Popular Religion in Medieval Europe, 1000-1500 (VS1) (U02269)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-VS-PRME

This course will concentrate on the nature of popular religion and changes it underwent 1000-1500. It will draw its primary source material largely from English sources but will make use of comparative material from continental Europe. It will concentrate on major themes such as the survival (or otherwise) of paganism; religious beliefs and practices at a local level (parishes, guilds, devotion to saints, pilgrimage, processions); heresy and witchcraft. It will also consider the effects of social change (especially in the wake of the Black Death) on these practices, and issues of gender on the nature of these practices. Whether 'popular' religion can be readily distinguished from 'elite' religion will be another important theme: here issues such as literacy will be addressed. Throughout the coverage of such topics, there will be examination of the types of evidence that historians can use, discussion of various methodologies and approaches, and consideration of historiographical debates.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U01546

? Pre-requisites : A pass in any first level historical course and any second level historical course or equivalent. Visiting students should normally have 3 to 4 History courses at Grade B or above. Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admissions Secretary to ensure that a place is available (tel. 503783).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
18/09/2007	14:00	15:50	Room G.10, William Robertson Building	Central

All of the following classes

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

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

i) Subject knowledge: To increase understanding of the nature of and changes in medieval religion and contemporary mentalities.
ii) Discipline skills: increase awareness of the historical evidence, how to handle it and the debates about it.
iii) Writing skills: develop through writing essays for the course.