Accessibility statement

Bede's England - CED00108C

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  • Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Module co-ordinator: Mrs. Gillian Waters
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

How do we know about the Anglian settlement of the North of England, the emergence of the kingdom of Northumbria and the stories of Kings Edwin, Oswald and Oswy? In 731 the Venerable Bede, a monk in Jarrow Abbey, wrote a blockbuster called “An Ecclesiastical History of the English People” with vivid stories of migrations, wars and religious conflicts. This module will critically examine Bede’s work, using contemporary texts, artwork, and archaeology of the early Anglo-Saxon period to understand Bede’s heroes, heroines and villains.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module offers a study of 7th-century England based on Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica (History of the English Church and People). The emphasis will be upon what he has to say about Northern England, making this an attractive option for people from York and district, with ample opportunities for art and archaeology to be brought in.

Module learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the main events of the historical period
  • Analyse the main themes of historical enquiry relevant to the period
  • Assess and evaluate a range of historiographical approaches to the period studied.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay 2000 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay 2000 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

The tutor will give regular individual verbal and written feedback throughout the module on work submitted.

The assessment feedback is as per the university’s guidelines with regard to timings.

Indicative reading

  • Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735. ; Colgrave, Bertram ; Mynors, R. A. B. 1903. Bede's ecclesiastical history of the English people (Clarendon Press 1969)
  • Hardin Brown, George. A Companion to Bede (Boydell Press 2010)
  • Higham, N. J. (Re-)reading Bede : the ecclesiastical history in context (Routledge 2006)
  • Wormald, Patrick and Baxter, Stephen, The times of Bede, 625-865: studies in early English Christian society and its historian (Blackwell Pub 2006).


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.