Autumn

 

800 Years of York

 
Taught entirely online over 10 weeks, this innovative and interactive course is designed to introduce you to the history of York, telling the stories of the people that have made this city the multi-faceted experience it is today. Starting with the historic Charter of 1212 we will unpick the city’s key stories to give you an overview of York’s last 800 years, covering medieval monasteries, Guy Fawkes, and the industrialisation of the 19th century... and beyond.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Online
• Start Date: 8 October 2012
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £107.00

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Beliefs and Business: the Achievement of Yorkshire’s Victorian Businessmen

Yorkshire was at the forefront of economic transformation in Victorian Britain. Growth and prosperity was led by a group of new innovative, prosperous middle class men and women, whose new urban life and culture challenged the old political consensus based on landed privilege. This course will use the experience of Leeds, York, Middlesbrough and Hull to assess their sense of personal and civic pride that led to economic growth and new political and socio-cultural ways of life.

Keith Brooker BA PhD

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 9 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Discussing the Feminine: Women in the Middle Ages (1100-1350)

This course is an introduction to the history of women in the Middle Ages covering topics such as women and power, women in medieval religious life, women in work, women and family, and women in medieval culture and learning. Throughout, we will discuss the overall status of women and how, or even if, it changed over the course of the Middle Ages. The goal is to become familiar with the basic themes underlying the study of women’s history.

Danna Messer BA MA

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 9 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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Historical Responses to the First World War Centennial

Cancelled

Hundreds of organisations plan to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. This course examines the relationship between war, memory and remembrance, and considers a range of historical responses to the centennial. Particular attention will be given to a selection of responses in Yorkshire, including the University of Leeds’ Legacies of War Project (with strands that include resistance to war, medicine and war, and culture and the arts), and museum projects in York.

Dick Hunter BA

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 9 October 2012
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Medieval Monasteries in Yorkshire

When the upheaval of the Norman Conquest subsided there was an explosion of monastic foundations by the Norman incomers. Between 1066 and 1215 the landscape in Yorkshire became festooned with monastic houses of men and women. This is a multi-disciplinary course investigating the social, religious, economic and political nature of monasticism in Yorkshire. The class will explore the motivation of secular benefactors and the lives of the religious men and women. Simply: how did they do that, and why?

Judith Frost MA PhD

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 9 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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The 'Golden Age' of Islam

The Islamic period c. 7th-13th centuries is often designated their ‘Golden Age’ of cultural and scientific achievement. Its legacy became widespread throughout the Arab world and eventually further afield after the passing of the ‘Dark Ages’. We shall investigate Islam’s legacy of science, mathematics, medicine and general culture, and in contrast, shall not neglect the ‘Dark Ages’ of the Islamic world, together with the bid for the high ground between the teachings of the Qur’an and progressive scholarship.

Clifton Stockdale BA LCP MEd PhD AcDip

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 9 October 2012
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Early Medieval Europe (300-1000AD)

This course will provide an introduction to the period in which Europe changed from being an abstract construct to being the web of states that we know today. The governmental, social and cultural structures of the Roman Empire were replaced by new medieval forms. Christianity replaced paganism as the dominant faith in Western Europe, while the rise of Islam challenged its hegemony in the East. Beginning with a discussion of the decline of Roman power in the West, we will end with the establishment of the new ‘Roman Empire’ of the Carolingians.

Pragya Vohra PhD

• Day: Wednesday
• Start date: 10 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Britain Transformed (c.1750-1851)

This course will chart the emergence of Britain from being a predominantly rural and agricultural country into an increasingly urban and industrialised one, symbolised by the 1851 Great Exhibition. It will examine the transformation of industries from textiles to railways; the rapid growth of cities and their consequent living conditions; the political consequences of these changes notably the 1832 Reform Act; and the responses to the social conditions caused by of all of this on the part of churchmen and novelists.

George Herring BA MA DPhil

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 11 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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From Tsarism to Stalinism: Imperial Russia and the USSR (1914-41)

In 1914, Russia was ruled by an autocratic Tsarist regime, soon to be destroyed by the strains of total war. By 1941, after experiencing revolutions, civil war, economic crisis, the triumph of Communism and bitter internal power struggles, the USSR had developed into a repressive, one-party state, dominated by Stalin and intent upon imposing political and economic conformity. This course will analyse the key stages in this dramatic turn of events.

David Beeston Bed CertEd DMS PhD

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 11 October 2012
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Introduction to Roman and Hellenistic Architecture and Art

Cancelled

Roman architecture and visual arts are part of a wider cultural context first developed around the Eastern Mediterranean region. From this visual culture has emerged a long lasting heritage, the classical tradition, which has been constantly revived in the past two millennia in later architecture and art. This course will introduce you to the major artistic and technical developments from the Republican era to Imperial Rome, in the capital and in the regions of the Roman Empire.

Stefania Perring MA PhD

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 11 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Medieval Parish Churches of England

Parish churches were at the very centre of medieval life. Throughout the Middle Ages they were built, rebuilt and embellished with the latest architectural features. This course will examine the reasons for parish church foundation, how they developed over the centuries and more importantly, who was paying for it all. The main sources will be standing buildings, historical documents and archaeological reports. It is anticipated that there will be a field trip around some York parish churches.

Graham White BA MA

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 11 October 2012
• Time: 7-9pm
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Prometheus' Gift

Cancelled

The gift of fire to mankind was to become an effectual key to unlocking the doors of potential resources and progress. Perhaps we take for granted the contributions made by northern coal and lead mining industries, yet remain unaware of attendant clouds of 'darkness' that hung heavily over all involved. North East England's dales and coalfield were the stages on which entrepreneurs throughout the 17th and early 20th centuries assumed roles in which profit and progress were their objectives, often on pain of tragedy.

Clifton Stockdale BA LCP MEd PhD AcDip

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 11 October 2012
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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The Knights Templar in Britain

Cancelled

The Knights Templar Order was founded around 1120 to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land and disbanded in 1312 amid allegations of heresy and black magic. These warrior monks have featured in fiction from Ivanhoe to the Da Vinci Code. This course will look at the Order in Britain and try to separate fact from fiction, looking at documents, buildings, and place names. ‘Temple’ place names for example, indicate Templar sites, such as Temple Newsam and Temple Hirst in Yorkshire.

John Lee BA MA PhD

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 13 October 2012
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Chaucer’s Knights

Chaucer was intimately connected with the one of the most chivalrous medieval kings, Edward III. He was brother-in-law to John of Gaunt, Edward’s son, and even gave evidence in a famous court trial over who should have the right to bear coats of arms. This course examines Chaucer’s Knight’s Tale, and the stories of brave knightly deeds at home and abroad, in wars and tournaments, that inspired it. How chivalrous were Chaucer’s Knights?

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 27 October 2012
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm 
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Ancient Egypt (3000-1000BC): the Land, the Art, the Architecture of the Pharaohs

Some of the world’s most beautiful works of art and artefacts, and the most grandiose architecture, were created by the Ancient Egyptians which they did with only a basic range of implements. The Nile’s extraordinary fertility created a huge reserve of population available to execute these works.
This illustrated course will describe the river and the population; pyramids, temples and tombs; and treasure stored in the tombs, including Tutankhamen’s.

Ivison Wheatley MA

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 10 November 2012
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm 
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Roman Britain: a History through Coins

This fascinating course will provide an introduction to the coins used during the four centuries of Roman rule in Britain, together with the events, emperors, and usurpers that shaped them. Together, we will examine how coins were used and how we can decipher and identify them, together with a small handling collection allowing access to a variety of interesting genuine Roman coins.

Barry Crump BA BSc

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 24 November 2012
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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King Arthur - the Development of the Myth

Who was Arthur and did he really exist at all? Of the many 6th century Arthurs, which one is the Arthur? This course will examine the evidence for an historical Arthur, the different contenders, and how the story was transmitted and changed into a tale for all times. We will look at how the stories of Arthur were used by successive monarchs to give support to their rule, and how modern genres have reinterpreted the stories.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: 2 consecutive Saturdays 
• Start date: 8 December 2012
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 2
• Full fee: £70.00

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Spring

How Dark were the Dark Ages?

When the Romans left Britain, did all the lights go out? This course aims to throw light on the history of the North of England and show that the Dark Ages were not dark at all. Starting with the impact of the Anglo-Saxon invasions on Romano-Celtic ‘Yorkshire’ we will explore the emergence of the Saxon kingdoms using archaeology, chronicles, poetry and prose accounts.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Monday
• Start date: 21 January 2013 
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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Meet York Families: a Rapid Tour through Six Centuries

This course uses an array of primary sources to investigate the lives and times of several families living in York from 1250 to 1850. One family will be examined each week, with with key texts and slides used to illustrate important aspects of their lives. Interestingly, we will see that by dint of hard work, sufficient education and training, an aspiring attitude, good health, good luck, frugality and auspicious marriage, the social and economic prospects of each kinship group was raised.

Louise R. Wheatley MA PhD

• Day: Monday
• Start date: 21 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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Roman Coins in Britain

CANCELLED

‌
Roman coins perhaps represent the richest archaeological and historical resource surviving from Roman Britain. This course will cover how to identify and decipher Roman coins, and will examine their symbolism and messages. We will look at the social and economic role of coins in Roman Britain, deal with fakes and forgeries, and consider the potential uses of Roman coins for the historian and archaeologist. Each topic will be illustrated with access to genuine Roman coins.

Barry Crump BA BSc

• Day: Monday
• Start date: 21 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 6
• Full fee: £40.50

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English Palaeography (1400-1900)

Handwriting has changed significantly since the Middle Ages, passing through numerous shifts in style and fashion to reach its current form, which makes reading most original historical documents difficult. This course is designed to introduce you to the study of handwriting (palaeography) through the use of documents dated between 1400 and 1900, from parish registers to personal diaries. This course will suit students with or without prior experience of palaeography, and may be of particular interest to local and family historians.

Danna Messer BA MA

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 22 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 4
• Full fee: £27.00

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Italian Renaissance Gardens

CANCELLED

This course will explore the development of Italian Renaissance Gardens. It will consider ideas, design and use of 16th century gardens such as Villa D’Este in Tivoli, Villa Lante in Viterbo and Villa Farnesina in Rome. It will explain the relationship of these classical gardens with the development of the innovative design of 16th-17th century English gardens, discussing the influence of contemporary antiquarian discoveries of the gardens of Ancient Rome and the search for marble sculptures of Roman Britain.

Stefania Perring MA PhD

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 22 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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The Promethean Movement

CANCELLED

Throughout this course we shall explore the artistic, scientific and political radicalism which extended from the latter part of the 18th century until the mid-19th, and which still affects us today. We shall meet many well-known names who were active and influential at this pivotal period of our national history. However, characters such as Martin, Turner, Pitt, Brunel, Stephenson, Brougham, Faraday, Davy, Shelley, and others, also made less well known contributions within the context of the 'Promethean Movement'.

Clifton Stockdale BA LCP MEd PhD AcDip 

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 22 January 2013
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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Life in the Middle Ages

This course discusses the influences that contributed to the make-up of the social and cultural history of the Middle Ages. Using primary sources we will explore the structures and mentalities that shaped medieval lives and thought. Such topics include religion; learning and politics; feudalism; chivalry and warfare; famine and crisis; and art, science and superstition. The aim of this course is to encourage ways to think about the major issues of the medieval era and their impact on the development of modern Europe.

Danna Messer BA MA

• Day: Wednesday
• Start date: 23 January 2013
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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The Life and Times of Pope Gregory the Great

CANCELLED

Pope Gregory I (590-604), one of only two popes possessing the epithet ‘the Great’, lived at a time of great change. Using many of his own writings, this course will explore his pontificate and place it within the wider context of the politics and religion of late 6th century Europe. We will explore his promotion of saints' cults, his mission to convert the English, his relationship with the Emperor in Constantinople, and his ideas about the papacy and papal primacy.

Charlotte Kingston BA MA PhD

• Day: Wednesday
• Start date: 23 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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‘Robbing by the Highway’: Lives of Highwaymen in Early Modern England

CANCELLED

York is closely connected with Dick Turpin, the infamous 18th century highwayman who was executed and buried here. However, Turpin was but one link in a much bigger chain of robbers who plagued the highways of England, accosting travellers for their money or their lives. This course will present the historical context of the emergence of the English highwayman and narrate the stories of the best known members of that criminal milieu, as they were represented in texts from the 16th century until the 18th.

Eleni Liapi BA MA

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 24 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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'Lovers of Wisdom': a Greek Legacy

Ancient Greek philosophers of the Ionian and Athenian schools speculated upon the nature of the cosmos and truth, and also upon 'ideals' within the expression of architecture and sculpture, government, sports, medicine and culture generally. Whilst we are perhaps more familiar with members of the latter school, their collective contributions provided the blueprint upon which Western civilisation was established. We shall explore this legacy from the 6th century BC, through the 'scholasticism' of the Middle Ages and then into the realm of quantum mechanics and probability.

Clifton Stockdale BA LCP MEd PhD AcDip

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 24 January 2013
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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Medieval History of the Book: from Scribes to Early Printing

This course will track the history of the book from the early medieval period, exploring the people who both read and wrote books, and how books moved around the country. We will study book production in London and Oxford, as well as the pockets of scribes in provincial areas, paying particular attention to medieval Yorkshire until the 15th century. Finally, we will think how researchers of the medieval book have embraced technology in this digital age, and how this might progress in the future.

Hollie Morgan BA MA

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 24 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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The Twenty-One Year Truce (1918-39)

FULLY BOOKED

On November 11th 1918, the First World War came to an end. Less than 21 years later, on September 1st 1939, an even more destructive conflict engulfed Europe and the wider world. This course will consider the flaws in the Paris Peace Settlement and explain why the League of Nations failed to preserve world peace. It will also analyse Hitler's exploitation of international crisis after 1933 and the arguments for and against the Anglo-French policy of appeasement.

David Beeston Bed CertEd DMS PhD

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 24 January 2013
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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War and Society in Early Modern Europe (c.1560-1660)

CANCELLED

Concentrating on the French Civil Wars (1562-98), the Revolt of the Netherlands (1566-1609) and the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), this course will analyse the reasons for the extensive duration and enormous destruction of warfare in this century. Topics will include: motivations for fighting from dynastic rivalry to religious divisions; what determined the nature of war from new technologies to methods of finance and recruitment; and the impacts of warfare on populations, economies and states. The course will be accompanied by extensive contemporary literary and visual evidence.

George Herring BA MA DPhil

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 24 January 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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The Tumultuous Black Sea

CANCELLED

The Black Sea has an odd name and unusual features such as complex currents and undercurrents in its course to the Mediterranean. The Ancient Greeks founded colonies along the coast, to exploit the fisheries and to trade for grain. During the last 1000 years the colonies were taken over by Genoa and Venice, then by the Turks and later by the Russians. This illustrated course will end by considering the ways in which the coastline has now come to be shared.

Ivison Wheatley MA

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 2 February 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Prophecy, Propaganda and Portraits: How to Rule a Nation?

Course cancelled

The idea of a spin doctor is nothing new. Many Tudor and Stuart monarchs were adept at using the media channels they possessed to enforce their control and create a positive image. This course explores the ways in which prophecy, propaganda and portraits were used by monarchs, and how the people fought back with their own propaganda in the 17th century.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 9 February 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Medieval and Elizabethan Worldviews

How many angels can you fit on the point of a needle? Do stones have souls? And what is the influence of the planets on every hour of the day? This course explores medieval and Elizabethan views of the world, looking at alchemy, astrology, poems, prose and chronicles to understand the period.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 23 February 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Markets and Fairs over Eight Centuries

Markets and fairs have formed part of English life for centuries but how much do we know about their development? Using extracts from historical documents, we will explore markets and fairs from early written records such as market charters into the modern period of agricultural shows and farmers’ markets. We will examine buyers and sellers, goods traded and regulated, and changes in agriculture and transport. We will explore markets and fairs across England but focus particularly on examples from Yorkshire.

John Lee BA MA PhD

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 9 March 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Summer

The King's Manor

   

The King's Manor, one of historic York's most attractive and unusual sites, is enjoying a renaissance which is both physical and intellectual.

This group of largely Grade I medieval buildings is a vivid evocation of the past - but how much do you know about its history? Originally the Abbot's House of St Mary's Abbey, the King's Manor served the Tudors and Stuarts as a seat of government, becoming residences in the 18th century and a school in the 19th. It would be fair to say that the history of the King's Manor weaves a continuous thread in the history of York since medieval times.

As much as possible, this five week online course will try to recreate the experience of the classroom. Each week, we’ll explore a facet of the King’s Manor through explanatory materials, and discuss key topics which arise through the online discussion tools.

Students are expected to possess their own computer, have access to a broadband-standard internet connection and should have basic IT skills such as browsing the web and word processing. There is no requirement to attend face-to-face sessions at any point in the programme and you can access and engage with the materials at a time and place convenient to you each week. 

Alexandra Beresford BA MA

• Day: Online
• Start Date: 20 May 2013  
• No. of weeks: 5
• Full fee: £53.50 

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By Right or by Might? The Wars of the Roses in the North

Fought on English soil for over 40 years, the Wars of the Roses resulted in the decimation of many Northern noble families. Starting with Henry IV and his usurpation of Richard II we will examine whether these civil wars were really the result of denied inheritance, or the escalation of local feuds between the Nevilles and Percies in the North of England. Were Edward IV and Richard III just pawns in a Neville web of power? Was Richard III really our last Northern King?

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Monday
• Start date: 22 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Ruling Families and Relationships in Britain (1100-1300)

Cancelled

What roles did individual personalities play in establishing the relationship between England, Wales and Scotland that characterised Britain in the Middle Ages? This course will look at the establishment of political alliances formed through marriage, discussing how and why it was an important practice for rulers desiring to further their own dynastic ambitions and the expected roles that individuals were to play. Topics of discussion also include regional traditions regarding monarchy, the roles of royal women and issues of national identity.
Danna Messer BA MA

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 23 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 8
• Full fee: £53.50

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The Great Depression

Of both historical and contemporary interest, this course will examine the impact of financial and economic collapse on Britain, Germany and the United States in the 1930s. What caused the rapid economic contraction from 1929 to 1933? Why were governments unable to respond effectively to halt and reverse it? What were its social consequences in terms of unemployment and deprivation? And what were its links to the political world from the American New Deal to the rise of Hitler?

George Herring BA MA DPhil

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 23 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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The Great Yorkshire Migration

Cancelled

Britain was the world’s first urbanised country and Yorkshire provides a good background to study the impact urbanisation had upon people. Victorians were on the move as never before and in its wake this brought challenges. Challenges about whether to move; of finding work and accommodation; and of connecting with all the new things the town had to offer. By using contemporary materials you will have the opportunity to enter this new world and discover how people made sense of their new world.

Keith Brooker BA PhD

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 23 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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The Urban Landscape and Built Environment of York from the Roman Period to Present

The course will explore the development of the topography and built environment of York throughout several historical phases, using archaeology, historical research, architecture and historic cartography. The influence of antiquity will be identified in the present topography as well as the re-use of Roman materials in standing buildings in the city. The changing meanings and location within the city of centres of secular and religious power, residential and commercial areas will be explored with the use of rich visual material.

Stefania Perring MA PhD

• Day: Tuesday
• Start date: 23 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Good Queen or Bloody Queen?

Cancelled

Bloody Queen Mary has been presented throughout British history as a vicious and failing monarch. Holding the unique position as the first English Queen Regent and setting the stage for her more lauded female successor, Elizabeth, Mary in reality however, accomplished much which outshone many of her predecessors and those who would follow. Looking at the unique problems faced by Mary, as the first Queen Regent and a Catholic after the reformation, this course shall evaluate her infamous reign.

Abigail Tazzyman BA MA

• Day: Wednesday
• Start date: 24 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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The First World War

This course attempts to clarify aspects of the First World War that cause misunderstanding and confusion. These include the origins and immediate causes of the conflict; the failure of either side to obtain a swift and decisive victory; and the degeneration of the Western Front into a destructive war of attrition. The Westerner-Easterner debate, the dramatic collapse of Germany in 1918, and the punitive terms of the Paris Peace Settlement, will also be carefully analysed.

David Beeston Bed CertEd DMS PhD

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 25 April 2013
• Time: 1.15-3.15pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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The Viking Age

Together, we will consider who the Vikings were, where they came from, why they emerged and swept across Europe when they did, and what eventually happened to them. We will use a range of primary sources, both textual and archaeological, to chart their spread from Scandinavia, across Europe and the British Isles into the North Atlantic and as far west as North America. We will look at Viking politics, law, technology, society and culture as we follow their expansion and impact on European history.

Pragya Vohra PhD

• Day: Thursday
• Start date: 25 April 2013
• Time: 7-9pm 
• No. of weeks: 10
• Full fee: £67.00

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Newton's Apple Tree: a Story of Magic, Science and Historical Detectives

Cancelled

We have all heard the story of Newton discovering gravity by being hit on the head with an apple - but is it true? How exactly did he make the connection between an apple falling and gravity? Does the apple tree still exist, and if so - where is it? This course will explore Newton’s ideas of gravity, the magical connections and the historical quest to find Newton’s apple trees, uncovering the historical stories of Newton and his circle of friends and family.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 27 April 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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The Byzantine Empire

After the western part of the Roman Empire collapsed, the eastern part (now known as the Byzantine Empire) continued on for over 1000 years. Its boundaries did however gradually contract as a result of onslaughts by Arabs, Slavs and Turks, and even by Venice and the Crusaders. By 1453, when it was overwhelmed by the Ottoman Turks, virtually only Constantinople itself was left. This introductory course will review the Empire’s history, illustrated by magnificent works of art and architecture.

Ivison Wheatley MA

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 11 May 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Discovering Medieval Towns

Many of our present-day towns were established or developed during the Middle Ages. A rich variety of documents survive which reveal many aspects of medieval urban life in Britain. Using extracts from some of these documents, together with evidence from archaeology and surviving buildings, we will examine how townspeople lived, how they earned their livings, how they governed themselves, and how they worshipped. While taking an overview of towns across Britain, we will focus particularly on towns in Yorkshire.

John Lee BA MA PhD

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 1 June 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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Defending York

York, as the most important northern outpost of medieval government, was a strategic military base. This course will examine the development of York’s medieval defences. What would it have been like inside a besieged medieval city and how were men mustered to defend the town? Using contemporary sources we will also consider how to effectively attack a castle using siege machines and trebuchets, and how the city of York withstood such sieges.

Gillian Waters BA MA PGDip PGCE

• Day: Saturday
• Start date: 8 June 2013
• Time: 9.30am-4.30pm 
• No. of weeks: 1
• Full fee: £35.00

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