Midterm, Spring 2011

Directions: Answer both questions below in essay form. An adequate answer will be a minimum of 4 pages using the formatting guidelines linked to the syllabus. Your grade will be based on how thorough your responses are and how well they incorporate the material from your reading assignments. You have nearly three weeks to work on these questions, so your essays should evince an appropriate level of effort. You are welcome and encouraged to discuss the questions on this blog.

A) As we discussed at the beginning of the class, France is more of an idea than an inevitable natural entity. Throughout most of its history various forces did more to divide France than unite it. Discuss the various geographic, historical, economic, social, and cultural forces that divided France in the past.

B) In the eleventh century the Capetian dynasty was extremely weak, especially compared to the neighboring English and Ottonian emperors in Germany. Discuss the strategies that the Capetians and their successors the Valois consolidated their authority and established a royal tradition that eventually led to absolutist monarchy.