- Department: History
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Early modern societies are defined by persecution. The period witnessed widespread and ruthless attempts to eliminate religious dissent, violence and wars of religion, and fostered levels of hatred and prejudice that forced many to conceal their identities, go into exile or face execution. At the same time, this was a period where ideas about the ‘evils of toleration’ were challenged and debated, where (some) religious minorities were permitted and sanctioned, and it was an era which saw ordinary people of differing beliefs find creative ways to live alongside each other.
This module explores the ways these seemingly contradictory impulses could coexist in early modern Britain, and engages with wider contemporary European and global developments. Beginning with religious dissenters in the late Middle Ages and (officially) ending with the Toleration Act of 1689, students will consider the evolution in historical approaches to the study of tolerance and intolerance, and interrogate previous narratives dominated by models of progress. Students will also engage with a range of primary sources including popular song, material culture, literature, and polemic.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
The aims of this module are:
Students who complete this module successfully will:
Students will attend a 1-hour briefing in week 1. Students will then attend a 1-hour plenary/lecture and a 2-hour seminar in weeks 2-4, 6-8 and 10-11 of semester 1. Weeks 5 & 9 are Reading and Writing Weeks (RAW) during which there are no seminars. Students prepare for and participate in eight 1-hour plenaries/lectures and eight 2-hour seminars in all.
Seminar topics are subject to variation, but are likely to include the following:
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
None
For formative assessment, students will complete a referenced 1200 to 1500-word essay relating to the themes and issues of the module. This will be submitted in either the Week 5 or Week 9 RAW week (on the day of the weekly seminar).
For summative assessment, students will complete an Assessed Essay (2000 words, footnoted). This will comprise 100% of the overall module mark.
Summative assessments will be due in the assessment period.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Following their formative assessment task, students will typically receive written feedback that will include comments and a mark within 10 working days of submission.
Work will be returned to students in their seminars and may be supplemented by the tutor giving some oral feedback to the whole group. All students are encouraged, if they wish, to discuss the feedback on their formative work during their tutor’s student hours. For more information, see the Statement on Feedback.
For the summative assessment task, students will receive their provisional mark and written feedback within 25 working days of the submission deadline. The tutor will then be available during student hours for follow-up guidance if required. For more information, see the Statement of Assessment.
For term time reading, please refer to the module VLE site. Before the course starts, we encourage you to look at the following items of preliminary reading: