HIS-30096 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module is a 'social history' of the eleventh century. This was a time of tremendous social, political and intellectual transformation, indeed a time, according to many historians, when European civilisation as we know it was created.
The course will open with a discussion of some classic and recent historiography. Primary sources revealing the exercise of power by the landed elite will then be considered in the context of radical changes in family structure such as the institution of primogeniture, a new concept of masculinity and the enforcement of incest taboos. A crucial question arising from these sources is the extent to which we can see the impact of the changes among the elite on the 'people'. Using sources describing peace of God movement, the persecution of heretics and the veneration of holy men and women, we will then look to assess the claim that 'crowd' enters European history during this period.

To introduce students to the events, sources and modern historiographical debates of one of the most important periods in the formation of Western European culture - the eleventh century - a time when according to some modern historians European civilization as we know it today was created.

Intended Learning Outcomes

explain and recognise the social, religious, political and economic changes in the eleventh century, a period recognised as vital in the formation of Western European culture: 1,2
evaluate and critically assess secondary sources and historiographical debates, and to use them appropriately in the development of historical analysis: 1,2
evaluate and critically assess a range of different kinds of primary sources and to use them appropriately in the development of historical analysis: 1,2

Study hours

10 x two-hour seminars
2 hour exam
50 hours seminar preparation
30 hours extended document commentary preparation
48 hours preparation for examination.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment