2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LISS1054 The Norman Conquest

10 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Emma Herbert-Davies
Email: E.L.Herbert-Davies@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

Pre-requisite qualifications

GPA of 2.8 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The Norman Conquest of 1066 is one of the most memorable events in English history. In a single battle, the Norman forces defeated the English elite, including their king, Harold. Duke William of Normandy led the Norman forces and the battle lasted most of a day (14 October 1066). After a swift campaign in south-eastern England William persuaded the city of London and the English leaders to submit to him. Soon after this, he was crowned king on Christmas Day 1066. The events of 1066 have long provoked debates among historians. Since the mid-nineteenth century, the debate has been between two main groups. First, those who stressed English continuity. They propose more limited social changes after the Conquest. Second, those who argue for complete Norman transformation of England. More recently, the grounds of the debate have shifted. The module will look at new approaches to the Conquest via: - military history - cultural history - gender studies - the history of the family - archaeology. You will also consider new methods of analysing texts and documents like Domesday Book (1086). In doing so you will be able to see patterns of cultural change over time.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the key events and debates of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Students will be given the opportunity to explore how the debates about the nature and consequences of the Conquest have changed over many centuries. The module will focus in particular on 19th and 20th century approaches, and more recent ways of studying changing cultural patterns via new types of military history, archaeology of daily life, gender studies and close reading of a wider range of primary sources.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will have developed:

1. An understanding of the debated events and consequences of the Norman Conquest.

2. A critical understanding of the approaches and methodologies of key historians writing on the subject.

3. An ability to synthesize information and opinion from secondary history texts to construct and present a reasoned argument in written and verbal form.

Skills outcomes
This module will introduce/enhance history-specific skills such as engaging in historiographical debate and analysing texts.

Syllabus

Indicative syllabus: sources for the Norman conquest; debating the effects of conquest on society; warfare and concepts of ethnicity; biographical and prosographical approaches (finding evidence for individual lives); the effects of the Conquest on women; masculinity; textual approaches

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Visit	1	10.00	10.00
Fieldwork	1	8.00	8.00
Seminar	8	3.00	24.00
Independent online learning hours			15.00
Private study hours			43.00
Total Contact hours			42.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

15 hours pre-course preparatory work (materials available on Minerva): this will include reading assigned texts and preparation of elements relevant to assignments.

43 hours private study: this will include research and writing of the essay (20 hours), both group and individual research for the presentation and preparation of the slides and individual reflective report (13 hours), set reading for specific seminars (8 hours), reflection and review (2 hours).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through:

Participation in class discussion and informal feedback on presentations.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	15 minute group presentation including a short individual reflective report	40.00
Essay	1,500 words	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The individual report must reflect on the student’s personal contribution to the team and the skills that they feel they have personally developed in the course of researching and giving the presentation (approx. 200 words) 30% of the mark for presentation, 10% for the report. The whole group will receive the same mark for the presentation. This mark will then be averaged with the individual report to give the component grade.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 01/02/2022

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