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Becket's World: Thomas Becket & the Twelfth Century Renaissance - CED00223C

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  • Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Module co-ordinator: Mrs. Gillian Waters
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

It is well known that Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, but his life illustrates many of the social, political and economic transformations of the twelfth century. Born into a mercantile London family, Becket studied at Paris and Bologna universities at a time of great changes in learning, law and medieval political thought. These changes are reflected in his career in the church, his role as Lord Chancellor, and the circumstances that led to his death. This module explores the Twelfth Century Renaissance through the life and career of Thomas Becket.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Term 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims to introduce students to the ecclesiastical, social, political and economic transformations of the twelfth century Renaissance through the life and legacies of Thomas Becket. This module aims to introduce students to the ecclesiastical, social, political and economic transformations of the twelfth century Renaissance through the life and legacies of Thomas Becket.

Module learning outcomes

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

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the key events of the period
  • Analyse primary historical sources, distinguishing the different social, political and cultural concerns examined
  • Contextualise the life and murder of Thomas Becket within the setting of the twelfth century Renaissance
  • Understand and examine the key historical trends in this period.

Module content

Indicative content

  1. England in the early 1100s: A backdrop to Becket’s early life
  2. Church and State: Henry I and the Investiture Conflict
  3. Monastic Reform and the “Anarchy”: Benedictines, Cluniacs and Cistercians
  4. Thomas Becket’s early life in London- Trade, Merchants and the rise of twelfth century civic elites
  5. Thomas Becket at Paris University and 12th century Scholasticism
  6. Thomas Becket’s early church career & 12th century developments in Canon and Roman law
  7. Thomas Becket as Chancellor and Henry II – 12th century developments in government
  8. Thomas Becket and Henry II’s legal reforms – the criminous clerks and the Clarendon Constitution
  9. Thomas Becket’s Trial and exile: Popes and antipopes
  10. Thomas Becket’s return and murder in 1170
  11. Thomas Becket’s legacy and Cult: London’s city saint.

Assessment

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

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Critical essay		 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

  • Joseph Canning, Edmund King, and Martial Staub, eds, Knowledge, discipline, and power in the Middle Ages (Leiden; Boston : Brill, 2011)
  • Anne J Duggan, ed., The Correspondence of Thomas Becket 1162-1170 (Oxford: Clarendon Press 2000)
  • David Luscombe and Jonathan Riley-Smith, ed., The new Cambridge medieval history. Vol. 4, c. 1024-1198. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008)
  • Kay Brainerd Slocum, The Cult of Thomas Becket (Milton: Routledge 2019)
  • Staunton, Michael, The Lives of Thomas Becket. (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2001)
  • R.W. Southern, The Making of the Middle Ages (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1953)


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.