper’s career,
about the book’s position in early
modern history.
Note contrasts and similarities in their
reviews.
Wed. Feb. 1:
discussion of Trevor-Roper
For next week:
Read The Court Midwife, by Justin
Siegemund.
What challenges does Siegemund encounter in
presenting
this primary source to modern
readers?
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How is she successful? Where does her
explication need
improvement?
Wed., Feb. 8:
discussion of Siegemund
For next week:
Read Geraldine Brooks’ Year of Wonders.
How does this episode lend itself well to
novelization?
What does Brooks have difficulty conveying,
that a more
traditional historical treatment
could elucidate?
How does this book compare with other
historical novels that
you have read?
Wed. Feb. 15:
discussion of Brooks
For next week:
Pick a single disease in early modern
Europe, and read a book concerning its history
that is set largely in early modern Europe. I
suggest Jon Arriabalalga, et al, The French
Pox.
How does your author contextualize the disease?
How successfully are medical matters described?
How much does the book treat national history?
–world history?
Wed. Feb. 22:
discussion of your “single disease” books
For next class meeting, which is after Spring
Break,
please write your second essay in the course,
on one of the
topics listed below.
This assignment will be turned in on Wed.,
March 21,
no matter which topic you have chosen.
In addition, you will be responsible for
helping lead the discussion of
another week’s books.
In effect then, you will be preparing one
written and one oral report, on
two separate topics during the second
half of the course.
Wed. Feb. 29:
no class
Wed. March 7:
no class,
but please consider attending the Webb Lectures
keynote address, which is on a European medieval
history topic: 7:00, Rosebud Theater, Unievrsity
Center
Wed. March 14:
no class: Spring Break
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Wed. March 21:
discussion of midwifery
Broomhall, Women’s Medical Work in Early Modern
France, 2004, Manchester UP [$22.19 new]
and Gelbart, Nina. The King’s Midwife, U of CA
Press, 1999. [used from $3.11]
Wed. March 28:
discussion of the plague
Cohn, Samuel K. Cultures of Plague: Medical Thought
at the End of the Renaissance OUP, 2010 [$75...]
OR
one of Stephen Porter’s books on the plague in
London:
Lord have mercy upon us: London’s plague years,
Tempus, 2005, from $4.28 used]
or The Plagues of London, The History Press,
2004
[new and used from $13.74]
AND
Alexander, John T. Bubonic Plague in early
Modern Russia: Public Health and Urban Disaster, OUP,
2002
[used from $4.99]
PLEASE NOTE that I do want you to use the Alexander
book if at all possible.
Wed. April 4:
discussion of patient perspectives
Solomon, Michael, Fictions of Well-Being: Sickly
Readers and Vernacular Medical Writing in late
Medieval and Early Modern Spain, U of PA Press, 2010
[used from $30.50]
and Pomata, Gina (author, trans) Contracting a Cure:
Patients, Healers, and the Law in Early Modern
Bologna, Johns Hopkins, 1998.
[used from $6.90]
Wed. April 11:
discussion of medicine in the context of world
history
Cook, Harold J. Matters of Exchange. Yale, 2008
[used from $9.28]
and Harkness, Deborah. The Jewel House: Elizabethan
London and the Scientific Revolution. Yale, 2008.
[used from $6.89]
Wed., April 18:
discusssion of madness and medicine
Midelfort, H.C. Eric. A History of Madness in 16th
century Germany. Stanford, 2000 [used from $11.60]
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and Per Olov Enquist. The Royal Physician’s Visit,
2002, Simon and Schuster (this is a novel)
[used
from $.01]
Wed. April 25:
discussion of the body in medical history
Carlino, Andrea, Tedeschi, John, and Tedeschi, Anna.
Books of the Body. 1999 Chicago. [used from $23.50]
and Kerwin, William. Beyond the Body: The Boundaries
of Medicine and English Renaissance Drama, U of
Massachusetts Press, 2005. [new from $9.00]
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