2010/11 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
HIST2003 Barbarians: Goths, Vandals, Huns, Burgundians and Franks
20 creditsClass Size: 42
Module manager: Professor IN Wood
Email: i.n.wood@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2010/11
Module replaces
HIST2000This module is approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module considers the history of the barbarians and the nature of tribal society from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the middle of the sixth century. Lectures provide a methodological and chronological overview, and classes start by exploring questions of ethnicity, the size of tribal groups, the nature of migration, etc; and introduce students to modern anthropological work and ethnographic models; and the histories of the Huns, Goths, Vandals, Burgundians and Franks.Objectives
On completion of this module, students should:- be aware of the basic outline of the Migration Period of European history, from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the middle of the sixth century
- have knowledge of the major units involved in the creation of the barbarian successor states which were set up in western Europe and of those peoples which settled in the Balkans and central Europe from the fourth to the mid sixth centuries - and hence of the first wave of the major ethnographical units involved in the creation of Europe
- have an acquaintance with anthropological theories relating to tribal peoples and be able to integrate their understanding of anthropology into their own historical discourse.
Skills outcomes
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.
Syllabus
This module will consider the history of the barbarians and the nature of tribal society in the period from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the middle of the sixth century. The 11 lectures will provide a methodological and chronological overview of the subject.
The classes which run in parallel with the lectures will begin with questions of ethnicity, the size of tribal groups, the nature of migration etc. In the second session, students will be introduced to modern anthropological work which provides ethnographic models for tribal society. Sessions 3, 4, 5 and 6 will consider the histories of the Huns, Goths, Vandals, Burgundians and Franks.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 11 | 1.00 | 11.00 |
| Tutorial | 6 | 1.00 | 6.00 |
| Private study hours | 183.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 17.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
- Exam preparation- Researching, preparing, and writing assignments
- Undertaking set reading
- Self-directed reading around the topic
= 183 hours.
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
- Contributions to class discussions- An assessed exercise or exercises worth 10% of module marks
- An assessed essay.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 1 x 2,000 word assessed essay to be delivered by 12 noon Monday of Week 8 | 30.00 |
| Oral Presentation | Oral contribution in class | 10.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 40.00 | |
Oral contribution is assessed with an 'equivalent written exercise'
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr 00 mins | 60.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 60.00 | |
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 websiteLast updated: 20/04/2011
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
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- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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