HIST 1113
History of the Early Medieval World
Final Examination Friday, April 8th, 11:00 a.m.
Reminder: You have until 11:00 a.m. PST on Saturday, April 9th to email your responses to me (at [email protected]) in a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx). Note that no extensions will be given to the time permitted for this. If you do not email your responses in by then, or you do not send them in the correct file format, you will receive a 0 on the exam, so make sure that you send them in on time, in the correct format.
SECTION 1
Please answer one of the following two text commentary questions. Your answer may be a maximum of 300 words. A maximum of 40 marks will be awarded for each answer.
1. Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-c. 339), Life of Constantine, on the conversion of Constantine
Questions: What, according to the author, were Constantine’s motives in converting to Christianity? What do they suggest about Constantine’s views on religion?
Being convinced, however, that he [Constantine] needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him [...] he sought Divine assistance [...] He considered, therefore, on what god he might rely for protection and assistance. While engaged in this enquiry, the thought occurred to him, that, of the many emperors who had preceded him, those who had rested their hopes in a multitude of gods, and served them with sacrifices and offerings, had in the first place been deceived by flattering predictions, and oracles which promised them all prosperity, and at last had met with an unhappy end, [...while his father], who had condemned their error, and honoured the one Supreme God during his whole life, had formed him to be the Saviour and Protector of his empire, and the Giver of every good thing.
ACCORDINGLY he called on him with earnest prayer and supplications that he would reveal to him who he was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. [...] He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, CONQUER BY THIS. At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle.
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The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.
These things were done shortly afterwards. But at the time above specified, being struck with amazement at the extraordinary vision, and resolving to worship no other God save Him who had appeared to him, he sent for those who were acquainted with the mysteries of His doctrines, and enquired who that God was, and what was intended by the sign of the vision he had seen.
2. Ibn Fadlan, Risala, on the Rus, 921 CE
Questions: What is Ibn Fadlan’s attitude towards the Rus? How does his own background affect
his viewpoint?
I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Volga. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free.
They are the filthiest of God’s creatures. They have no modesty in defecation and urination, nor do they wash after pollution from orgasm, nor do they wash their hands after eating. [...] With them are pretty slave girls destined for sale to merchants: a man will have sexual intercourse with his slave girl while his companion looks on. Sometimes whole groups will come together in this fashion, each in the presence of others. A merchant who arrives to buy a slave girl from them may have to wait and look on while a Rus completes the act of intercourse with a slave girl.
Every day they must wash their faces and heads and this they do in the dirtiest and filthiest fashion possible: to wit, every morning a girl servant brings a great basin of water; she offers this to her master and he washes his hands and face and his hair—he washes it and combs it out with a comb in the water; then he blows his nose and spits into the basin. When he has finished, the servant carries the basin to the next person, who does likewise. She carries the basin thus to all the household in turn, and each blows his nose, spits, and washes his face and hair in it.
When the ships come to this mooring place, everybody goes ashore with bread, meat, onions, milk and intoxicating drink and betakes himself to a long upright piece of wood that has a face like a man’s and is surrounded by little figures, behind which are long stakes in the ground. The Rus prostrates himself before the big carving and says, “O my Lord, I have come from a far land and have with me such and such a number of girls and such and such a number of sables,” and he proceeds to enumerate all his other wares. Then he says, “I have brought you these gifts,” and lays down what he has brought with him, and continues, “I wish that you would send me a merchant with many dinars and dirhams, who will buy from me whatever I wish and will not dispute anything I say.” Then he goes away. [...] Often the selling goes more easily and after selling out he says, “My Lord has satisfied my desires; I must repay him,” and he takes a certain number of sheep or cattle and slaughters them, gives part of the meat as alms, brings the rest and deposits it before the great idol and the little idols around it, and suspends the heads of the cattle
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or sheep on the stakes. In the night, dogs come and eat all, but the one who has made the offering says, “Truly, my Lord is content with me and has consumed the present I brought him.”
SECTION 2
Please answer one of the following essay questions. Your answer may be a maximum of 700 words. A maximum of 60 marks will be awarded for your essay.
Look what you made me do: What impact did invasions by external enemies have on the development of medieval Europe? Back up your argument with suitable evidence.
That’s me in the spot-light, losing my religion: Were early medieval rulers motivated principally by political ambition or religious piety? Be sure to provide relevant examples to support your position.
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
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