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Philip Augustus and the Making of France, 1180-1223

Module description

In 1180, half of what we now know as France was under the authority of the king of England. While these lands were under the overlordship of the French king, this authority remained difficult to translate into power. Four decades later, however, most of this territory was under the direct control of the Crown. This module will explore how the reign of King Philip II Augustus transformed France, not only politically but also socially, intellectually, and economically. Using primary sources such as court histories and epics, vernacular epics, scholastic treatises, and military payrolls, we will explore crusades, conquests, diplomacy, heresy, economic growth, persecution, and intellectual life to understand the seminal effect of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries on the construction of medieval and modern France.

Some familiarity with medieval historical subjects is helpful but not essential.

This module is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students.

This module is suitable for interdisciplinary pathways.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Through studying the political, social, and cultural developments of France at the turn of the thirteenth century, this module aims to:

• Develop your skills in researching, interpreting, and analysing both primary and secondary material, and in reporting on your work
• Explore the reign of Philip Augustus in more depth, and help you to develop the depth of understanding you will require to study more specialised areas of history
• Provide you an opportunity to work in a team on group tasks.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key developments in the history of the reign of Philip Augustus, 1180–1223
• 2. Critically evaluate the key political, social, and cultural developments relating to the history of the reign of Philip Augustus
• 3. Summarise and evaluate different historical perspectives relating to the history of the reign of Philip Augustus

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Analyse the key developments in a complex historical environment
• 5. Handle profoundly different approaches to history in a deeply contested area
• 6. Understand and deploy complex historical terminology in a comprehensible manner

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Select, organise and analyse material for written work and oral presentations of different prescribed lengths and formats.
• 8. Present complex arguments orally.
• 9. Present an argument in a written form in a clear and organised manner, with appropriate use of correct English
• 10. Through essay development process, reflect critically on your own work, to respond constructively to feedback, and to implement suggestions and improve work on this basis

Syllabus plan

This module will explore various aspects of the reign of Philip Augustus, including the political development, intellectual and cultural life, economic growth, and territorial expansion of France. While the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• The conquest of Plantagenet lands
• The development of royal administration
• The role and importance of the Church
• The emergence of the university of Paris
• The Third and Albigensian Crusades
• The growth of the burgher class
• Attitudes toward and experiences of minorities, such as Jews and heretics
• Literature (chansons de geste, lais, fabliaux, etc.)
• Cultural attitudes toward the world (e.g. sex, money, justice, power, the supernatural)

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

The re-assessment consists of an essay and written assignment, as in the original assessment, but replaces participation in the presentation with a written script that could be delivered in such a presentation.

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

• J.W. Baldwin, Masters, Princes and Merchants: The Social Views of Peter the Chanter and his Circle (Princeton, 2 vols, 1970).
• J.W. Baldwin, The Government of Philip Augustus: Foundations of French Royal Power in the Middle Ages (Berkeley, Ca, 1986).
• J.W. Baldwin, The Language of Sex: Five Voices from Northern France around 1200 (Chicago, 1994).
• J.W. Baldwin, Aristocratic Life in Medieval France: The Romances of Jean Renart and Gerbert de Montreuil, 1190–1230 (Baltimore, 2000).
• J.W. Baldwin, Paris, 1200 (Stanford, 2010).
• J.W. Baldwin, Knights, Lords, and Ladies: In Search of Aristocrats in the Paris Region, 1180–1220 (Philadelphia, 2019).
• J. Bradbury, Philip Augustus: King of France, 1180–1223 (London, 1997).
• M. Bull, ed., France in the Central Middle Ages, 900–1200 (Oxford, 2003).
• D. Crouch, The Birth of Nobility: Constructing Aristocracy in England and France, 900–1300 (Harlow, 2005).
• A. Luchaire, Social France at the Time of Philip Augustus (London, 1912).
• W.C. Jordan, The French Monarchy and the Jews: From Philip Augustus to the Last Capetians (Philadelphia, 1989).
• W.C. Jordan, Ideology and Royal Power in Medieval France: Kingship, Crusades, and the Jews (Aldershot, 2001).
• J. Sumption, The Albigensian Crusade (London, 1978).

Key words search

France, Philip Augustus, Medieval, Crusade, Normandy, Languedoc, Capetian, Angevin, Plantagenet, Paris, Bouvines