HST683: Imagining the Unseen in the Middle Ages
15 credits (semester 1)
Module Leader:
| Module Summary |
In the medieval period, all humans knew themselves to be enmeshed in the grand narrative of Christianity, their destinies shaped by the hope of heaven and the dread of hell. This consciousness was not restricted to an expectation of what was to come after death but included a deep awareness of the ways in which the supernatural seeped into earthly existence. The interventions of God and the Devil, angels, saints and demons were feared or desired – solicited or warded off through prayers, pilgrimage, sacraments and contact with holy relics. Stories were told of encounters with restless souls, strange beasts and treacherous spirits; of dream-journeys through hell, purgatory and heaven; of travellers suddenly finding themselves in mysterious kingdoms. The medieval imagination was haunted by this complex 'unseen world' that was more vivid, beautiful and terrifying than the real world in which they lived their daily lives. This module considers the nature of the religious and superstitious beliefs that were so fundamental to the medieval mentalité and had such a powerful impact on political, social, military, and scientific thinking in the Middle Ages. It aims to give students important background to study of the period and to assist imaginative engagement with an age distant in time and characterised by a profoundly spiritual understanding of the world.
| Teaching |
The module will be taught in five, two-hour classes. Each will focus on a particular theme (for example the changing way poverty was seen and addressed in the Later Middle Ages, or the concentration of power and the diffusion of participation ideas among an increasing number of social categories especially in the context of war) and be located around its discussion in the primary and secondary historical literature, considered in broad context. Students will use a wide variety of textual and non-written materials through which to explore the key themes of the period. This is a field with a rich literature in which publication is continuing, one which feeds into wider debates in the English-speaking world as to the nature of historical investigation. Classes will enable students to share knowledge, debate controversial issues and listen and respond to the views of others in a structured environment. Students will, in addition, have an individual tutorial with their own supervisor in which to discuss the work they will write for assessment for this module.
| Assessment |
Students will complete one or more exercises (totalling a maximum of 3000 words) which explore one of the key themes raised by an in-depth study of this topic. Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to handle bibliographical resources, a critical understanding of different methodological approaches and available primary sources, and an independent engagement with current historiographical debate.
| Intended Learning Outcomes |
By the end of the unit a candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to identify, read, understand and evaluate important sources for the study of medieval society.
- An understanding of the complex and rich imaginative world of the Middle Ages.
- The ability to assess the ways in which this 'unseen' context shaped attitudes and therefore crucial trends and events in medieval society.