Women in England, 1300-1700 (U01204)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-4-WE

This course studies the history of women in England from 1300 to1700. It deliberately crosses what has been called the 'great divide' between medieval and early modern to allow for consideration of questions of continuity and change, which are particularly prevalent in women's history. We will consider, for example, the impact of such events as the Black Death and the Reformation. This comparative approach will be encouraged throughout the course, thinking also of differences of marital status, social status, or locale. Key topics we shall examine include law, marriage and life-cycle, work, morality and religion, paying careful attention that we do not study women in isolation from broader society and culture. The course places emphasis on the use of primary sources as the basis of study. Throughout attention will be paid to the problems of different types of source material, which will include court records, letters, diaries, and pamphlets. We will consider, for example, how far we can access women’s own words and deeds and how much agency they had over their own lives.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : A pass in a third level historical course or equivalent.

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 22 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
20/09/2007	14:00	15:50	Room 2.13, Old Infirmary (Geography)	Central	This venue is for Semester 1 ONLY. Semester 2 venue tbc.

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Thursday	14:00	15:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, the student will have an understanding of the concerns and approaches of women's history and detailed knowledge of women's lives in late medieval and early modern England. The student will be able to engage in the critical analysis of complex historical questions at an advanced level, making effective use of both secondary and primary sources to reach independent judgements and to present arguments and information with clarity and coherence in both oral and written forms.

Assessment Information

Two essays of approx. 3000 words. Two examinations during the Summer diet, each of 2 hours. There will be one final averaged mark for the two essays and the two examinations. The two essays thus count for one third of the overall mark for the course, the two examinations for the remaining two thirds.