Studying at York
Bede's England - CED00108C
- Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: C
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module summary
How do we know about the Anglian settlement of the North of England, the emergence of the kingdom of Northumbria and the stories of Kings Edwin, Oswald and Oswy? In 731 the Venerable Bede, a monk in Jarrow Abbey, wrote a blockbuster called “An Ecclesiastical History of the English People” with vivid stories of migrations, wars and religious conflicts. This module will critically examine Bede’s work, using contemporary texts, artwork, and archaeology of the early Anglo-Saxon period to understand Bede’s heroes, heroines and villains.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Spring Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
This module offers a study of 7th-century England based on Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica (History of the English Church and People). The emphasis will be upon what he has to say about Northern England, making this an attractive option for people from York and district, with ample opportunities for art and archaeology to be brought in.
Module learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the main events of the historical period
- Analyse the main themes of historical enquiry relevant to the period
- Assess and evaluate a range of historiographical approaches to the period studied.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 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
- Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735. ; Colgrave, Bertram ; Mynors, R. A. B. 1903. Bede's ecclesiastical history of the English people (Clarendon Press 1969)
- Hardin Brown, George. A Companion to Bede (Boydell Press 2010)
- Higham, N. J. (Re-)reading Bede : the ecclesiastical history in context (Routledge 2006)
- Wormald, Patrick and Baxter, Stephen, The times of Bede, 625-865: studies in early English Christian society and its historian (Blackwell Pub 2006).