Module manager: Dr Iona McCleery
Email: I.McCleery@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
‘Medieval Lives’ uncovers the human experience of the Middle Ages. By focusing on up to ten medieval people from across the globe, it offers you an opportunity to engage with the rich materials that shed light on medieval identities and beliefs while developing an understanding of the cultures that shaped them. You will use a wide range of primary sources in translation, honing research, writing, presentation and analytical skills in doing so.
This module aims to:
- Introduce you to the study of medieval identities, cultures and beliefs, both within and outside Western Europe, by focusing on the lives of up to ten people
- Develop contextual knowledge of the times, places and natures of different medieval societies, and how these contexts shaped life experiences
- Introduce you to the possibilities and pitfalls of using life history and biography as a way of studying, researching and discussing the past
- Provide you with opportunities to develop existing skills and acquire new ones, such as writing, research, analysis and oral presentation of ideas to public audiences
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Demonstrated an understanding of some of the ideas and events that shaped the lives of people in the Middle Ages.
2. Demonstrated an awareness of the benefits and difficulties of using life history and biography as a window into pre-modern societies and cultures.
3. Recognised different historical arguments about the causes and consequences of the social changes examined in this module.
4. Applied fundamental standards and practices of historical study for research, discussion, and assessed work.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Carried out critical analysis of different sources of data (e.g. original documents, visual images, material culture) and reflected on the range, value, and challenges of the primary sources that can be used to examine people and events in the medieval world.
6. Demonstrated an ability to bring together and engage with a variety of different opinions, approaches, and cultural perspectives.
7. Recorded digitally a presentation aimed at a public audience
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Practical | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 177.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
This module will include one formative assignment, which takes the form of a draft script focusing on the life of the same medieval person eventually to feature in the podcast. You will be required to include footnotes and a bibliography for the script (feedback on which will be useful for the essay). There will be written feedback on this script, which will inform your work on the assessed podcast. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your tutor for one-to-one meetings to get feedback on your approach to each assignment prior to the deadlines.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Podcast | 40 |
| Coursework | Essay | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team