The Re-Birth of Europe? Renaissance and Renewal in the Long Twelfth Century
| Module title | The Re-Birth of Europe? Renaissance and Renewal in the Long Twelfth Century |
|---|---|
| Module code | HIH2182A |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Helen Birkett (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 36 |
|---|
Module description
The period between the late eleventh and early thirteenth centuries saw seismic shifts in European politics, society, economy and culture, which were reflected in the revival of urban centres, the emergence of new religious movements, the growth of schools and universities, and the flowering of both Latin and vernacular literatures. The scale and significance of these changes, particularly those in the intellectual sphere, led Charles Homer Haskins to designate this period the ‘Twelfth-Century Renaissance’ – a description that continues to be challenged and modified. This module asks you to examine the documentary, literary and material evidence in order to enter the debate: was this a true ‘renaissance’? Or should we think of it more as a ‘reformation’ or ‘revolution’?
Module aims - intentions of the module
This aims to:
- Explore the transformation of European politics, society and culture over the course of the long twelfth century
- The first half of the module will focus on the broader political, social and economic context of change
- The second half will concentrate on the cultural response to these developments as expressed through religious movements (including the crusades, reformed monasticism and popular heresy), intellectual ferment (including the growth of schools, scholasticism and the impact of Greek and Arabic scientific texts), and new modes of literary and artistic production (including Latin histories, vernacular romances, and the transfer from Romanesque to Gothic in art and architecture).
- Develop effective communication and analytical skills, oral and written
- Develop your skills in researching, interpreting, and analysing both primary and secondary material, and in reporting on your work
- Explore an area of history in more depth, and develop the depth of understanding you will require to study more specialised areas of history
- Give you an opportunity to work in a team on a group presentation
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Be aware of the various developments in the history of Europe from c.1050-1220
- 2. Make a close evaluation of the key developments and debates concerning renaissance and renewal in the twelfth century
- 3. Evaluate the main themes in the subject and to collate information upon, and evaluate in greater detail, those aspects of the module discussed in seminar and especially those topics selected by students for their coursework
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Analyse the key developments in European politics, society and culture
- 5. Collate data from a range of sources, both primary and secondary
- 6. Interpret primary sources
- 7. Trace long-term as well as short-term historical developments
- 8. Recognise and deploy historical terminology correctly
- 9. Assess different approaches to historical writing in areas of controversy
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Work both independently and in a group, including participating in oral seminar discussion
- 11. Identify a topic, select, comprehend, and organise primary and secondary materials on that topic with little guidance
- 12. Produce to a deadline and in examination conditions a coherent argument
Syllabus plan
The following themes will be covered over the course of the module:
- Kingship, lordship and government
- Economic recovery and urban revival
- Elite and peasant life
- New orders and popular religious movements
- Inter-cultural exchange
- Scholasticism, the schools and religious reform
- Court culture, vernacular literature and chivalry
- Art and architecture
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | Seminars; these will be led by the tutor. You will need to prepare for each seminar and present on a given topic in groups of 4 on 4 occasions |
| Guided Independent Study | 22 | Web-based activities located on ELE preparation for seminars and presentations |
| Guided Independent Study | 234 | Reading and preparation for seminars and presentations |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan x 1 | 500 words | 1-12 | Oral and written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 30 | 3,000 Words | 1-12 | Oral and written |
| Group Presentation | 20 | 25 Minutes | 1-11 | Oral and written |
| Exam | 50 | 2 Questions in 2 Hours | 1-12 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 3000 Words | 1-12 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Group Presentation | 1500 script as for individual presentation, equivalent to 10 minutes | 1-11 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Exam | 2 Questions in 2 Hours | 1-12 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
The re-assessment consists of a 3000 word essay and 2 hour exam, as in the original assessment, but replaces participation in the group presentation with a written script that could be delivered in such a presentation and which is the equivalent of 10 minutes of speech.
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Robert Bartlett, The Making of Europe: Conquest, Colonization and Cultural Change, 950-1350 (London, 1994)
- Robert L. Benson and Giles Constable (eds), Renaissance and Renewal in the Twelfth Century (Oxford, 1982)
- Charles Homer Haskins, The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century (Cambridge, MA, 1927)
- R. I. Moore, The First European Revolution, c. 970-1215 (Oxford, 2000)
- Thomas F. X. Noble and John van Engen (eds), European Transformations: The Long Twelfth Century (Notre Dame, 2012)
- R. N. Swanson, The Twelfth-Century Renaissance (Manchester, 1999)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4630
- Internet Medieval Sourcebook, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.asp
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 06/02/2014 |
| Last revision date | 18/12/2018 |