Learning Outcomes:
This course introduces and connects medieval European cultural heritageThe module acts as an introduction the Art of the Middle ages from from 300 to 1500.
This course is designed to introduce students to the outstanding record of medieval art and architecture.
The student should be introduced to the principles, chronologies and stylistic differences of this period.
The student should be able to distinguish objects and images from this period and gain an understanding of shaping of the material history of objects and technologies of change.
The student should understand the process of cultural diversity and assimilation that characterised the period of the medieval period.
The student should be able to identify the issues portrayed thematically and demonstrate a knowledge of the transcending identities which convey the varied and complex nature of the continuity of the cross-cultural Medieval European story as a period of great development and change.
Indicative Module Content:
The Early Middle Ages are viewed in this module through a series of lectures that relate to the changing nature of art, identity and the formation of European cultural heritage. The different phases of Early, Middle and Later Middle Ages are outlined and characteristics of the Medieval period are identified in art and architecture. A close look is taken at the relationship between certain historical events and the formation of sacred landscapes in Europe relative to the impact of the sack of Rome as a turning point. The formation of different urban environments across regions provides access to developing societies and their material culture, giving insights into the practices and perspectives of European medieval traditions. A variety of topics are presented in a thematic way to create new manners of interpretation of Medieval art and architecture of this complex period. Through several case studies drawn from regional artefacts and monuments, comparative access is provided to historiographical, textual and interdisciplinary sources in the expanding European historical narrative. Expositions of the formulations of ideas, in terms of faith, knowledge and material history, provide links to the development of literacy and language; and through the exploration of mobility in terms of migration, travel, trade routes and pilgrimage, technologies and improvements: these different themes open up new questions relating to medieval art, materiality of objects, of the built environment and also make connections to approaches to the diversity of the Medieval past.