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Middle Ages Essay

UPDATE: Rough draft is due Thursday 11/17, Final draft on 11/18

Your assignment is to write a two-three page essay on an aspect of medieval life (topics below). Your report must include information from no more than two sources, cited according to MLA.

Note that all information from your sources – whether quoted directly, paraphrased or summarized – must be cited. MLA requires that the author include the author’s last name (or first word of the title in quotes) and a page number (none for web pages) at the end of the sentence, in parentheses.

Your essay must be typed. With the final draft, you must also include a copy of each source you used. Print out web pages and make copies of books or magazines. Staple everything together, with the essay on top.

Below is a list of possible topics:

Social Order
Knighthood
Feudalism
Chivalry & Courtly Love
Slavery / Serfdom

Religion in the Middle Ages
Pilgrimage
Heresy
The Crusades
Holy Grail
Judaism
Paganism

Science & Medicine
Humoral Theory
Hygiene
Alchemy
Plague (Black Death)

Medieval Life
Food & Beverage
Women’s Rights
Commerce / Economics
Education
Games / Sports

Medieval Law
Magna Carta
Crime & Punishment

Arts & Entertainment
Music – minstrels, ballads
Drama / Theatre
Fine Arts – painting, weaving, etc.

Try the Medieval Sourcebook as jumping off point.

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