| Unit name | The Medieval World: The British Isles |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST10064 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Parsons |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will introduce students to the dynamic history of the British Isles in the medieval period. This history was shaped by contact with the rest of Europe and the wider world, and the inhabitants of the British archipelago were themselves culturally, linguistically, and politically diverse. Yet the inherently bounded nature of these islands, geographically detached from the European continent, gives their history a distinct character. The main focus of the unit will be on the eleventh to fourteenth centuries, a period known as the ‘high’ or ‘central’ Middle Ages, a time marked by both continuity and dramatic change. The legacy of this period continues to shape the landscape, institutions, and society of the British Isles today.
Assuming no prior knowledge, this unit provides an overview of the key cultural, social, political, environmental, and economic developments of the period. Lectures, workshops, and seminars explore themes such as identity, colonialism and resistance, authority, landscape, and belief, to examine the ways in which the people of the medieval British Isles understood themselves, their world, and their place within it.
This unit shares a common lecture series with the other 'Medieval World' unit, but follows a distinct series of seminars.
The unit therefore aims to:
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to meet the following ILOs:
Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
This unit shares a common lecture series with the other 'Medieval World' unit, but follows a distinct series of seminars.
Each week will involve an asynchronous collaborative task.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There are no formative assessments in this unit.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
One 1500-word essay (30%) [ILOs 1-4].
2-hour Unseen Examination (60%) [ILOs 1-4].
Contribution mark (10%) [ILO 5].
When assessment does not go to plan
If you are not able to take or pass a summative assessment, you will have another opportunity during the autumn reassessment period. The assessment format will remain the same as that originally planned.
If unforeseen circumstances mean that the examination cannot proceed as planned for any reason, the assessment paper will be released to students and they will be able to complete it according to the University’s rules on Timed Assessments.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HIST10064).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
