HIS31500 Past, Present and Future in Medieval England

Academic Year 2022/2023

How did people in the middle ages think about their past, present and future? How did they explain the fortunes of individuals and the rise and fall of empires? How did they discuss authority and resistance, religious conflict, the natural and the supernatural world? This course looks at how a talented and original group of writers in England in the high middle ages tried to make sense of the remarkable times in which they lived. Combining history, prophesy, poetry and political commentary, their works address not only the dramatic events of the time – the murder of Thomas Becket, the rebellion of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the crusade of Richard the Lionheart – but a range of other topics, from the character of the Irish to the nature of werewolves. Students will gain both an insight into a formative period in English history and an appreciation how historical interpretation has changed over time.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course you should have:
• an understanding of the main issues and debates concerning English history and historiography in the high middle ages.
• an awareness of the historical and intellectual context in which these works were written
• developed skills in dealing with primary and secondary sources
• experience of working and learning with others
• developed your skills in written analysis

Indicative Module Content:

This module will address such topics as:
- How and why people wrote history in the middle ages
- Politics and society in post-Conquest England
- King Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Angevin dynasty
- The murder of Thomas Becket
- The Crusade of King Richard the Lionheart
- The medieval supernatural

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

10
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Specified Learning Activities

95
Autonomous Student Learning

95
Total

220
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module combines a recorded lecture with a 2-hour seminar. Weekly lectures provide overviews of the topic, with focus on background to readings, and its relation to modern scholarship. Weekly seminars focus on small-group active and task-based learning by means of class debates, discussion and presentations. Autonomous learning is advanced through student-led debate and discussion of set primary sources and student presentations. Student reflection is promoted by weekly learning journals. Advanced research, writing and citations skills are developed through an end-of-semester essay. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: 4,000-word research essay Week 12 n/a Graded No

40
Continuous Assessment: Learning journals, class participation and other exercise (see handbook) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

60

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on learning journals, presentations and participation is giving individually and to the class, verbally and in writing, throughout the semester. Feedback on end-of-semester essays is given individually and to the class on drafts and essays plans before final submission, and by appointment after submission and grading.