This course provides students with a critical introduction to major themes in medieval history and historiography: Warfare, Gender, Medievalism, Religion, Social and Political Structures and Global History. It uses medieval crusades and 'holy war' as a focus for its discussion and investigations in classes on each theme.

10x2 hour seminar sessions over 10 weeks as scheduled in MyCampus.

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1 x critical analysis of a primary source (1500 words) - 30%

1 x critical analysis of a key article or monograph (1500 words) - 30%

1 x poster and 10-minute presentation of poster at final session of course - 40%

This course aims to:

■ Examine the variety of ways in which the concept of 'medieval history' is interpreted and formulated by professional historians working in the field;

■ Engage critically with a representative range of the major current and emerging debates in the field of medieval history;

■ Illustrate how to access primary historical sources with particular relevance and value for the medieval period;

■ Provide the practical and intellectual training essential for setting out on dissertation and doctoral research in the medieval period.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Appraise how a medieval historian conducts historiographical, source-based and archival research;

■ Analyse the significance and value of a wide range of medieval primary sources;

■ Critically evaluate key historiography across a range of debates relevant to medieval history;

■ Reflect on and present their understanding of a major or emerging theme in medieval historical research

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.