Module HIST41830: Issues in Medieval History

Department: History

HIST41830: Issues in Medieval History

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• to gain an advanced understanding of aspects of the theoretical and conceptual approaches to Medieval History (c.300-c.1500)

Content

• This course introduces students to some of the major problems, issues and debates in Medieval History. It focuses on the period from the transformation of the Roman Empire to the early sixteenth century, and is taught comparatively across Western Christendom and the Byzantine Commonwealth. The range of topics studied may include kingship and ritual; urban life, ethnicity and identity; intellectual culture; art and architecture; warfare, in particular holy war; acculturation; frontiers; political thought and practice; monastic life; and historiographical traditions. Students will be able to focus intensively on one of these topics in their coursework, but will be expected to engage with the full range through oral presentations and discussion

Learning Outcomes

• advanced knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and conceptual approaches relevant to Medieval History

• http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/PGModuleProformaMap/

• http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/PGModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Student learning is facilitated by a range of teaching methods.
• Seminars and Group Discussion require students to reflect on and discuss: their prior knowledge and experience; set reading of secondary and, where appropriate, primary readings; information provided during the session. They provide a forum in which to assess and comment critically on the findings of others, defend their conclusions in a reasoned setting, and advance their knowledge and understanding of history.
• Structured reading requires students to focus on set materials integral to the knowledge and understanding of the module. It specifically enables the acquisition of detailed knowledge and skills which will be discussed in other areas of the teaching and learning experience.
• Assessment is by means of a 5000 word essay which requires the acquisition and application of advanced knowledge and understanding of an aspect of the conceptual and theoretical approaches to medieval history. Essays require a sustained and coherent argument in defence of a hypothesis, and must be presented in a clearly written and structured form, and with appropriate apparatus.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

One or more short assignments delivered orally and discussed in a group context