HIS204: The Medieval World
Key details
| Accredited towards | Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts |
| Unit type | Core unit |
| Credit points | 6 |
| Indicative contact hours | 3 hours per week |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Offered in | Semester 1 |
| Tuition fee | Learn more |
Overview
This unit introduces students to medieval Christendom by examining in depth a small selection of key topics in medieval history. The overarching goal of the unit will be to enable students to appreciate what distinguishes the “middle ages” from both classical antiquity and modernity. While we will give attention to relevant historiographical debates, the focus will be on careful, critical engagement with primary source material. Topics to be examined may include: feudalism, the theory and practice of the medieval “separation of church and state,” the Crusades, and the medieval roots of English constitutionalism.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:
- Identify, understand, describe, and evaluate key developments in western civilisation in the Middle Ages.
- Identify, understand, describe, and evaluate some of the features that distinguish medieval Christendom both from pagan antiquity and secular modernity.
- Evaluate critically conflicting accounts and understandings of the medieval world.
- Produce clear, engaging and well-reasoned responses to questions, in written and oral forms.
- Participate in group work and tutorials by undertaking required readings and contributing with clarity and coherence.
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