School of Humanities  
 
 
HIS-10037 Local History: medieval and early modern periods  
Co-ordinator: Dr Nigel Tringham    Room: CBB0.061, Tel:33282  
Teaching Team: Miss Amanda  Roberts, Dr Ian  Atherton, Mrs Christine  Edge, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
History Dual Honours (Level 1)
History Major (Level 1)
History Minor (Level 1)
History Single Honours (Level 1)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
None

Prerequisites
None

Description

Nearly all villages and towns in England had their origins in the medieval period, and knowing about their early history is essential to understanding why they look the way they do now. Even so, certain aspects of life (political, economic, and religious) changed significantly over time, often at a different rate: so, no two places have precisely the same history.

This module will look at what factors contributed to form and characterise local communities before modern developments introduced more standardisation. A range of topics may be covered, such as different kinds of landholders from lords of the manor to peasants, the origin of towns and aspects of urban life, the role of the parish church and the impact of the Reformation, and what constituted the traditional forms of agricultural life.

The module will equip students with many of the skills needed to be a practising local historian, by explaining how to use the key sources for the study of people and places in the pre-modern world.

The sessions are taught in the evening (7pm-9pm), as the module is also taken by adults working on the Certificate in Local History.
Aims
To enable students to evaluate some of the key sources for the study of particular places and localities and also their inhabitants in England from the medieval period to about 1750; and to encourage students to reflect critically on the writing of a local history, and how it might differ from other kinds of history.
Intended Learning Outcomes
discuss continuities and changes in the history of particular places in England from the medieval period to the mid eighteenth century will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
evaluate the nature of English local communities in the medieval and early modern era will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
assess the uses of key primary sources for the writing of pre-modern local history will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
assess critically different historical explanations will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
demonstrate and develop generic historical skills in time management, effective reading, oral presentation and discussion, and effective written communication will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Study hours
20 hours in seminars; 60 hours preparing for and completing two assignments; 70 hours preparing for and consolidating seminars.
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay weighted 50%
An essay of c. 2000 words.
An essay of c.2000 words drawn from a list provided by the tutor, in which students will be asked to evaluate the sources for and/or the approach to a particular problem in pre-modern local history.
02: Exercise weighted 50%
An assignment of c.2000 words
A critical commentary on a set of primary sources relating to a local community in the period before 1750. Word length c.2000 words
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.