Medieval History: 400-1500 (2024/2025: Semester 1 – Fall)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
1) Identify and evaluate key developments in European medieval history (400-1500).
2) Reflect on and critically interpret a range of sources from the medieval period.
3) Analyse academic literature on the period and distinguish key debates, as well as appraising contemporary perceptions of the Middle Ages.
4) Summarise and synthesise findings orally and in writing.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TESTS AND COURSE GOALS:
The final course grade is based on four elements: participation in class, an oral presentation, a written assignment, and a take-home exam.
- Participation (10%): Students are expected to be present throughout the course, be well-prepared, and engage in class discussions.
- Presentation (20%): The oral presentation requires you to research a source relevant to a theme of the course, and prepare and deliver your findings in class [see aims 2 and 4].
- Written assignment (40%): The written assignment requires you to explore a theme of the course in depth, developing an argument based on your research into (primary and secondary) sources [see aims 1, 2, 3 and 4].
- Take-home exam (30%): The exam requires you to apply knowledge acquired during the course, testing your capacities for critical reasoning and reflection [see aims 1, 2, 3 and 4].

Vakinhoudelijk

This introductory course on the Middle Ages (400-1500) treats key themes from the Fall of Rome to the dawn of the Renaissance. We will examine, and dismiss, the perception of the Middle Ages as a period of decline and stagnation, seeing it, instead, as a formative millennium which shaped the Europe we know. We will look at significant events which changed the course of history, including the rise of Islam, the Crusades, and the Black Death. We will examine the material evidence (written, visual, architectural) which allows us to gain a glimpse into how people of all social standings lived, worked and interacted. We will also assess these themes and sources through the critical lens of our present, evaluating the ways in which the Middle Ages are (positively and negatively) perceived in contemporary media and culture. While predominantly focused on European developments, the course will also consider other regional trajectories, notably of Byzantium and the Islamic world, exploring the Middle Ages as a period of connectivity, transformation and innovation.

Werkvormen

UCU humanities 1 course

Toetsing

Participation

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Paper

Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3

Presentation

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Take-home exam

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • BOEK
    Barbara Rosenwein, A Short History of the Middle Ages, 5th edition (University of Toronto Press, 2018) ISBN: 9781442636224.

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. E. Jacobs E.Jacobs@uu.nl

Docenten

J. van Doren j.vandoren@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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