Module overview
This module examines the major social, economic and cultural developments that took place in England during the period between c. 800 and c. 1100 AD. It makes use of evidence from diverse disciplines, including the study of documentary, archaeological, architectural and numismatic sources. The module examines the unification of England and the creation of a sophisticated governmental structure based upon a social hierarchy that was increasingly formalised. It considers the developments that took place in towns, the Church and rural settlement in response to the new conditions. External factors such as viking raids and migration will also be taken into account.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- evaluate published arguments relevant to a specific question
- manage your time effectively
- complete structured writing of assignments of different lengths
- write critically and coherently within a time constraint.
- communicate through oral and written modes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- show awareness of the principal artefacts, sites and other types of evidence relating to the period
- appreciate interrelationships of written and physical evidence
- discuss the implications of the information and insights that you have gained.
- demonstrate critical understanding of a complex period
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- evaluate the particular uses and problems of different sorts of evidence
- analyse diverse types of data
- debate key issues relating to the period of study.
Syllabus
Subjects to be considered may include (this is an indicative list only and may vary from year to year):
- the nature of the sources
- burhs and the Burghal Hidage
- coins and mints
- Scandinavian influences
- reform of the Church
- Domesday Book
- rural and urban developments
- economic aspects such as trade and crafts
- castles, residences, houses
- social stratification and lordship.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
- Lectures
- Classes/Seminars
Learning activities include
- Lectures
- Classes/Seminars
- Independent study
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminar | 5 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 15 |
| Lecture | 20 |
| Follow-up work | 20 |
| Wider reading or practice | 50 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Webster, L (2012). Anglo-Saxon Art. London: British Museum Press.
Richards, J (1991). Viking Age England. London: Batsford.
Hinton, D.A (2005). Gold and Gilt, Pots and Pins: Possessions and People in Medieval Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lavelle, R (2010). Alfred’s Wars. Sources and Interpretations of Anglo-Saxon Warfare in the Viking Age. Woodbridge: Boydell Press.
Crawford, S (2009). Daily Life in Anglo-Saxon England. Oxford/Westport CT: Greenwood World Publishing.
Hill, D (1981). An Atlas of Anglo-Saxon England. Oxford: Blackwell.
Hamerow, H. et al (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hooke, D (1998). The Landscape of Anglo-Saxon England. London: Leicester University Press.
Higham, N., and Ryan, M. J. (2013). The Anglo-Saxon World. London/New Haven: Yale University Press.
Fleming, R (2010). Britain after Rome. London: Penguin Books.
Reynolds, A (1999). Later Anglo-Saxon England. Stroud: Tempus.
Keynes, S., and Lapidge, M (1983). Alfred the Great. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Source commentaries | 25% |
| Source commentaries | 25% |
| Essay | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External