Explore UCD

UCD Home >

HIS31500

Academic Year 2024/2025

Past, Present and Future in Medieval England (HIS31500)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Michael Staunton
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

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.

About this Module

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 one-hour 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 Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Final essay, 3,500-4,000 words Week 15 Graded No
40
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Active participation and engagement in class Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Individual Project: Learning journals Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
40
 No

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.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 09:00 - 10:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.