Spring 2025 - HIST 288 D100
History of Christianity to 1500 (3)
Class Number: 3872
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
-
Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
-
Instructor:
Hilmar Pabel
pabel@sfu.ca
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
A survey of the history of Christianity from its origins to 1500. Breadth-Humanities. Breadth-Humanities.
COURSE DETAILS:
How did a small sect develop to become a world religion known as Christianity? Today, 2.4 billion people, a little more than 30% of the global population, identify themselves as Christians. The history of Christianity asks many fundamental questions. Who was Jesus? Who were the first Christians? What did they believe? How did Christianity spread? What institutions shaped Christian society to the end of the Middle Ages? We shall explore these and other important historical questions through a variety of primary sources that connect us with ancient and medieval Christians and Christianity. The course does not assume or require any religious knowledge or affiliation.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
The course requirements of History 288 will help you achieve the educational goals of undergraduate courses in the Department of History. By the end of the course, you will be able
- to identify the principal historical developments of Christianity before 1500
- to recognize and assess aspects of these developments in primary sources
Grading
- Oral Class Participation 12%
- Four Tests (4 x 10%) 40%
- Three Primary Source Analyses (3 x 16%, 750 words each) 48%
NOTES:
At our first class on Tuesday, 7 January, we shall begin covering course content. Material that we cover during the first class will appear on the first test on Tuesday, 21 January.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
- The Book of Margery Kempe, trans. Anthony Bale (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015) for purchase at the SFU Bookstore in hard or digital copy.
- Selections from the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments, unabridged, any English translation, except for the Good News Bible and paraphrases of the Bible). Copies of the Bible are available in the Bennett Library and on the internet and for purchase through various outlets.
- Primary sources available for free online.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.