Module manager: Dr Melanie Brunner
Email: M.Brunner@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
The Middle Ages have been characterised as an ‘age of faith’, and this module will examine different manifestations of religious practice and devotion, focusing on the interaction and mutual influences of the religious traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in the medieval West. It will allow you to explore the three faiths’ creative and contested relationship in the Middle Ages, as well as providing a useful foundation in Medieval Studies and interdisciplinary work, equipping you to pursue medieval modules in a number of departments and disciplines. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The objective of this module is to enable you to analyse the interdependence of Christian, Jewish and Islamic religious traditions and devotional practices in the Middle Ages and to assess the role of coexistence, cooperation and conflict between the three faiths in shaping Western medieval traditions and cultural practices. The module also aims to explore the relationship between the diverse religious values and cultural traditions of medieval Europe.
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Assess critically the main characteristics of religious practice in medieval Islam, Christianity and Judaism, as well as the main similarities and differences between the three faiths.
2. Evaluate effectively the main features of specifically medieval interactions between the three faiths.
3. Use a range of sources (in translation) to explore religious practice in the three faiths and on interfaith relations in the Middle Ages.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Identify and evaluate scholarly works on medieval topics.
5. Present a structured and coherent analysis based on appropriate and relevant historical sources in written form.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 179.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
You will receive written feedback on a bibliography exercise in preparation for the first essay. This is linked to a skills session introducing the International Medieval Bibliography and other bibliographic resources. Additional feedback will be provided through in-class discussion and, written feedback after the first essay. You will be offered an individual meeting with the module tutor to discuss your approach to the second essay.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 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: 02/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team