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FY-018
History, Memory and the Creation of Identity
In most human societies, history and memory are important in the creation of identity. For example, consider how recent political debates often involve debates about the relevance of particular strands of history (such as `empire¿) to modern society. This module explores these relationships from the ancient societies of Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the modern world. It is designed to provide Foundation Year students intending to pursue degrees in Classical Studies, Ancient History, Ancient History & Egyptology, American Studies, Medieval Studies, or History with an opportunity to reflect critically on what the past means and how we go about studying it.
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HHC200
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates
This module will give students an introduction to the heritage industry. It¿s suited both to those considering a career in this sector and to students who¿d like to think in more general terms about the way our society consumes the past. The module will combine critical analysis of a range of heritage sites with lectures and seminar discussion of the lively debates around the role of history and heritage in society. We¿ll explore the challenges of difficult histories ¿ such as the legacies of slavery and colonialism. We¿ll consider both tangible heritage, like physical buildings and landscapes, and intangible heritage, like language and culture. The module will be assessed by a coursework portfolio of site reviews and an extended essay.
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HI-M01
Historical Methods and Approaches
This module introduces you to a diverse range of methodological approaches that underpin the discipline of history at an advanced level. You will explore how historians construct knowledge about the past, examining key debates around evidence, interpretation, narrative, and the politics of history-writing. You will engage critically with a variety of methods, including archival research, oral history, microhistory, cultural and social history, postcolonial and decolonial approaches, gender analysis, and digital history.
Through seminar discussions and a series of mini projects, you will develop a sophisticated understanding of the strengths, limitations, and ethical implications of different historical methodologies. The module also supports the development of research design skills in preparation for independent dissertation work.
Finally, the module will encourage you to think reflexively about your own role as researchers and to consider how methodological choices shape historical narratives and their relevance to contemporary global challenges.
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HIH276
Britain in the Early Middle Ages: Slavery, Dragons, Queens and Vikings
This course provides an overview of the history and archaeology of Britain between 400 and 1100 AD. Taught through a series of thematic case-studies, it is designed to cover issues of constructed ethnicity, migration, slavery, gender, memory and myth. No previous knowledge of the period is required, and students will be encouraged and supported to engage with a fascinating range of source materials. In a chronological sweep through 700 years of British history, the course covers the age of migration, pagan belief systems, the origins of kingdoms, the conversion to Christianity and the impacts of the Viking Age.
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HIH3300
History Dissertation
The History dissertation is a free-standing, 40-credit module that runs across both semesters of Level Three. Candidates conduct research upon a subject of their choice, devised in consultation with a member of staff teaching for the degrees in History, and concerning a topic that falls within staff research and teaching interests.
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HIH3357
The Placing of History: Digitally Mapping the Historic Past
Whether you are interested in medieval, modern or early modern history, this module will allow you to learn an extremely useful set of transferable skills and will boost your employability. Taught almost exclusively on-line, `The Placing of History¿ will guide you through the introductory basics of using Geographic Information Systems in order for you to digitally map an aspect of your chosen period of history. You¿ll be given step-by-step guidance on how to use industry standard software and will be given the opportunity to define your end of module project focusing on an area of your own interest or specialism (You may chose an aspect that aligns with your dissertation research). More so than ever before, geo-spatial (location) data is being used to manage and understand the modern world and the historic past. This module gives you the chance to overlap your areas of historic interest with the learning of a key set of industry-relevant skills.
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HIH396
From Machiavelli to Mussolini: Government and Society in Western Political Thought
This module offers a guide to the history of ideas on government and society which continue to influence political thought and action in the 21st century. The lectures will start by looking at the origins of democratic thinking in Athens, 5th Century BC, and will then give a brief account of medieval political thought and the impact of Christian-Muslim encounters. The main part of the course will deal with modern ideas on government as developed by Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, the political authors of the Enlightenment and American Revolution, and Marx and Lenin. The final part will focus on the Italian and German national socialists' assault on the liberal state and Western democratic tradition. Students will have the opportunity to read and discuss a representative selection from the 'classics' of Western political thought and reflect on their contemporary political relevance. As will be shown, some of today's best-known early modern texts on the nature of state power were misinterpreted by contemporaries and brought into disrepute by fascist ideologues who claimed them in defence of dictatorship.
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HIHM01
Approaches and Debates in Heritage and Public History
This module offers an introduction to current debates in heritage and public history and a chance to develop practical skills in the communication of history to broad audiences. It will provide an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between academic study and the past as portrayed by, with and for the public (or publics). You will explore case-studies in heritage from around the world. Why have museum presentations of history proved so controversial? What is the role of heritage in national and community-building? There will be opportunities to try out a variety of practical techniques in historical communication, and to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. You will familiarise themselves with current policy contexts for heritage and public history, and will acquire valuable skills for careers in the heritage sector and beyond.
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HIMD00
Medieval Studies Dissertation
The Medieval Studies dissertation gives you the opportunity to pursue a substantial research project in a subject of your own choosing. Under the supervision of a specialist in the field, and using the materials you created in the Research Folder module, you will develop advanced research skills and expert subject knowledge. The module encourages independent study while supporting you in constructing coherent and persuasive arguments, communicating complex ideas effectively, and engaging critically with medieval scholarship. Completing this dissertation will not only deepen your knowledge of medieval history but also prepare you for postgraduate research or professional applications.
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HIMM01
Introduction to Advanced Medieval Studies 1: Themes, Approaches and Sources
This module introduces you to current themes, approaches and sources in medieval studies, that is, the interdisciplinary study of medieval history and literature. It begins to develop the skills required to conduct MA-level study. Lectures outline general concepts, approaches and key sources with respect to essential themes in medieval studies, such as genre and gender.
Workshops are built around interacting collaboratively with students to develop the necessary skills to implement the approaches discussed within and beyond the module¿s focus themes. Special attention will be given to the discipline¿s increasing interest in historically underrepresented groups and the emergent concept of the `global Middle Ages¿.
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HIMM04
Introduction to Advanced Medieval Studies 2: Themes, Approaches and Sources
This module builds on HIMM01 (Introduction to Advanced Medieval Studies I) to deepen your understanding of key themes, sources, and research approaches in the interdisciplinary study of the Middle Ages, in order to develop the research skills required to conduct MA-level research. Lectures and seminars refine your general concepts, approaches and key sources with respect to essential themes in medieval studies, such as identity and spirituality. Following on from HIMM01, this module progressively shifts its thematic focus in a more strongly methodological direction, considering themes such as quantitative methods and archaeology in medieval studies. It also familiarises you with the medieval heritage of South Wales and the surrounding region.
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HIY101
From Facts to Fake News: Being a Historian in the Twenty-First Century
What are the historical roots of the climate crisis? Why has poverty proven so difficult to eliminate? Why do epidemic diseases continue to resurface? Will AI eventually replace historians? These are just some of the pressing questions explored in this module. Here at Swansea we believe that history provides essential tools for understanding the present. This module invites you to examine how insights from the past can help contextualize and address the complex global challenges we face today. You will be encouraged to reflect on your role as an emerging historian and to develop skills that will enable you contribute to contemporary debates.
Through a series of workshops across the semester, you will also develop practical skills in communicating historical knowledge and arguments to diverse audiences. Activities may include writing for the public, drawing up policy briefings, drafting podcast episodes, or create content for, and design, educational resources. Drawing on the rich research expertise of staff across the History and Heritage department, and inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this module explores themes such as poverty, famine, disease, gender inequality, climate change, and education, and more. It spans a vast range of historical periods and regions, asking you to think creatively about why history matters. By thinking collaboratively with fellow students and with expert researchers in the department, you will deepen your understanding of history¿s relevance in the modern world and enhance your ability to engage broad audiences. At its core, this module challenges you to consider how your study of history can shape your identity as a global citizen.
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HIY101C
O Ffeithiau i Newyddion Ffug: Bod yn Hanesydd yn yr Unfed Ganrif ar Hugain
Beth mae'n ei olygu i fod yn hanesydd yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain? O ddymchwel cerfluniau, i ofnau am gynnydd ffasgiaeth, trin a thrafod etifeddiaeth gwladychiaeth, arsylwi pen-blwyddi gwrthdaro yn y gorffennol, neu gymariaethau hanesyddol a ddefnyddir i gefnogi neu wrthwynebu rhai safbwyntiau gwleidyddol, mae disgwrs gyhoeddus yn llawn trafodaethau o'r gorffennol. Rydym hefyd yn byw mewn oes o 'newyddion ffug', lle mae honiadau i'r hyn sy'n wir neu nad yw'n wir yn cael eu dadlau yn gyhoeddus, a ffeithiau eu hunain yn cael eu herio. Boed yn y gorffennol neu'r presennol, mae haneswyr bob amser wedi bod yn ymwneud â dadansoddi gwahanol fathau o dystiolaeth i benderfynu ar y gwir sut a pham y digwyddodd digwyddiadau'r gorffennol fel y gwnaethant. Bydd y modiwl hwn yn rhoi i chi¿r sgiliau ymchwil hanfodol a meddwl yn feirniadol sy'n hanfodol i ddeall y byd modern lle mae¿r gwir yn fwy dadleuol nag erioed o¿r blaen, boed yn y cyfryngau poblogaidd, disgwrs wleidyddol, cyfryngau cymdeithasol, neu ddeallusrwydd artiffisial.
Yn y modiwl hwn byddwch yn dysgu am sut mae haneswyr yn mynd i'r afael ag astudio'r gorffennol mewn gwahanol ffyrdd, gan ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar sut maent wedi ymdrin â heriau a dadleuon allweddol yn y gorffennol. Byddwch yn ystyried sut mae astudio hanes wedi datblygu yn y gorffennol ac yn parhau i ddatblygu yn y presennol, yn ogystal â'r nifer o ffyrdd y mae haneswyr yn cyfleu eu gwaith i gynulleidfaoedd ehangach. Byddwch hefyd yn dechrau datblygu'r sgiliau ymchwil, ysgrifennu a chyfathrebu allweddol sy'n hanfodol i astudio hanes yn y brifysgol. Byddwch yn adeiladu ar lawer o'r sgiliau a'r syniadau hyn yn y modiwl Heriau Byd-eang a gynhelir yn ail semester eich blwyddyn gyntaf. Bydd y modiwl hwn yn eich paratoi ar gyfer eich taith hanes ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe ond bydd hefyd yn eich helpu i feddwl yn feirniadol am y byd ehangach.
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HIY102
Global Challenges and the Historian
What are the historical roots of the climate crisis? Why has poverty proven so difficult to eliminate? Why do epidemic diseases continue to resurface? Will AI eventually replace historians? These are just some of the pressing questions explored in this module. Here at Swansea we believe that history provides essential tools for understanding the present. This module invites you to examine how insights from the past can help contextualize and address the complex global challenges we face today. You will be encouraged to reflect on your role as an emerging historian and to develop skills that will enable you contribute to contemporary debates.
Through a series of workshops across the semester, you will also develop practical skills in communicating historical knowledge and arguments to diverse audiences. Activities may include writing for the public, drawing up policy briefings, drafting podcast episodes, or create content for, and design, educational resources. Drawing on the rich research expertise of staff across the History and Heritage department, and inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this module explores themes such as poverty, famine, disease, gender inequality, climate change, and education, and more. It spans a vast range of historical periods and regions, asking you to think creatively about why history matters. By thinking collaboratively with fellow students and with expert researchers in the department, you will deepen your understanding of history¿s relevance in the modern world and enhance your ability to engage broad audiences. At its core, this module challenges you to consider how your study of history can shape your identity as a global citizen.
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HIY102C
Heriau Byd-eang a'r Hanesydd
Beth yw gwreiddiau hanesyddol yr argyfwng hinsawdd? Pam mae wedi bod mor anodd dileu tlodi? Pam mae clefydau epidemig yn dychwelyd byth a hefyd? A fydd deallusrwydd artiffisial yn disodli haneswyr yn y pen draw? Dyma rai o'r cwestiynau mawr sy'n cael eu harchwilio yn y modiwl hwn. Yma yn Abertawe credwn fod hanes yn darparu arfau hanfodol sy¿n ein helpu i ddeall y presennol. Mae'r modiwl hwn yn gyfle i archwilio sut y gall gwybodaeth am y gorffennol helpu i ddarparu cyd-destun a mynd i'r afael â'r heriau byd-eang cymhleth sy'n ein hwynebu ni yn yr oes sydd ohoni. Byddwch yn cael eich annog i fyfyrio ar eich rôl fel darpar hanesydd ac i ddatblygu sgiliau a fydd yn eich galluogi i gyfrannu at ddadleuon cyfoes.
Mewn cyfres o weithdai ar draws y semester, byddwch hefyd yn datblygu sgiliau ymarferol ar gyfer cyflwyno gwybodaeth a dadleuon hanesyddol i gynulleidfaoedd amrywiol. Gall gweithgareddau gynnwys ysgrifennu ar gyfer y cyhoedd, llunio briffiau polisi, braslunio penodau ar gyfer podlediadau, neu greu cynnwys ar gyfer adnoddau addysgol. Mae'r modiwl hwn yn manteisio ar arbenigedd ymchwil cyfoethog staff yn yr adran Hanes a Threftadaeth, ac mae wedi'i ysbrydoli gan Nodau Datblygu Cynaliadwy y Cenhedloedd Unedig. Mae'n archwilio themâu fel tlodi, newyn, clefydau, anghydraddoldeb rhywedd newid yn yr hinsawdd, addysg, a mwy. Mae'n rhychwantu ystod eang o gyfnodau a rhanbarthau hanesyddol, gan ofyn i chi ystyried yn greadigol pam mae hanes yn bwysig. Trwy feddwl mewn ffordd gydweithredol ar y cyd â chyd-fyfyrwyr ac ymchwilwyr arbenigol yn yr adran, byddwch yn dyfnhau eich dealltwriaeth o berthnasedd hanes yn y byd modern ac yn gwella eich gallu i ymgysylltu â chynulleidfaoedd eang. Yn ei hanfod, mae'r modiwl hwn yn eich herio i ystyried sut y gall astudio hanes lywio eich hunaniaeth fel dinesydd byd-eang.
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HIY104
Medieval Matters: Exploring the Middle Ages
Why does medieval matter? This exciting module introduces you to the history of Europe from around 500 to 1500, exploring how medieval people lived, believed, governed and built communities. You'll learn about kings and peasants, towns and trade, religion, education, warfare and even pandemics ¿ all through themes that connect the past to the present. From the rise of universities to crusades and colonial expansion, we'll uncover how medieval values still shape our world today. Whether you're curious about castles or the roots of modern Europe, this module offers fresh insight into the long-lasting legacy of the Middle Ages.
Pam mae¿r canol oesoedd yn dal i fod yn bwysig? Mae¿r modiwl cyffrous hwn yn eich cyflwyno i hanes Ewrop tua 500 i 1500, gan archwilio sut roedd pobl ganoloesol yn byw, yn credu, yn llywodraethu ac yn adeiladu cymunedau. Byddwch yn dysgu am freninoedd a phobl gyffredin, trefi a masnach, crefydd, addysg, rhyfeloedd a hyd yn oed pandemigau ¿ i gyd drwy themâu sy¿n cysylltu¿r gorffennol â¿r presennol. O sefydlu prifysgolion i ymgyrchoedd y Groes a gwladychiaeth, byddwch yn darganfod sut mae gwerthoedd canoloesol yn dal i ddylanwadu ar ein byd heddiw. P¿un a ydych â diddordeb mewn cestyll neu wreiddiau Ewrop fodern, mae¿r modiwl hwn yn cynnig golwg newydd ar etifeddiaeth barhaol yr Oesoedd Canol.
