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2007/08 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3714 Charlemagne and his Biographer

40 creditsClass Size: 16

Module manager: Professor I N Wood
Email: i.n.wood@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2007/08

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

Students should be able to show familiarity with the history and historiography of the Carolingian empire until ca.845AD and an ability to analyse critically primary source materials of the period.

Skills outcomes
Further enhances Common Skills listed below:

High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.

Plus:

Skills in interpretation and analysis of complex documentary-based material.


Syllabus

The course will consider the reigns of the Carolingian emperors Charlemagne (768-814) and Louis the Pious (814-840), paying particular attention to the presentation of Charlemagne's person and deeds in the 'Life of Charlemagne' written by Einhard. Einhard wrote this first secular biography of the Middle Ages after Charlemagne's death, possibly in the context of upheaval and rebellion during Louis the Pious' reign. We shall thus examine the events of those reigns as well as their representation in contemporaries' narratives. This will involve looking at the workings of power, wars of expansion and their aftermath, the structure of the empire and its problems, court gossip, rivalries and faction fighting, as well as the cultural revival of those generations which led to the redefinition of the role of kings and of others wielding power, as well as to the production of works such as Einhard's, in which we can trace these developments.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar222.0044.00
Private study hours356.00
Total Contact hours44.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)400.00

Private study

Exam preparation; researching and preparing Nathan Bodington exercise; undertaking set reading; and self-directed reading around the topic.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contributions to class discussions, an exercise or exercises worth 10% of module marks.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Computer ExerciseFormat to be determined by tutor.10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)10.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)3 hr 45.00
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)3 hr 45.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)90.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 21/01/2008

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