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HIS41840

Academic Year 2024/2025

Approaches to the Middle Ages (HIS41840)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
4 (Masters)
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.

In this module students are introduced to the broad range of primary source material utilised by medieval historians and the different skills required to analyse them. Classes with be dedicated to such themes as the study of chronicles and annals, saints lives, charters, law and patristics, and literary sources. Attention will also be paid to the evidence of visual and material culture and the range of electronic resources available for the study of Medieval History.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students should have acquired:
- An appreciation of the range of primary sources material on which the study of the Middle Ages is based.
- An understanding of the methodological issues that arise in sourcing and analyzing this material.
-A familiarity with the scholarly literature associated with the study of primary sources.
- A specialized knowledge of a particular area of choice drawn from the range of topics studied on the module.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will address such topics as:
- Conceptualising the middle ages
- Accessing medieval source materials
- Approaches to researching the middle ages
- Intellectual foundations of the middle ages
- Hagiography
- Chronicles
- Administrative sources
- Approaches to the Byzantine world
- Crusading sources
- Approaches to medieval literature

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

95
Autonomous Student Learning

95
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Total

210

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group, seminar-based module, taught through a two-hour weekly seminar. The seminar is focused on individual active/task-based learning by means of discussion and presentations. Advanced research and writing skills are developed through a presentation and a research essay at the end of semester. The module also includes visits to archives, and is taught by a range of scholars with different research interests.

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
Participation in Learning Activities: Active engagement and participation in class Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
20
 No
Individual Project: Presentation Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 3,500-4,000 word essay Week 15 Graded No
50
 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, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on presentations and essays is given in writing individually, and in one-to-one meetings by appointment. Formative feedback is given also before presentations and submission of essays.

Name Role
Dr Daniel Fraser Armstrong Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Edward Coleman Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Roy Flechner Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sean Leatherbury Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Rebecca Stephenson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Matthew Thomson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 12:00 - 13:50
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