HISTORY 239 : Medieval Cultures: Faith, Power, Identities
Arts
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
"Medieval Cultures" aims to offer Stage II and III students a detailed study of medieval European history. The European Middle Ages spans the period c. 400 to c. 1550 and takes in the entire European continent. Rather than attempting total coverage of this chronological and geographical range, our intention is to address major themes, institutions, turning points and transformations within shifting parameters. Thus, in any given year the course will emphasise certain aspects of medieval history above others.
In some years the focus may be on the early period, from late antiquity to the Vikings; in others, the focus may be on the transformations of the central period from the tenth to thirteenth centuries; in other years, the focus may be on the mental and social worlds of the high and late Middle Ages from the twelfth to early sixteenth centuries.
Regardless of such variation, it is expected that any student taking "Medieval Cultures" will gain a strong understanding of such topics as the spread and function of Christian faith in medieval societies; conflicts between Catholic Christianity and other faiths of the era; the forms and expressions of institutional power, such as monarchy and papacy; social structures and economic relations, including between lords and peasants; movements of peoples, perceptions of ethnic identities and the impact of migrations; the disparate roles and relations of men and women; moments or periods of social conflict or upheaval; and the literary and visual expression of changing cultural priorities.
In every iteration of the course, strong attention will be paid to primary sources—written, visual and material—and to the methodological challenges posed in their interpretation. Students will consider what kinds of sources are available to the medieval historian, whose perspective they represent, what their purpose was and how historians deal with the omission of certain viewpoints such as those of women, the lower orders, or ethnic or religious minorities.
For 2024, course themes will be examined in the context of two major sections:
Section 1: Medieval Mentalities - examining the evidence for how medieval people saw the world around them, including ideas about social structure, hierarchies and gender
Section 2: Extended Case Study - the Norman period of the eleventh and twelfth centuries
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
Learning Outcomes
- Gain an appreciation of medieval views on social structure and identity, and the ways in which they were distinct from our own understandings of the world. (Capability 3)
- Analyse and discuss a range of historical primary sources in both oral and written formats. (Capability 6)
- Develop capabilities in critical thinking and communication through organizing and writing assignments that include coherent arguments, supporting evidence, and engagement with academic literature. (Capability 4)
- Understand how historians work with and draw conclusions from different types of medieval source material including written texts, legal and official documents, artefacts and visual evidence. (Capability 3)
- Become familiar with a variety of viewpoints on the formation of cultures and identities within particular historical groups in order to gain an appreciation of diversity and cultural difference. (Capability 1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework assignments | 100% | Individual Coursework |
| 100% |
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours per week of lectures and tutorials, and approximately 7 hours per week (on average) of self-directed study: reading and thinking about the content and working on assignments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including tutorials, to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.