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HIS-10051 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

HIS-10051 - Power, Belief and Identity: The Medieval and Early Modern Worlds, 500-1789
Coordinator: Kathleen Cushing Room: CBB0.044 Tel: +44 1782 7 33207
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module you will explore key developments in global societies and the interactions between them in the medieval and early modern world. The value of different approaches to the past is a core part of this module, so you will encounter social, political, religious, economic, and cultural history. You will develop skills in academic reading, learn to communicate to varied audiences, and begin to explore pre-modern primary source material, which will prepare you for later years of your degree 

Aims
The module introduces first-year students to the study of some of the most significant developments of medieval and early modern history. It covers political, religious, intellectual and economic themes in ways that focus on global interactions between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. It aims to advance students’ historical understanding by enabling them to study continuity and change from the aftermath of the Western Roman Empire to the French Revolution; to relate evidence and case studies to broader themes; and to evaluate critically conflicting historical explanations.

Intended Learning Outcomes

reflect on historical processes identified and explored in the lectures and seminars: 3
select and apply appropriate information derived from reading, note-taking from lectures and from source material: 1,2,3
evaluate a primary source and create a critical apparatus for it: 2
construct clearly developed arguments based on historical evidence: 1,3

Study hours

12 interactive lectures (2 hours each): 24
12 seminars (2 hours each): 24
Independent study:
Lecture consolidation: 24
Seminar preparation: 62
Essay preparation: 60
Exam practice: 43
Take home exam writing 3
Critical edition preparation: 60 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Open Book Assessment weighted 40%
Take-home exam
This will consist of a take home exam in which students will be given 28 hours to write responses to two out of a selection of questions to a total of 1500 words. These responses will include bibliography and references. It is expected that a well-prepared student should complete the paper with c.2-3 hours of active working time.

2: Exercise weighted 30%
Edition
Students will select one from a supplied list of primary sources each of which will consist of a supplied translation or, if originally in English, a transcription with modernised spelling and punctuation. Students will annotate this text with appropriate explanatory notes and write a critical introduction. This introduction will explain the importance of the original text and put it in its historical context. Students will receive instruction and guidance through workshops and seminars about the role of critical editions in historical scholarship and how to approach this assessment. Source length may vary, but the critical introduction and notes should be c.1000 words.

3: Essay weighted 30%
Reflective Essay
A piece of writing in c. 1000 words that reflectively discusses any five of the module’s topics. This will involve discussion of the relevant seminar discussions and the ways in which the student has developed their understanding of these topics through class participation and their own reading.

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: 04 December 2025