| Unit name | Castles |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH30045 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Prior |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This specialised unit will focus on the archaeology and history of the castle. Areas covered will include castle origins, castle siting, castle development and design, castle landscapes and townscapes, the castle in politics and war, castle economy and society, castles and churches, castle status, symbolism, iconography and power, the decline of the castle, and the castle as heritage. Castles will be considered from a variety of functional and theoretical perspectives, and the history and discipline of castle studies (castellology) will also be explored. The unit aims to give students a detailed knowledge and appreciation of one of the most significant and extant buildings in history.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Explain the development, design and decline of castles in the UK, Europe and beyond using appropriate terminology;
2. Summarise the history of the castle and the period to which it belonged and explain its importance and significance in both medieval and modern society;
3. Assess the contribution of archaeology, architectural studies, historic sources, landscape studies, topographic, geophysical and standing building recording and survey to castle studies and wider history;
4. Synthesise evidence from a wide range of sources, both historical and archaeological;
5. Appraise the quality and reliability of the various datasets available for studying the historical period;
6. Explain the importance of the castle as a heritage asset.
7. Identify and present pertinent evidence to develop a cogent argument.
8. Demonstrate skills in using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources.
The seminar sessions will also include elements of formative assessment.
Each week's lecture will be themed. The seminars that follow build upon the theme, and the information collected and collated by students will be added to their portfolios. The portfolios will include brief write-ups of each week's theme as it relates to their castle.
