This module introduces students to the debates surrounding the formation of the kingdom of England in the ninth to eleventh centuries CE, and the interpretation of the primary sources, both textual and material, that underpin these debates. We will explore the technologies of kingship, from the production of coins and charters, to the development of coronation rituals designed to elevate the status of kings – and, sometimes, queens. We will also reassess the legacies of the period, and the ways in which it has been used and abused in the early modern and modern periods; we will also examine the myths and legends that have attached themselves to particular kings. What was so great about Alfred? Was Æthelred really 'lacking in counsel' (unræd)?
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
analyse and critically appraise key events and historical processes relevant to the subject under scrutiny
analyse and critically evaluate a wide range of relevant primary source material
critically evaluate the historiographical context and trends of the subject under exploration
summarise, synthesise and evaluate the subject material in a sophisticated written form
