2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MEDV1081 Religion and Culture: Medieval Christianity, Judaism and Islam

20 creditsClass Size: 28

Module manager: Dr Melanie Brunner
Email: M.Brunner@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The Middle Ages have been characterised as an ‘age of faith’, and this module will examine different manifestations of religious practice and devotion, focusing on the interaction and mutual influences of the religious traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in the medieval West. It will allow you to explore the three faiths’ creative and contested relationship in the Middle Ages, as well as providing a useful foundation in Medieval Studies and interdisciplinary work, equipping students to pursue medieval modules in a number of departments and disciplines.

Objectives

The module aims to:
- Analyse the interdependence of Christian, Jewish and Islamic religious traditions and devotional practices in the Middle Ages
- Assess the role of coexistence, cooperation and conflict between the three faiths in shaping Western medieval traditions and cultural practices
- Explore the relationship between the diverse religious values and cultural traditions of medieval Europe

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Assess critically the main characteristics of religious practice in medieval Islam, Christianity and Judaism, as well as the main similarities and differences between the three faiths
2. Evaluate effectively the main features of specifically medieval interactions between the three faiths
3. Use a range of sources (in translation) to explore religious practice in the three faiths and on interfaith relations in the Middle Ages

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. identify and evaluate scholarly works on medieval topics
5. present a structured and coherent analysis based on appropriate and relevant historical sources in written form

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive written feedback on a bibliography exercise in preparation for the first essay. This is linked to a skills session introducing the International Medieval Bibliography and other bibliographic resources. Additional feedback will be provided by in-class discussion, written feedback and a one-to-one feedback session after the first essay, as well as written feedback on essay 2.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Essay 1,500 words	40.00
Essay	Essay 2,000 words	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The first essay will be preceded by a summative bibliography exercise which will give the students the opportunity to practice using some of the key resources for Medieval Studies, and to identify and evaluate secondary material beyond the reading list.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/10/2024

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