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FY-012
Introduction to Being Human
This module will focus on introducing what it is to be human from a broad humanities and social science perspective. It will offer the opportunity to engage with key ideas, theory and literature within these disciplines. It will therefore prepare students for further academic work in the humanities and social sciences and initiate the development of critical thinking and creative abilities.
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HI-M39
Managing Historical Research
During this module you will be guided through the process of formulating a viable, original, and academically sound research proposal in the discipline of History. You develop your own research project idea with the guidance and support of your supervisor. Through a combination of seminars, independent research, and supervisory meetings, you will engage with historiography, methodology, source evaluation, and research ethics. By the end of the module, you will have produced a fully developed research proposal suitable for submission to support an MA dissertation.
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HIH287
The Anglo-Norman World, 1066-1225
The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 transformed the politics, society, and culture of the British Isles and Northern France. This module examines the impact of the Norman Conquest and the cross-Channel connections that it established. It considers the political framework in the 150 years after the Conquest, notably the evolution of the Anglo-Norman realm under William the Conqueror and his sons William Rufus and Henry I; the `Anarchy¿ of King Stephen¿s reign; and the rise and fall of the Angevin or Plantagenet `empire¿ under Henry II and his sons Richard the Lionheart and King John. The module also investigates the relationships between the Anglo-Norman elites and their neighbours in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and in France. Cultural developments examined in the module include the place of women within Anglo-Norman society; the role of the Church and monasticism; the evolution of identities; and the ways in which authors represented their times and values through historical writing and literature such as the Arthurian `Matter of Britain¿. The module also reflects upon the impact of Anglo-Norman culture upon the landscape, including through visits to historical sites.
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HIH3230
The Reign of King John, 1199-1216: Misrule and Magna Carta
The reign of King John (1199-1216) was a critical period in medieval western European history, notably on account of the collapse of the Angevin `empire¿ in France (1202-5); the Papal Interdict (1207-13); a radical shift in English relations with Wales, Ireland, and Scotland; and the Magna Carta crisis (1214-17). This module is the second part of a two-part Special Subject concerning John¿s reign (with HIH3229). It comprises a detailed examination of the primary sources for this period, and places the developments of John¿s reign in their broader context, exploring such themes as political society, government, justice and law, and concepts of identity.
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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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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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HIMM00
Reading Medieval Manuscripts
Medieval manuscript sources are crucial to our understanding of the Middle Ages. Research across the disciplines of medieval studies is grounded in the study and use of medieval books and documentary sources. This module aims to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to engage with original manuscript sources of various types, from early Anglo-Saxon Gospel books to medieval chronicles, from illustrated books of hours to critical legal documents. Students will engage with these sources via digital and printed images and full-scale printed facsimiles, learning to recognise and transcribe medieval hands from all periods. Students will be given the chance to read original manuscripts during a visit to the West Glamorgan Archive Service (Swansea), and other repositories such as the National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth) and Hereford Cathedral Library may also be visited. This module assumes no prior knowledge of medieval manuscripts, nor any prior knowledge of the medieval languages featured in the manuscript samples, including Latin, Old English and Middle English.
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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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HIMM02
Research Folder
In this module you will be guided through the process of formulating an original, independent research proposal in Medieval Studies and supported in taking the first steps toward the production of a 20 000-word dissertation. In five, two-hourly classes across the semester, we will work together on formulating a research proposal, selecting and using your scholarly literature, choosing your methodology, evaluating original sources and more. With complementary one-to-one meetings with your supervisor and sustained independent research, you will complete for assessment a portfolio of writings (the `Research Folder), including a well-developed research proposal for your dissertation. These writings, and the assessment feedback you receive, will form the groundwork of your dissertation.
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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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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.
