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HIS-10049 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

HIS-10049 - Defining Moments in World History, c.1000-2000
Coordinator: Rachel Bright Tel: +44 1782 7 33466
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

Were there 'defining moments' in the past? You will debate this question through exploring a series of 'moments' in the last 1000 years of world history, encountering different History staff at Keele, and learning about different types of History. As you encounter a range of scholarly writing and primary sources and develop the core skills you will need to study History at university, you will consider the relevance of this History to the world we live in today.

Aims
The module introduces students to a series of ‘defining moments’ in the history of the world over the last thousand years. These key ‘moments’ have been selected so as, taken together, (a) to offer an engaging historical survey of the last millennium and (b) to help students gain a deep understanding of both continuity and change in history. The module also aims to acquaint students with different kinds of history, different types of historical sources, and different skills (embedded into seminar teaching) that are central to the discipline and will prepare them for their more advanced study of the subject.

Intended Learning Outcomes

begin to critically engage with secondary sources: 1,3
begin to critically analyse primary sources: 1,2,3
present a creative argument orally and in written formats: 1,2,3
demonstrate the discipline-specific skills of literature search and framing an argument in essay form: 1,3
define what makes a moment historically ‘defining’ (ie important): 1,2,3

Study hours

23 one-hour lectures, 2 one-hour special training and feedback sessions
23 one-hour seminars
102 seminar preparation
40 research and write source analysis
40 prepare creative nonfiction pieces
68 research and write reflective essay.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exercise weighted 30%
Source Commentary and Interview
The project has two elements (a student’s mark is the average for the two): Part 1: (800 words): Choose one of the primary OR secondary sources provided in the module handbook. Write a critique of the source, including what it can tell us about a particular defining moment. Students should include references to the source itself and the wider material from lectures and the module reading list. A bibliography is required. Part 2: (5-10 minute interview) Students will be interviewed individually by their module tutor on the wider defining moment related to part 1, testing knowledge, understanding, learning strategies, and note-taking. Students may have notes in this meeting.

2: Group Assessment weighted 30%
Creative Nonfiction and Presentation
The project has two elements (a student’s mark is the average of the two): 1. A group-written (minimum 2 people) witness letter/speech in the form of a piece of creative writing: an imaginary historical character's first-person experience of one of the 'defining moments' discussed in the module (750 words); 2. A group (minimum 2 people) oral presentation to the class, accompanied by a powerpoint presentation about (a), including discussion of both their creative work and their reflection (5 minutes). Alternative assessment will be facilitated (e.g. presented to tutor only, or recorded presentation) for students with registered adjustments.

3: Essay weighted 40%
1500-word essay
A reflection in essay format of 1500 words on how studying the module has developed the student’s view of world history from 1000-2000. Arguments should be backed up with reference to primary and secondary sources. Answers should include the following elements: which readings (primary and secondary) the student found most significant and why; which discussions in class helped them develop their historical opinions; how the course overall has helped them to understand diverse global perspectives on history; which defining moment(s) they now think to have been particularly important and why.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 16 September 2026