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AH4505: THE TWELFTH-CENTURY RENAISSANCE (2023-2024)

Last modified: 14 Dec 2023 10:46


Course Overview

The twelfth century was a period defined by upheaval and innovation, when ancient learning and new ideas combined to transform European society across the continent. This course explores the artistic dimension to cultural, social, and political change, and brings marginalised communities into focus. We will draw on a range of sources, including manuscripts, architecture, stained glass and metalwork to understand a range of lived experiences, from isolated monks to Jewish communities.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Karl Kinsella

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The twelfth century was a period defined by upheaval and innovation, when ancient learning and new ideas combined to transform European society. Focused on Paris, there was new interest in scientific discovery, divergent ways of engaging with God and the development of the new Gothic style of architecture, which in the following centuries would dominate urban skylines around the world. The period is sometimes referred to as a renaissance, paralleling the exciting resurgence of antique learning in the better-known Italian renaissance of the fifteenth century.


The course begins by questioning the label of ‘renaissance’ and how useful it is when applied to the twelfth century. Then, it takes a broad view of the period, where a variety of sources forms the case studies, from manuscripts, architecture, stained glass, and metalwork, all of which formed the basis of visual culture at the time. The aim will be to get sense of art’s role in the lived experiences of people at the time, and how it paralleled, and some ways defined their lives. We will explore marginalised communities such as Jewish experiences and artistic production, illustrating the often complex attitudes to the Other in the Middle Ages. We will get a sense of popular religion in the form of pilgrimage accounts and the material culture of religious experiences. Aberdeen’s own collections will be used and consulted to give students the opportunity to work with the manuscripts from the Middle Ages. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Article / Book review

Written feedback; in-person feedback on request

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate a broad understanding of artistic production and cultural history in the European twelfth century.
ProceduralAnalyseApply knowledge of objects and texts critically evaluate for the interpretation of artistic and cultural change in the central Middle Ages.
ProceduralEvaluateShow a critical understanding of medieval discourses on the methods and contexts of artistic production in Europe during the twelfth century.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate confidence in researching, organising and delivering written and oral academic work in a class presentation on a defined topic, and an essay on a self-defined topic.

Presentation and Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback after presentation; in-person feedback on request

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate a broad understanding of artistic production and cultural history in the European twelfth century.
ProceduralAnalyseApply knowledge of objects and texts critically evaluate for the interpretation of artistic and cultural change in the central Middle Ages.
ProceduralEvaluateShow a critical understanding of medieval discourses on the methods and contexts of artistic production in Europe during the twelfth century.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate confidence in researching, organising and delivering written and oral academic work in a class presentation on a defined topic, and an essay on a self-defined topic.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

 

Written feedback and additional verbal with student as required

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate a broad understanding of artistic production and cultural history in the European twelfth century.
ProceduralAnalyseApply knowledge of objects and texts critically evaluate for the interpretation of artistic and cultural change in the central Middle Ages.
ProceduralEvaluateShow a critical understanding of medieval discourses on the methods and contexts of artistic production in Europe during the twelfth century.
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate confidence in researching, organising and delivering written and oral academic work in a class presentation on a defined topic, and an essay on a self-defined topic.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionCreateDemonstrate confidence in researching, organising and delivering written and oral academic work in a class presentation on a defined topic, and an essay on a self-defined topic.
ProceduralAnalyseApply knowledge of objects and texts critically evaluate for the interpretation of artistic and cultural change in the central Middle Ages.
ProceduralEvaluateShow a critical understanding of medieval discourses on the methods and contexts of artistic production in Europe during the twelfth century.
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate a broad understanding of artistic production and cultural history in the European twelfth century.

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