DR302N: RELIGIOUS WOMEN IN THE WEST (11TH TO 16TH CENTURIES) (2019-2020)

The course will give students an insight into the lives of medieval religious women in the context of their communities. The course will familiarise students with historical sources and methodologies and will provide students with a deeper understanding of religious, spiritual, and theological developments during the Middle Ages. By the end of the course students will be able to - achieve a better understanding of the general situation of medieval women and the pursuits of religious women in particular - demonstrate a deeper understanding of religious concerns exemplified by literature written by women - identify, use, and evaluate different kinds of primary sources - understand and apply different historical methodologies - engage in comparative analysis and interpretation - produce an original piece of written work - proceed to independent historical research on topics covered by the course. The course will examine the spiritual issues and practical challenges that confronted religious women in the Middle Ages. Community life and literary production differed widely according to the rules the women followed, the resources they had command of, and their daily experiences. Additionally, the seminar will look into the piety of secular women whose religious aspirations were restricted by household chores and their duties as wives and mothers. The sources we will use are chosen from the women's own writings, from biographies and from theoretical texts which contemplate the 'nature of women'.

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

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There are no assessments for this course.