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HIS-20133 - 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-20133 - Persecution in Medieval Europe
Coordinator: Kathleen Cushing Room: CBB0.044 Tel: +44 1782 7 33207
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
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

Between 1000-1300, minority groups including Jews, heretics, lepers, the disabled, homosexuals and prostitutes faced increasing restrictions, persecution and even death. Building on the skills you developed at Level 4, you will explore how these groups were depicted in text and image and assess the reasons for their increasing marginalisation. Through seminar discussions, you will evaluate debates about whether the treatment of minority groups were independent phenomena or whether Medieval Europe became a ‘persecuting society'.

Aims
To explore a range of marginalised groups (including Jews, heretics, disabled, homosexuals and prostitutes) in medieval Europe, with particular focus on the period c.1000-1300, and assess the reasons for their increasing marginalisation, in order to advance students' historical and historiographical knowledge using a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, including visual sources.

Intended Learning Outcomes

communicate/contextualise the religious, social, economic and political mechanisms that have contributed to the persecution of marginalised groups: 1
read, appraise and use contested texts and other visual source materials critically, while addressing the issues of genre, content, perspective and historicity: 1
evaluate and reflect on scholarly debates on this topic, in particular the idea of medieval Europe as 'a persecuting society': 2

Study hours

12 x 1-hour interactive lectures,
12 x 1-hour seminars
42 hours seminar preparation,
30 hours reflective diary preparation and writing
54 hours commentary/edition preparation and writing

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Options weighted 60%
Source commentary OR critical edition
Students may choose between the following two options for this assessment: 1. Source Commentary. You will submit a single source commentary commenting on two primary sources of different types (e.g. letter, painting, ballad, broadsheet), assessing and comparing their usefulness and setting this in an appropriate historical context. Analyses should be supported by appropriate secondary reading. You may use sources supplied to you or you may find your own e.g. through platforms such as Manchester Medieval Sources, Medieval Internet sourcebook; tutors must approve all source choices. 1,500 words. OR 2. Critical Edition: You will select a primary source relating to the themes of the module, in consultation with your seminar tutor, and prepare a critical edition consisting of a transcription with modernised spelling and punctuation, appropriate explanatory notes, along with a critical introduction setting out the importance of the original text, how it may be used to reflect on scholarly debates, putting it in its original context, and explaining the methods used in the transcription. The length of the original text to be edited may vary due to the nature of the source material, and your tutor will guide you on both the suitability of the source you have chosen and the appropriate length. The accompanying critical introduction and notes should not exceed 1000 words.

2: Reflective Diary weighted 40%
Reflective Diary
At the end of the module you will submit a reflective diary in which you will discuss the development of your understanding of the topics discussed in this module. You should discuss your interpretation and use of secondary reading, your understanding of historiographical trends, and your contributions to seminar discussions and how these have impacted your understanding. Your reflective diary must cover at least 6 of the topics covered by seminars. You may submit up to 400 words for formative feedback from your tutor prior to final submission. Total word count: 1,000 words.

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