Accessibility statement

Seeing the Middle Ages: Exploring Medieval Daily Life & Beliefs Through Images - CED00046C

« Back to module search

  • Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Cristina Figueredo
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module summary

Medieval history has frequently focused on kings and queens.  However, the surviving art, such as stained glass, manuscript illumination and architectural carving, can give us an extraordinary insight into the medieval world.  This module will explore the daily life and beliefs of the medieval people, using surviving visual sources to illustrate it. It will also study patterns of belief, understanding of the natural world and geography. The emphasis will be on Medieval England, but will include examples from other European countries.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2023-24

Module aims

The module aims to provide a broad exploration of the daily life and beliefs of the medieval world using surviving art and architecture to illustrate the course., It will study patterns of belief in both organised and folk religion, levels of understanding of the natural world and geography, and how these changed over time. The emphasis will be on Medieval England, but will include examples from other western European countries.

The areas of study may include:

  • Anglo-Saxon and Viking history and art
  • Norman and Later Medieval history and ideas of representation
  • Manuscript illumination
  • Maps such as Mappa Mundi, the maps of Matthew Paris
  • Stained and painted glass
  • Daily life as recorded in texts, and depicted in manuscripts and stained glass

Works for each period will be studied and site visits made where appropriate to see original works. Students will be introduced to the key features of each period and art-form and encouraged to develop critical skills in assessing the historical information which can be drawn from them.

Module learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of historical events from the 10th to the 15th centuries
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of use and symbolism of imagery in the medieval period.
  • Display knowledge of typical developments of artistic styles and be able to identify key pieces.
  • Use of primary sources and secondary reading materials.
  • Understand how to ‘read’ an image and interpret it.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Critical essay 2000 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Critical essay 2000 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

The tutor will give regular individual verbal and written feedback throughout the module on work submitted.

The assessment feedback is as per the university’s guidelines with regard to timings.

Indicative reading

  • Britnell, R. H. Daily Life in the Late Middle Ages,Stroud, 1998
  • Brown, Michelle 'Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts' (British Library)
  • Williamson, Paul “Mediaeval & Renaissance Stained Glass at the V&A” V&A publications
  • Marks, Richard, and Peter Newbold. Stained Glass in England During the Middle Ages / Richard Marks: Routledge, 1993
  • Gameson, Richard; Leyser, Henrietta Belief and Culture in the Middle Ages, Oxford University Press, 2001


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.