Goals Fulfilled:
HIST 415, Seminar in European History, which I satisfactorily completed during the Fall 2021 semester, fulfilled one of my eight Honors course requirements as well as a major course requirement.
Reflection:
My seminar in European history covered medieval conceptions of the female warrior through in-depth analyses of primary sources from many such women. The Honors split-section in which I was enrolled focused heavily on two figures in particular: Christine de Pizan and the patron saint of Longwood University herself, Joan of Arc. Taught by Dr. Steven Isaac, HIST 415 was one of the most challenging and rewarding courses I have ever taken.
Dr. Isaac’s class consisted of formulating research topic proposals, evaluating historical methods, examining medieval religious philosophies, crafting an annotated bibliography, and penning a final research paper on medieval women at war, along with an oral presentation at the Fall 2021 Student Showcase (Research Day). All of these tasks combined made for a daunting course but an exciting academic adventure. Prior to my seminar with Dr. Isaac, I had never visited an in-person Research Day presentation, let alone designed a poster to present myself. However, my professor and my classmates steered me in the right direction throughout the semester, and I was ultimately proud of the work I presented.
Preceded by two in-depth research proposals and an annotated bibliography compiled through Greenwood Library and international research through the University of Bologna, I delivered my live presentation on Matilda of Tuscany, an eleventh century female ruler/leader who militarily assisted Pope Gregory VII in the Investiture Controversy. Presenting my abstract, methodology, and conclusions of my findings on Matilda of Tuscany alongside captioned photographs and historical artifacts to a crowd of Longwood students, faculty, and staff, I fielded questions for an hour about my topic from dozens of attendees. The Longwood University Office of Student Research later bestowed upon me the Live Presentation of Class Research Project Award (3rd Place!) out of all presenters.
Despite my initial doubts, HIST 415 allowed me to showcase my writing and speaking skills, and I am grateful for the experience. Below you will find my poster, linked as a PDF in Google Drive.